Michigan running back CJ Stokes appears to be the real deal
Michigan fans were up in arms about running back recruiting last season. There was “why can’t [assistant] Mike Hart land a great back?” talk, and not a whole lot of excitement when CJ Stokes pledged.
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It took one fall camp and a handful of carries to change the narrative.
Hart knows what he’s looking for in a running back, and he and the staff appear to have found a great one in Stokes. The buzz started early in camp, crescendoed by the last week, and came to a head when Stokes ran 6 times for 35 yards (including an 18-yard run) and caught a pass for 15 yards in a 51-7 Michigan win over Colorado State.
“I really thought he was going to have a big game,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday. “I told him that in the days leading up to the game — ‘I don’t know if it will be this game or the next, but you’ll be one of those freshmen that everybody’s talking about.’ He’s just good.
“It’s super important to him. He is a studier and a very, very focused player. And he’s really talented, too. So, it’s fun to see his first run be a 13-, 14-yard pick-up and a first down.”
Hart hasn’t been available yet this fall to talk about his protege. Former Michigan running backs coach [now safeties and still special teams coach] Jay Harbaugh was, though. So we asked him last week what makes Stokes so good since he might factor into the kick return game, too, at some point.
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Harbaugh didn’t hesitate in adding to the praise.
“He’s just practiced really well,” the Michigan assistant said. “He’s the guy who showed up from the beginning and was just playing at a really high speed. A lot of times with young players, when they are learning, mentally, they’re not quite sure what to do. Some guys slow down to try to figure it out.
“He’s one of those guys that plays at full speed, even if he has some uncertainty of what’s going on, which is a great quality to have.”
It shows on the field. He’s also physical and has acceleration through the hole.
Stokes continues to learn patience, as well. There was one carry on which he ran into a pulling lineman before hesitating and showing burst for a nice gain.
In short, though, he’s coming along quickly on a loaded Michigan offense. He’s far from a finished product — but watch out when he even gets close.
