Karan Higdon Appreciation thread
I remember Karan Higdon flipping... vaguely. I think I was still on cloud 9 after Coach Harbaugh signing. But where would we be without Mr. Higdon?
Chris Evans is banged up this year. It would've been 'next man up' and all that, but Higdon would be hard to replace. He always seems to fall forward and when going down, finds that spot where he can add 2 yards to the gain. Tough, smart running back.
I'm sure the coaching staff would've developed someone (Wilson, etc), but can't help look back on Higdon choosing to Go Blue with a giant 'thank God he did'.
It's a long 2 weeks till next game so a hopefully a Mr Higdon appreciation thread can help fill the void.
Currently 831yds with 6tds. He'll get 1000 this year, but kind of glad he didn't that extra 6 yards last year or we might not be here. Sorry if a similar thread was posted. I missed it if was.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
This is surely going to jinx it, but I very much appreciate Karan's ability to not fumble. Obviously Wisconsin just knocked one out of his arm last week, but I'm consistently holding onto the edge of my sofa as 5 defenders hang off his ball-carrying arm because I just expect it to get stripped but he rarely, rarely fumbles.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
Yes, I appreciate.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^
33 carries Saturday in terrible weather and a defense with some very good defenders. Was running just as viciously on the last carry as the first. It was a heroic performance from where I was sitting. The young man wore them out.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
Also, the footing on that field was really bad. He (and everyone else) lost some yards due to slipping. And MSU is supposed to be experts in turf management.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
As others have pointed out (exaggerated too) he doesn't always make the best or right cut. But if you need 3 yards, give him the ball and that guy will run through a brick wall to get you those 3 yards (assuming he doesn't get hit at the mesh point from the gun). He has had to break a lot of tackles in the backfield over his career and I'm impressed he has done as well as he had given the OL struggles early last year.
His 38 yarder against MSU was all him. Broke a TFL and then another after 4 yards, then made a cut, got his blockers in front of him, and then stayed in bounds to get another 2-3 yards. That personifies Higdon. Looking forward to seeing healthy down the stretch.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:45 PM ^
I am a big fan of his. While I still think his vision, in rare instances, this year still could use some work, BUT WOW has that part of his game has improved. It seemed like 5-6 times a game last year he was running the wrong way or missing a hole and now it seems rare and those rare misses are more than made up for by his power and/or slipperiness.
I appreciate Karan! Glad he came back.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
Karan has been fantastic. Lot of fun to see his emergence as the top RB.
I've been contemplating putting together a board post about this, but how do people see Karan transitioning to the NFL? Does he have a future there? Any comparably-sized/skilled players who have stuck?
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^
He seems very "Hart-like" to me in terms of skill set and running style. As such, he could land on an NFL roster as Hart did, but I'm not sure he's starter material. I'd love to be proven wrong. We shall see.
October 23rd, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
I think Karan is a bit quicker than Hart and certainly has better top end speed than Mike did. Mike was niftier though with a little better vision.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:55 PM ^
I have no idea about his pro prospects but I can see him getting a good shot, especially if he gets more targets in the passing game this season.
Chris Johnson, LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles are around the same size but I am not sure Higdon is as fast.
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
Chris Johnson is potentially the fastest RB in NFL history; Charles isn't far behind.
I'm pretttty sure Higdon isn't as fast. With that, Higdon is the sh*t. I think he will find a role for a few years at least.
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:59 PM ^
How about Kareem Hunt? Hunt measured 5'10, 216 at the combine and ran a 4.62.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
he fuckin rocks
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
Been beating the Higdon drum since day 1.
Love Chris Evans too but everyone wanted Evans (or anyone else) last year when the line was bad and no-one could get many yards. Karan proved he could block, make (most) of the cuts and be the workhorse we didn't necessarily want, but absolutely needed.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^
Better than Webber.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:48 PM ^
Much much much better.
I don't know if it's coaching, talent, or scheme but Webber really screwed up falling for Urban's snake oil.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:16 PM ^
Totally agree, but you mean Weber.
Webber is Chris, of the Fab Five and still wandering the MGoWilderness. Like most 6-11 guys, he's certainly not a very good running back. But he was one of the best damn power forwards this blue orb has every seen, and we've no data on Higdon's hardcourt perfomance by which to compare.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
6-9. Might have been able to play TE.
October 23rd, 2018 at 7:01 PM ^
Yep..remember all of that drama and feeling like Michigan got beat again by OSU...but NOPE Harbaugh got the better man and will beat OSU/Weber again but this time on the field in just a few weeks.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^
He was my preseason Dark Horse to be invited to New York for the Heisman. I don't think he'll be there unless he has some monster 250+ yard games down the homestretch, but I would take him over just about any back in the country for this team.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:44 PM ^
So who takes Higdon's carries next year? Evans hasn't shown he can be the workhorse, and Tru Wilson is a solid 2/3 but not sure about 1. Are we banking on Christian Turner or O'Maury Samuels taking the reigns? Incoming FR Zach Charbonnet?
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^
A lot of people have been saying Charbonnet would be ready to go week 1.
I think it goes back to RB by committee for the start of next year until someone elevates themselves over the others.
Evans will be the "starter" but I doubt he gets more than 50% of the carries just because he's not that type of back.
Turner is seemingly step for step with Samuels right now so he'd probably be in the mix as well.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
Turner and Samuels both looked good in the carries they've gotten this season and we know what Evans can do. I think it'll come down to who can also pass block.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:27 PM ^
I hope Evans develops over the offseason. Maybe it's the leg injury, maybe he hasn't grok'd the Oline progress as well, but he seems to be falling behind a bit. Fumbling doesn't help.
Wilson seems to be Higdon Lite, which is certainly something nice, but it seems like he is also fading into the background.
I highly doubt one of the freshmen will be a great pass blocker, but as we've seen, it can happen.
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Samuels is the closest thing you will find to a Higdon clone. Evans is a terrific young man but he is already down to the 4th or 5th best back on this team...and that is not necessarily a bad thing-except for him personally. We will see how Charbonnet adjusts to big-time college ball...I think he will do just fine.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:49 PM ^
During Michigan's journey in the wilderness (2008-2014) I would sometimes watch Iowa games and usually their bowl game and just marvel at how they could keep churning out good RB after good RB (despite AIRBHG) wondering what Michigan would have to do to get back to that situation. Turns out, Michigan simply had to steal Iowa's RB recruit. I was happy the day he announced and have been happy every game he has played in since. Love watching him play the game. He's what a Michigan RB should be. Tough, smart, well rounded.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
Hmm, wonder if Iowa has any RBs in their '19 and '20 classes...
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
Glad Webber bit the one. With 3 running prospects, and Turner turning heads when healthy, I like next year's backfield. Hopefully they can block as well as Mr. Higdon.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^
Aaarrgh. Weber, dammit. Weber.
October 23rd, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
Let's compromise: Webbber.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
Love, love, love Karan Higdon... 2 years ago I thought Chris Evans was that dude but unfortunately not anymore... I will tell you this Christian Turner is a freaggn stud and I am not sure why Tru Wilson is getting more snaps than him but 2019 is going to be Christian Turner tearing it up...
But back to the OP Higdon is built like a brick sh*t house and I swear he imposes his will on the defenders throughout the game... He deserves more credit and maybe he will when he outperforms Sanders like he did Taylor a few weeks ago...
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
Karan is currently 6th in the country in total rushing yards... Not necessarily something that a lot of us would have predicted but he is tied right up there with Shea as the most important player on offense for me....
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
He has developed into a really dependable running back, which has been great for us. He gets hard yards and blocks well. He's almost developed into a De'Veon Smith style running back, with much better big play ability.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
I wouldn't trade Karan for anybody.
Especially punk-ass Weber.
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
He's a stud and my favorite player on the team. With some breaks and a little luck, he could reach 1500 yards if we make it to the playoffs. Obviously, he has to keep averaging what he currently is, as well how much playing time he gets against Rutgers and maybe even Indiana. Regardless, I think he has a promising pro career ahead of him.
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:02 PM ^
He has become a damn good player. Is he the best Michigan RB since Hart? I'm not sure who else you'd argue for other than maybe Toussaint or Minor.
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
Toussaint went over 1k in 2011. Think some of it was from Denard going for like 1700+ rushing in 10 and keying on him in 11. Fitz fell off in 2012.
But yes, best since Hart. Although, Idk how close he gets to Harts production. I think he had like over 1600 total yards in 06.
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^
Hail, hail!
I remember Karan getting some early carries that first year which wiped out his redshirt; some folks were questioning Coach Harbaugh's decision. He's always been a courageous, hard running back, in the mold of a Chris Perry, which is some high praise indeed. I like the way he runs; looking forward to seeing how many yards he gets, how many more big runs he gets, and if he is up for the Doak Walker.
October 23rd, 2018 at 4:53 PM ^
From his very first carries I was impressed. At the time, we had slow backs who didn't hit the holes hard. When he got his first carries, it was like "Holy Shit! That guy runs hard!"
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^
Would love for Higdon to finish his senior year with a win over Mike Weber and the Buckeyes.
October 23rd, 2018 at 4:21 PM ^
When Weber bolted to OSU he was dead to me(God Father). I jumped on the Karan bandwagon and never looked back. Karan has been terrific M man.
October 23rd, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
There is so much to like about him. Guy must be a work horse because not only does he go to school and play football, but has a family. It's really impressive and he's carried himself with class the entire time. Been following Michigan football since '79 and he's one of my favorites to play since then.
October 23rd, 2018 at 4:28 PM ^
Absolutely highest respect! Looking back to when he first signed: 1) MichiganMan24 said he knew him and that we'd be ecstatic with him (you were right, sir) and 2) Ferentz was livid when he flipped. Ferentz knows a thing or two about tough, smart backs, so that was a good sign.
October 23rd, 2018 at 6:48 PM ^
I hope Hig gets 1,000 against Penn State.
October 23rd, 2018 at 8:12 PM ^
This caused me to look up the single game rushing record: 427 yards on 34 carries. I'd be fine with that performance against Franklin.
October 23rd, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
We are fortunate he chose Michigan. Thank you Karan.
October 24th, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^
I'm going to quote Higdon from the post MSU episode of the "In the Trenches" Podcast:
interviewer: You had 33 carries; did you get tired at all?
Higdon: Nope, you don't get tired of beating somebody....
"In the first quarter, I had the chance to run over the Safety and that spooked him right then and there. We let them know we were going to be there all. day. long. And we did that. And like I told you a couple of weeks ago, I like to run through somebody's face."
Yep, that's exactly what I'd hope to hear from our RB1 after a performance like that.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:31 AM ^
Probably top 3 most irreplaceable guys on the squad. Bush, Winovich, Higdon. Add Long and DPJ to round out top 5.