Donovan Edwards has to be the choice for Michigan Football in 2024

admin | February 18, 2024 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Those are lofty statements, to be sure, but Michigan football supporters will undoubtedly hope that Donovan Edwards lives up to them next year.

They will need him to. With so much of Michigan’s offense going, Sherrone Moore’s focus will undoubtedly be on establishing the run in order to possess the ball and provide opportunities for Michigan’s quarterback (whoever that may be) to succeed.

Whether it’s opening up the play-action pass or being a reliable receiver out of the backfield, the Wolverines’ running backs will be the ones the coaches turn to when the team needs a huge play or a long drive to seal a close game.

““I will go down as one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. I’ll be up there with Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. I believe I will revolutionize the game and the position.””

– Donovan Edwards

In 2023, Michigan football was 51st in the nation in terms of running attempts per game. They ranked 13th in 2022 and 25th in 2021. It would not be unexpected to see them return to the top 10-20 next year, which means plenty of carries for Edwards, who will finally be the primary back for this squad based on his own merits rather than injury.

Donovan was intended to use 2023 to prove that he was healthy and dynamic, the ideal complement to Blake Corum, capable of hitting home runs and being dangerous out of the backfield. For the most part of last season, things did not go as planned. Prior to his 104-yard outburst against Washington, his highest rushing total had been 52 yards against Penn State. He only reached ten carries in five games.

There have been various stories and insights regarding why Edwards failed in the lead-up to the national championship game, and it is difficult to dispute with any of them. However, the running back position is heavily reliant on vision and timing, which must be tough to acquire when a player lacks consistent snaps. Blake Corum is possibly the best Michigan football running back to represent the maize and blue, so it’s natural that Donovan Edwards did not get those reps.

But now, it’s all Don, all the time.

It’s time for Donovan Edwards to shine for Michigan football

He will have a strong backfield behind him, featuring Kalel Mullings and incoming freshman Jordan Marshall, Ohio’s Mr. Football. But it’s Edwards’ show now, and the Wolverines offense, along with Colston Loveland, will only go as far as their abilities allow. Loveland has the disadvantage of not knowing who will give him the ball, and Edwards is also experiencing hardship because his entire offensive line is no longer present.

However, Michigan is well-known for its “next man up” ability among offensive linemen, but this hasn’t been the case with quarterbacks. The Wolverines have promising athletes, but whoever becomes the starter will need time to grow, and if Michigan football wants to continue winning, the running game will be at the forefront of its plans.

Since professing to be “up there” with Barry Sanders, Edwards has gone through the lows of a dismal regular season and the highs of being a crucial member of Michigan’s national championship squad. And in 2024, he will have the opportunity to prove that he can be the featured back and, like the greats to whom he has previously compared himself, put the team on his back and lead them after so many Michigan football heroes have retired.