Michigan RB Donovan Edwards on Sherrone Moore, 'the naysayers,' his 'hero' and more

INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan Wolverines football is in a new era under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, but players say the program is the same. Speaking at Big Ten Media Days, senior running back Donovan Edwards even said that Moore and former head man Jim Harbaugh don’t share differences as coaches outside of personality.

“Nah, there’s nothing different,” Edwards said. “Personality, yeah, different between him and Coach Harbaugh, but the philosophy is the exact same — and he knows that. It’s the same thing — most of our position coaches have left, but these new coaches are Michigan men and live up to the standard that we have created in 2021 and has been built.”

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Michigan, of course, has won the last three Big Ten titles and was crowned national champions last season. Moore was a huge piece of that successful run, most recently serving as offensive coordinator and line coach.

“Coach Moore has been here through the bad times and the good times, so he knows exactly what to do,” Edwards said. “He’s going to remain humble, and he’s gonna ultimately succeed at being the head coach at Michigan.”

Edwards added that the players “won’t let him down.”

Earlier in the day, Moore said that it’s a “blessing” to be the first African American head coach at Michigan, and that it shows that “every young man, regardless of the color of your skin, wherever you’re from, you can do whatever you want.”

“Don’t allow people to tell you that you can’t do something,” Moore continued. “If you want to go do it, go take the opportunity and strive to be great.”

Edwards, who was watching from further back in the room, was clapping loudly after that statement (and following Moore’s press conference as he walked off the stage).

“The four games that he was the head coach [in 2023], I believe it was a glimpse of his career at the University of Michigan,” Edwards said, referring to Moore taking over as interim head coach on four game days last season. “I’m ultimately excited for him and blessed that he’s the head coach.

“Just for him to be a black head coach, it’s a beautiful thing, because … and he said it earlier — nobody else clapped for him, I’m disappointed, y’all — he said regardless of color, being an African American head coach shows that throughout your hard work, that you can achieve anything. Regardless of your color, as well, you can achieve anything that you want to, as long as you put your mind to it. That’s my dawg.”

Last season, the Wolverines took on the mantra of ‘Michigan vs. Everybody,’ as it was embroiled in a scandal with the program facing accusations of illegal off-campus scouting (there’s no public proof of wrongdoing at this time, as an investigation is ongoing). Michigan won the Big Ten and national title anyway, finishing 15-0. The Wolverines were picked to win the conference last season but not this year, with the media placing them fourth in the preseason poll, behind Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State.

Edwards was asked about outsiders hoping Michigan fails.

“Haven’t people been saying that for long time for us? It doesn’t bother us,” the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder said. “The only thing we care about is what’s inside Schembechler Hall, the people that we see on a day-to-day basis, because they’re the ones who know what we go through every single day. That’s the only bond that matters to us.

“We don’t care what naysayers say or what people write about us or what they think about us, or even if they give us credit, because you can always hop on the bandwagon. But we appreciate all the support that we have, though.”

Donovan Edwards discusses his ‘hero’

Edwards, who’s appeared in 38 games at Michigan, was raised by his father, Kevin Edwards Sr., with a brother, Kevin Jr., three years older. His mother, Donna Edwards, passed away from cancer when the running back was two years old.

Edwards, who over the years has been open about his own battles both mentally and on the field, said his father’s strength has been an inspiration.

“I think my dad has a huge impact on who I am today, because my dad was a single father, raising two kids on his own since I was two and my brother was five,” Edwards said. “It wasn’t easy for him — I know that for a fact.

“I know it was tough for him, because he was still trying to go to school and working two jobs, at the same time still raising two kids on his own, winging it. Ultimately. I think he did a hell of a job, and I respect and admire my dad very much.

“My heart right now is just very compassionate because I know the struggles that he went through and the emotional damage that my dad has had to go through. My dad is my hero.”