Justice Haynes’ impressive spring opened eyes and turned heads
Running back Justice Haynes arrived at Michigan familiar with the expectations of a blue blood program, having come to U-M from Alabama. He knew there would be competition, embraced it, and as a result has already helped the offense tremendously.
Experience is one thing the Wolverines’ offensive skill position players don’t have a lot of, minus a player or two. That makes Haynes one of the veterans in the room entering his third year in college, and he’s already doing his part to lead. If quarterback Bryce Underwood gets the nod to start the opener, for example — and all indications are it’s headed that way — Haynes has already proven he can be a resource.
“I feel like it’s just being there for him. If he has a question he might not have answered yet, because I’ve been in college going on my third year now … just helping him in that aspect of it,” Haynes said. “But I also tell him all the time, at the end of the day, it’s just football. This game is so small in the big scheme of things. It’s just football. You’ve just got to go out and have fun like you’re 8 years old in the backyard.
“But he’s a tremendous leader [himself], a guy that came in and works hard, does everything he needs to do. He’s a guy that’s willing to take coaching, and if he continues to keep improving, he’s going to be a really, really good player.”
Ditto Haynes, who just scratched the surface of his potential of his potential at Alabama in a crowded backfield. Though he showed signs of what he could do — 79 carries, 448 yards (5.7 per carry), and 7 touchdowns last year alone — he’s ready for a bigger role.
Michigan proved to be the perfect landing spot once he hit the portal. The Wolverines needed someone to compete with sophomore-to-be Jordan Marshall, and it became even more important when junior Benjamin Hall announced his transfer to North Carolina.
Haynes and Marshall hit it off immediately. Both are expected to play significant roles this fall.
“That’s always a great thing,” Haynes said of the competition. “There’s only so much tread you have on the tires as a running back, and shelf life you have. To be able to have other guys in the room is also great … just competing.
“Iron sharpens iron. We talk about it every day. We want to be the best group in America. The only way we can do that is sharpening each other every day.”
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The goal — to make the offense explosive again. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey challenges them every day, Haynes said, to not be satisfied with just the 5- or 10-yard run, or for the receivers, the 15-yard gain. He wants big gainers, and there were a lot more this spring than last.
“We’re going to be explosive in all aspects … running, passing,” Haynes said. “We want to be even more explosive when blocking, combination blocks. When the ball in in the air, go get the ball. When you run it, be physical, make a play … we talk about it all the time.”
No matter who it is, he insisted. If it’s Marshall on the field, he’ll support him, or any other back.
“I hope to help the team any way I can,” Haynes said. “Be a complete back … be a leader to this team and show what I’m capable of doing. Being explosive, dominating when I get the chance …”
And more than anything, continue the winning tradition Michigan has developed over the last several years.
He seems to be a great fit.
