Michigan RBs coach dishes on group: Donovan Edwards teases him about OSU 'every day'

The Michigan Wolverines are breaking in a new running backs coach, Tony Alford, this spring, who comes over after nine years at Ohio State. The run game is much more of an emphasis and part of the team’s identity in Ann Arbor, and Alford has plenty to work with.

Meeting with the Michigan media for the first time on Wednesday, Alford ran through what he’s learned so far about the group he has to work with.

“A great group of young men,” Alford said. “They want to be coached, they want to learn. So anxious to learn. They play hard. And I think that’s the culture that’s been built here, a culture of toughness. And so to watch them practice to where they go about their daily business, really good. So I’ve enjoyed that. So that’s kind of thing I’ve seen — just a culture of toughness. I think they want to learn and they play hard.”

Michigan’s running back group is projected to be led by Donovan Edwards, who torched the Buckeyes to the tune of 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns – from 75 and 85 yards out, respectively – in the 45-23 win during the 2022 season. And the soon-to-be senior teases Alford every day about it.

“He’s quick to tell me pretty much daily. ‘Coach, I’ve never lost to you,’ and I’m like yeah, I got it, onto the next,” Alford said. “He’s a great kid. I’ve known him throughout recruiting, obviously recruited him. I have known him and his dad for a long time. Much respect for him. He’s had a nice career up to this point and hopefully, we can continue that on his last season here. But he’s been a joy to be around and work with. So we’ve always got along so it’s good. It’s good to have him.

“Again, he’s just like everybody else. He’s trying to learn and get better. He’s a leader of this football team, one of the leaders of this football team that I’ve seen thus far, and kind of the alpha male leader in our room, so to speak. So it’s been really good to work with him thus far.”

Edwards chose between Michigan and Ohio State, among others, on the recruit trail and Alford played a major role in that pursuit. It did not go his way the first time around, but he is grateful for the chance to coach him now.

“He is what I kind of thought he’d be,” Alford said. “He’s a dynamic player and there’s still some things we need to work on. And he will tell you that as well. Continue to progress and become a complete player, which we also desire for him to be — more so he desires to be. So there’s still some work to be done. But yeah, he’s what I thought he was. He’s bigger than I thought he’d be, you know, as far as weight and things of that nature. But, he’s a highly, highly competitive kid. Always kind of knew he was, but he’s about what I thought he was going to be. He can make plays.”

The Michigan backs could take the form of another two-man duo at the top of the depth chart with Kalel Mullings filling out the other spot. Alford is expecting a ton from him in an expanded role as he continues to hone his craft.

“I think he’s a dynamic player,” Alford said. “I think the guy’s got an opportunity to make a lot of plays. He’s a smart, smart player. Still learning the running back trade per se. Works hard. He’s an extremely talented player. He has to work to continue to show — another guy that is a leader in his own right. A little different than Donovan, maybe not as vocal, but very dynamic personalities.”

The rest of the guys will position themselves for playing time from there, and Alford ran through the other guys that he has worked with this spring in Ann Arbor:

You’ve got Tavierre [Dunlap] — a good player. Continue to get to know these guys. These guys all a little different. He’s a little longer, striding guy. Works his tail off and I know he’s worked his tail off on special teams throughout the years. So continue to work with him and he’s been a joy to work with.

Benjamin Hall — he redshirted last year. And big body — he’s 230, 235 pounds. He’s had a good spring. He’s had a little history as far as running vertically, he’s tough to tackle. But he’s (big), he runs hard. It’s hard to get a solid hit on him, because there’s a lot of surface area to hit.

Cole Cabana — still evaluating him. He missed some time — nothing major, just some nagging pain. But again, another kid we haven’t had an opportunity to evaluate a lot. Obviously he’s hungry and we’re gonna see what he can do for our team.

Henry Donohue, he’s a walk-on that makes plays all the time. It’s kind of wild to see he’s always making plays. We’ve got Bryson — Bryson’s another young guy that’s walked on but he’s earning his stripes.

The work will continue as spring ball rounds into its final form.

“I’ve been very impressed with all of them,” Alford said. “They’re good kids, they work really hard. We are still in an evaluation process, so to speak. They can say it or not, but they’re still evaluating me as a coach. They came here under Mike who’s obviously very well-renowned, has done a great job throughout his whole career — as a player and as a coach, you know, has done so many good things for this place. So they’re still kind of evaluating me and I’m still in the evaluation process, seeing who’s who and what guys can do. And we’re still going through the learning curve, so to speak.”

Camp concludes with the spring game in Ann Arbor on April 20.