Donovan Edwards, ready to unleash his skillset, speaks on NFL aspirations
Michigan football has an offensive dynamo in junior running back Donovan Edwards, who has the ability to do it all. He is a home run threat whenever he gets a touch, and has improved as a running back in his time in Ann Arbor.
But he knows there is so much more to unlock for the young Michigan star.
Edwards might be the team’s best pure receiving threat, and that dual ability makes him a serious candidate to be Michigan’s offensive skill player of the year, even with Blake Corum back and healthy. There has been some buzz that the Wolverines could use both of them at the same time with Edwards getting touches out of the backfield or the slot.
RELATED: Donovan Edwards discusses an undisclosed injury he played with in 2022
While Edwards is not ready to give out the nuclear launch codes of Michigan’s offense, he likes the plan the staff has in place for him.
“I’m excited because I have a good plan for going into the season, and I’m ready to utilize it,” Edwards said from Wolverine Weekend at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. “I’m ready to show the world my full capabilities, how talented I am, and how great of a player I am. God has blessed me tremendously. So, I’m going to utilize that, and I’m going to give Him all the glory for that. That’s what I’m here for, to speak on that. It is a blessing that I’m able to do the things that I do that most players can’t do.
“I’m just ready to show the world, ready to show NFL scouts how great of a player they’re going to draft and how we could be so dominant, having me Blake and all the other players, skill players, on the team that we have, how dangerous we could be.”
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The 2023 NFL Draft had a pair of running backs selected in the first round in Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions). Edwards might be a little closer to Gibbs in skill set, but he is not exactly honed in on what other backs look like or how high they have been drafted.
“I don’t really study other backs,” Edwards said. “Maybe I am going to soon. But like, I just play my game, you know? I’ll look at the film like, ‘What can I do better?’
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“I was just watching a film on Christian McCaffrey [and how he was used]. I really like looking at how I do it, because I feel like I’m the best running back that has the skill set that I have, and it’s about me being able to utilize that to my full potential. So I’m also studying myself and other players.”
Edwards, pressed on a comparison for himself, said his closest comparison is the Boobie Miles character from the film Friday Night Lights, a do-it-all star on the field when healthy. Michigan would take that in a heartbeat, assuming good health.
“You can’t even describe it, you know? I’m like Boobie Miles, but just with a better ending,” Edwards said with a smile. “I could run, pass, catch. I could kick the field goal, mow the lawn, cut the grass… all that good stuff.
“But, whatever the coaches need me to do. I’ll play the wildcat. I’ll play DB if I have to — anything to help the team. My skill set is through the roof. My vision is amazing. My hands are amazing. So I just give the glory to God on that. He blessed me in a tremendous way.”
The Michigan star had 1,191 yards from scrimmage last year with 9 total touchdowns. FanDuel lists Edwards’ Heisman odds at +10000 ahead of the 2023 campaign, while Pro Football Focus lists him as the No. 62 overall prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class.
