Donovan Edwards believes Michigan's 2024 RB room could go down as one of program's best

Not many teams ran the ball quite like the Michigan Wolverines last season, who ran all the way to a national championship victory with a level of toughness and physicality that was hard to find in college football. Finishing last season with 563 rush attempts to rank No. 7 in the FBS.

The Wolverines will likely look to continue establishing that same mentality in the run game this upcoming football season under new head coach Sherrone Moore. Who previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach that will look to maintain Michigan’s dominance up front.

Michigan’s running back room will have a major influence on them being able to build on their success in the run game. Which running back Donovan Edwards clearly thinks will happen based on a bold statement about the team’s backfield at the Champions Circle Golf Classic with The Wolverine.

“I think it could ultimately go down as one of the best running back backfields that the program has had,” Edwards said. “And that’s up to our hard work, that’s up to our preparation, but I truly believe that. I’m a confident person, you know that, and even if it doesn’t happen I’m still going to be confident.”

Edwards’ statement is particularly audacious considering that Michigan’s program record-holder in career rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and career points scored Blake Corum departed from the program this offseason. Selected with the No. 83 overall pick in the third round of the most recent NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams after going down as one of the greatest Wolverine running backs of all time.

But Edwards himself returns with an impressive body of work, serving primarily as a backup running back in his three-year career who made the most of his opportunities. Appearing in 38 games with four starts where he ran for 1,662 and 15 touchdowns on 294 carries along with catching 68 passes for 714 yards and three touchdown grabs.

His production should increase even more in his first full season as a starter for the Wolverines, but Michigan will also have to rely on rushers like veteran senior Kalel Mullings and redshirt freshman Benjamin Hall. Not to mention replacing all five starters on their entire offensive, an elite unit that took home the Joe Moore Award in 2021 and 2022.

Michigan’s football history dates back to 1879 and features a plethora of elite backfields, as Edwards and his running back teammates will strive toward being the best of the best this upcoming season.