Donovan Edwards: National championship-winning Michigan Wolverines were 'one of the greatest teams ever assembled'

Michigan Wolverines football running back Donovan Edwards famously proclaimed after beating the program’s arch rival for a third straight year in 2023 that “we ain’t never losing to Ohio State, baby!” Edwards never did, helping the Maize and Blue come out on top, 13-10, last November in Columbus to make it four in a row.

“My big goals were always three things — beat Ohio State, win a Big Ten championship and national championship — and I never wanted to lose to Ohio State,” Edwards said on the Rich Eisen Show this week. “Especially being able to beat Ohio State this last season, and in the manner that we did, it was definitely a great feeling.”

Edwards was part of the winningest senior class in Michigan history, with the group going 47-8 over the last four seasons, winning three Big Ten championships and the 2023 national title.

Edwards was asked what he would tell people who question the legitimacy of the perfect 15-0 championship season. In the middle of the year, the NCAA opened an investigation into the program potentially breaking bylaw 11.6.1 regarding off-campus scouting.

“You know what, boss? I feel like that was definitely one of the greatest teams ever assembled,” Edwards said. “We had the talent all across the board.

“Regardless of everything that went on off the field for us, we stood through it, we faced adversity together and we embraced it. It’s about the story that we left, and just the fact that we bonded together and all the adversity that we had to face, mentally and physically, overcame everything that we had gone through that year.”

Of course, Edwards put his stamp on the national championship game, ripping off 2 long touchdown runs in the first half of the 34-13 triumph over Washington Jan. 8, 2024.

Edwards committed to Michigan in December 2020 and joined the program the next month. The Wolverines had just gone 2-4 in 2020, and head coach Jim Harbaugh was receiving plenty of criticism.

“Ultimately, going into the University of Michigan coming off of a 2-4 season in the 2020 season going into my freshman year, that’s all we ever talked about is winning a national championship, winning the Big Ten championship, beating Ohio State,” Edwards said.

“It’s because of the guys like [defensive end] Aidan Hutchinson, [linebacker] Josh Ross, [outside linebacker] David Ojabo, [safety] Brad Hawkins, [running back] Hassan Haskins … the reason why we were even able to get the blueprint was from those guys and the leadership that they instilled in us. That’s a testament also to the coaching staff like Coach Harbaugh, [defensive coordinator] Coach [Mike] Macdonald when he was there [in 2021], [defensive coordinator] Coach [Jesse] Minter, [then assistant coach and current head man] Coach [Sherrone] Moore, [running backs] Coach [Mike] Hart, all of those coaches that we had there. It’s a testament to the leadership that we had.

“Honestly, you can’t really say anything to us about our championship.”

Edwards played a huge role in Michigan’s Big Ten championship in 2022, as well. He had 75- and 85-yard touchdown runs to beat the Buckeyes in Columbus for the first time since 2000.

“I’m gonna keep it real: It got very silent, and it was also great to see how the stands started to clear out after those two touchdowns that I had,” Edwards said.

“Ultimately, it’s a team game, and we all contributed well. It was a great feeling.”

Donovan Edwards in a great place before 2025 NFL Draft

Edwards rushed for 589 yards and 4 touchdowns on 128 rushes last season at Michigan, and now he’s ready to hear his name called during the NFL Draft next week.

“I’m in my best spot mentally than I have been in a couple years, really,” Edwards said, later noting that former U-M cornerback and current Washington Commanders standout Mike Sainristil has been helping him through the process. “I have no worries. I’m honestly taking this as another form of being recruited again out of high school, wanting those offers and being hungry and wanting to talk to coaches and going out there during camp and giving it your all and proving that you deserve to be there.

“I have a reset mentality right now. I’m grateful for my career at Michigan. I thought I had a really great career there. But it’s time for the next step and just keep on moving forward.”

Eisen asked Edwards what a team will get if they draft him.

“If you just look at my resumé, I’ve always had to wait my turn,” Edwards said. “I never complained. Also, I have extraordinary leadership capabilities. My leadership abilities are that I’m a vocal leader, but I also want other people to be vocal leaders, because think about it, if you hear the same message from one message it’s like, ‘Bro, can you stop talking? Please, shut up.’

“But I like to gather other guys, like the top dawgs in each position group, and we all spread the same message amongst our position groups and to the team and to the offense, defense and special teams. And if we all relay that message, the guys that are on the two or three depth chart, that they’re looking at us like, ‘These guys really want it. If I want to be there, I have to really step up myself.’

“And even though things might not go right for me, I’m always going to cheer the other man’s success. I think I have really great capabilities and confidence in myself, so I think through God’s blessings I’m gonna do very well for myself.”