Michigan RB Ben Hall on emulating Blake Corum, what he's seen from Jordan Marshall, others

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines sophomore running back Benjamin Hall is entering the 2024 season with an opportunity to earn a job behind veterans Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings. It is that type of backfield depth that gave him a template to work with last season as a true freshman.

The Georgia native and former three-star recruit appeared in three games last season and had 15 carries for 69 yards in limited action. Now, he has a chance to be the next running back off the bench behind U-M’s stalwarts.

It will be a learning experience regardless, but he is more ready to roll this time around.

“I just think the game has slowed down for me a lot, in terms of understanding everything that’s going on,” Hall told the media on Thursday afternoon. “I’ve leaned away from doing what’s best for me… to doing whatever I can to help the team this year. [That’s] my goal.

“It was my second spring ball back and [it] started to slow down this camp. Everything just went higher and higher and higher. I just continue to build on that until the season and just make it my mark this year.”

The depth and skill training that Michigan has at its disposal during game weeks help accelerate his development, he feels, and the veterans in front of him gave him something to work off of.

“When I didn’t see the field, I learned so much from the people in front of me,” Hall said. “I think last year, it was just as beneficial as it ever could have been in terms of me showing up here every day and playing against the best guys in the country. So anything I saw on Saturday couldn’t have been better than what I saw on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Among the players he emulated was Blake Corum, a modern Michigan legend and one of the key cogs in last year’s run to the national title. His leadership and example has rubbed off on the guys still in Ann Arbor

“He’s just so consistent in everything he does,” Hall said. “He shows up every day. He’s such a great leader. I guess just trying anything I can do to help emulate what he did and be a huge step in the right direction. He was such a huge part of this Michigan team last year.”

A competitive, not combative Michigan running back group

Hall will not have anything handed to him during his sophomore season. Edwards and Mullings lead the way at the top of the depth chart, but there is a lot to sort out in the room from there. But the competition has not led to any in-fighting or hurt feelings.

“When you’re in a room full of people that you love, it’s just like you’re competing with them every day,” Hall said. “But once it’s off the field, that’s your brother, that’s your guy. Even when you’re on the field, you go make a play, you come out to the sideline and you’re like, ‘What could I have done better? What could I do better?’ Because that guy next to you is just as good if not better.

“It’s just a room full of guys that can help each other get better. And I think we’re gonna be a huge part of this team this year.”

Michigan’s running backs this year were recruited to the program with Mike Hart in mind as their position coach, but are now led by Tony Alford. Alford, who joined the Wolverines via Ohio State this spring, has been a positive influence on his players.

“I just love the way he communicates with me,” Hall said. “Everything’s wide out in the open. Anytime I have a question, I know I can go ask him and I’ll talk to him. He just pushes me to that next gear, I’d say. That’s why I’ve been so successful is just because he brings the best out of everybody in that room and he’s tailoring it to different people in different ways because we’re all so different.”

“He’s brought the best out of me and just doing whatever I can to keep this thing going to the season.”

How the other young backs are pushing each other

Hall’s battle for playing time sees him competing with classmate Cole Cabana and a pair of true freshmen, Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana. Marshall might be the most intriguing as a top-100 prospect and the crown jewel of the 2024 cycle, and many believe it will not take long for him to make an impact in Ann Arbor.

“He’s brought so much energy and so much juice,” Hall said. ” He just comes out there every day and gives his all. He runs so hard. I think he’s a great addition to this room, and if not this year, he’s gonna be a name to remember at Michigan, for sure.”

Cabana has a skill set that could make him a dangerous change-of-pace back and returner at Michigan, while Ka’apana brings a similar toolkit with him into the program. Hall spoke highly of their names, too.

“Micah’s come in and run hard every day,” Hall said. “He’s not large in stature, but his personality is huge. And he just kind of goes in there and does his thing every day. He’s making runs where I’m like, ‘How could I ever do that?’ Or he just goes in there and gives us all every play. I think he’s going to be great Michigan tailback as well.

“Cole… you can multitask and ask him to do anything. Put him in the slot, put him in the backfield. I mean, he’s a great addition to this team. And the way he’s attacking this camp, it’s been really beautiful to watch. He’s making plays in the backfield, making plays in the slot, flying down on kickoff.

“Anything you’re asking him to do, he’s doing it at a high level. That’s what you love to see, because he’s my classmate.”