Jim Harbaugh updates injury status of Michigan RB Kalel Mullings, identifies late-season breakout candidates

Michigan Wolverines football senior running back Kalel Mullings broke out earlier in the 2023 season, but missed the team’s last two games, a 52-7 victory over Indiana and 49-0 win over Michigan State, with an undisclosed injury. Now, head coach Jim Harbaugh says he’ll more than likely play this weekend against Purdue (Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor).

“It’s looking that way. It’s trending that way,” Harbaugh noted on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show with host Jon Jansen, U-M’s radio analyst and former All-American and national championship winning offensive tackle. “Like, highly likely. I don’t guarantee anything. But highly [likely].”

RELATED
• Monday Musings: More details on Michigan weekend meetings, next steps
• Josh Wallace on Michigan experience meeting his expectations, DJ Waller Jr., Amorion Walker, more

Mullings, a converted linebacker, impressed at the end of Michigan’s 31-7 win over Rutgers Sept. 23, carrying 6 times for 40 yards. That earned him some early playing time in a 45-7 triumph over Nebraska the following week. He exploded for a 20-yard touchdown on a cutback in the first quarter and totaled 43 yards on 5 rushes. He put up 47 yards on 8 carries and 13 yards on 1 catch in a 52-10 triumph over Minnesota the next Saturday.

Mullings has played behind starter Blake Corum, a senior and 2022 unanimous All-American, and backup Donovan Edwards, a junior, but carved out more of a role for himself before the injury. He has served as a short-yardage specialist, picking up 11 first downs and averaging 4.3 yards after contact on 30 rushes.

“It’s another weapon,” Harbaugh added of the 6-2, 239-pounder’s impending return. “He was really, really hitting his stride there when he had that pause. But back — running and knocking the rust off as of today.”

Harbaugh also mentioned that Michigan graduate nickel back Mike Sainristil is healthier. Senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, meanwhile, was limited in practice leading up to the MSU game but could also be progressing.

“What a tenacious warrior he’s been,” Harbaugh said of Sainristil. “He played two or three games there with not being all the way to where he could practice all week and still play in the game. And he’s so good when he has a full week of practice under his belt.

“Kris Jenkins has been dominating. He had the week last week where he didn’t get a full week of practice in either, and hoping that, that’s [not] going to be the case now for this week.”

Jim Harbaugh identifies potential late-season breakout Michigan players

Jansen asked Harbaugh who he believes is “on the cusp of breaking out” late in the season. The Michigan coach pointed to a number of players.

“Guys like [sophomore] Derrick Moore and [junior] Josaiah Stewart — both EDGE guys. The linebackers — I know they’ve already broken out, but [junior linebacker] Junior Colson is playing his best football as a Michigan Wolverine. [Graduate] Michael Barrett. I’d put [sophomore] Ernest Hausmann in that category. The defense, the secondary and just them being healthy and the depth that we have there. It’s so encouraging. Guys like [sophomore cornerback] Amorion Walker and [sophomore cornerback] Will Johnson and Mike Sainristil.

“… [Sophomore defensive tackle] Kenneth Grant. I think everyone already knows about [sophomore] Mason Graham and KG and what they’ve been able to do. So just always striving to get better.

“I think you asked me one week, ‘What are you working on?’ I mean, even though you’re good and it almost sounds like you’re just nitpicking to try to get better, but you’re always just pointing out how you can get better. You know, as an offensive lineman, you could be playing good, lights out, but there’s always something — hand placement, get-off with the defensive line. Offensively, that precision.

“And I don’t talk to these guys in a way that’s critical, and they don’t take it that way. It’s like they want their coaches to keep coaching them and to push them. And our guys are great that way. They’re very coachable, and you explain it like, ‘I know this is going to sound like nitpicking here, but I think you’d be mad at me if I didn’t.’”