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Game balls from Michigan football's win over Arkansas State

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•09/14/24•

anthonytbroome

NCAA Football: Arkansas State at Michigan
Sep 14, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) walks off the field after a game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines won a 28-18 game against the Arkansas State Red Wolverines on Saturday, closing out non-conference play ahead of next week’s showdown with USC at the Big House.

Here are the game balls for the Week 3 win as handed out by The Wolverine’s panel of Chris Balas, Clayton Sayfie and Anthony Broome.

Chris Balas: Graduate RB Kalel Mullings

Michigan entered Week 3 looking to re-establish its identity on offense, built around winning in the trenches and churning out yards in the run game. Fifth-year back Kalel Mullings paced the offense on Saturday, rushing for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries. If this team is going to be successful this year, a steady dose of Mullings and Donovan Edwards is going to have to lead the way, especially if the quarterback situation continues to be as frenetic as it has been over the first few weeks.

Clayton Sayfie: Graduate DB Makari Paige

Michigan’s secondary is still adjusting to life after Rod Moore and Makari Paige is doing his best to fill that void as best he can as the most experienced game rep guy in the safety rotation. Paige is one of the team’s most sure tacklers and also played well in coverage on Saturday, capping off his day with an interception late in the third quarter. The Wolverines still have a lot of growth to make on the back end of the defense, but Paige bounced back nicely in Week 3 after a Texas game that was far from his best outing in the Maize and Blue.

Anthony Broome: Senior RB Donovan Edwards

Most are fixated on the performance of Mullings, and rightfully so, but Edwards has quietly taken steps forward this year. We’re seeing him run harder and take on more contact than he has in the past, and he still led the team in rushes on Saturday with 17 carries for 82 yards. At some point, Michigan might need to revisit how those carries are doled out, but the body blows from Mullings are at some point going to free Edwards up for some of his vintage home run hits down the field. I walk out of non-conference play encouraged by what we have seen from both.

Michigan game ball honorable mentions

• Sophomore WR Fred Moore: 3 catches, 38 yards
• Junior TE Marlin Klein: 3 catches, 43 yards
• Junior TE Colston Loveland, 3 catches, 30 yards
• Senior DL Ike Iwunnah: 1 tackle, 1 TFL
• Linebackers Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann: 14 tackles combined, leading team with 7 apiece

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