How Michigan RB Donovan Edwards had his 'little Michael Jordan moment' against Penn State

Michigan Wolverines football called a timeout ahead of a 3rd and 11 on the Penn State 22-yard line with 6:14 to go in the second quarter, up 7-3 on the road at Beaver Stadium.

The Wolverines, who ran the ball 46 times to just 8 throws, dialed up a run despite it being traditionally a passing down. Running backs coach and run game coordinator Mike Hart told junior running back Donovan Edwards to “get the first down!”

Recalling the exchange Tuesday night after practice, Edwards said he replied or thought: “Damn, coach, alright, let me just play ball, you know?”

Michigan dialed up a run to the left, but Edwards cut it back toward open space on the short side of the field by the U-M sideline. He broke free, got past the first-down marker and was off to the races, crossing the goal line, pointing to the sky and bracing for the chest bumps he’d soon be engaging in.

The story of that play really begins once the Michigan offense got into formation before it began.

“Me and another defender, we’re locking eyes,” Edwards described. “I’m smiling at him, he’s smiling at me for like 10 seconds. Make the play, get a touchdown. My little [former NBA star] Michael Jordan moment right there.”

Asked if he was worried that the defender would know he’s getting the football, Edwards replied, with his signature smile, “I don’t care.”

From a statistical standpoint, Edwards hasn’t had the season that most expected him to enjoy, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. But he rose to to the occasion in the big game, as he often does.

“Donovan Edwards is always prepared for the big game,” he said on Michigan’s postgame radio show, speaking in third person.

“You know what it is, man,” Edwards added Tuesday, after being asked how he’s able to rise up. “I don’t know, man. I just think that, that’s something God has blessed me to do, something that he allows me to do. Even though sometimes I may average 2, 3 [yards per carry], another game it might be 5 carries a game. I keep my faith up high, and I think it’s just what God allows me to do. I’m going to always give Him the glory — the good, the bad. Every single time, I’m always just giving God the glory.”

Edwards rushed 10 times for 52 yards and the score. He had another 22-yard run earlier in the game, setting up 1 of 2 touchdowns on the afternoon for senior Blake Corum, his backfield mate who amassed a season-high 145 rushing yards on 26 carries.

The Wolverines ran 32 straight times to close out the game. That certainly wasn’t the plan, but with ‘mammoth’ six- and seven-offensive linemen sets, Michigan was able to pull off the victory over the No. 10 team in the country, at their place.

“It’s great, you know?” Edwards said. “It’s something that we’re not going into the game expecting 30 straight carries. It’s just something that we thought that we were able to do, so we just rolled with it. Everybody was being unselfish with the calls, the game plan at the moment. That just kind of exemplifies what this team is, and it’s an unselfish team.”

Corum and Edwards have been unselfish, happy for the other guy’s success throughout their careers and this season. When Corum was putting the game away with a 30-yard touchdown dash, his fellow Michigan running back was the first one off the sideline to celebrate. During his media availability Tuesday, he quickly pulled up a tweet with the photo showing his reaction.

Donovan Edwards watching Blake Corum's second touchdown run, he can't wait to explode out of the bench to celebrate with him pic.twitter.com/l4ycf5L6M2

— Patrick Barron (@BlueBarronPhoto) November 13, 2023

“I knew that he was going to score before he scored,” Edwards noted. “That’s the relationship that we got. It’s love between us. We’re not arguing about … he got 26 carries. I’m not arguing that like, bro, I should’ve gotten more. I don’t care. We won the game. I made an impact with the 10 carries that I had.

“It’s love with this team, with the program, the unselfishness. I think that Blake and I, the relationship that we have sparks the team, too. It’s easy for a running back to be selfish with the carries that they get, especially if they split it. So, I just feel like it’s a very unique relationship that we have. We’re true brothers, and we’re going to take our dogs to the dog park, too, on Sunday.”

‘Best coach in college football’ Jim Harbaugh status in doubt

Edwards and his Michigan teammates have said they won’t pay too much attention to the Friday court case that could determine whether or not head coach Jim Harbaugh can coach his team against Maryland and Ohio State to round out the regular season, after his unprecedented suspension from Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti.

“Coach Harbaugh, he’s a great guy,” Edwards said. “I can’t say what it is that is going on, because I don’t know. But it’s just kind of unfortunate to see what’s happening right now. Do I think he deserves it? No. Do I think he’s the best coach in college football right now? Absolutely. Do I want him to be on the sideline coaching with us? Absolutely.

“But the thing with him is, he’s prepared us to go through the battles without him, even when he’s not there. His mentality is, next man up, even with himself. It’s really a testament to how this team is, the way that he carries his own self. As soon as we played Penn State and we came home, he was the most excited person. He wan’t bitter that he wasn’t coaching. He prepared [Michigan offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and interim head man] Coach [Sherrone] Moore, [defensive coordinator] Coach [Jesse] Minter, all the coaches on the coaching staff, too, to coach in replacement of him. The same thing happened for the first three games, he wasn’t there and we still did a jolly good job in the game.”