Visitors this weekend
Football! Recruiting! Off-season hype!
Michigan has several recruits coming to campus this weekend, mostly 2023 guys. But a couple other important, more immediate prospects are coming in the form of Tulane transfer DT Jefferey Johnson and 2022 high school recruit Andrew Paul, a 3-star running back. Paul is a 5'11", 220 lb. back who could step in and potentially help fill the role of departing grinder Hassan Haskins.
Here's the full list if you want to check it out (LINK).
January 13th, 2022 at 9:25 PM ^
I don't understand why they keep saying fill the hole from haskins. Edward's and Corum are set. If one goes down they want a 3rd guy ready imo. They'd be stupid to not utilize Edward's now.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:34 PM ^
Edward's what is set?
Utilize Edward's what?
January 13th, 2022 at 9:39 PM ^
I agree with you. You don't understand.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:41 PM ^
They have Dunlap from last years class and CJ Stokes but that’s it…not a lot of numbers.
January 14th, 2022 at 7:22 AM ^
Stokes?
January 14th, 2022 at 7:58 AM ^
Yeah stoked I fixed it now. Autocorrect and such.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:46 AM ^
Article on Andrew Paul in The Athletic. Dallas kid whose recruitment has blown up out of nowhere following a huge second half to his senior season. We are talking about teenagers and some bloom later than others. In that regard Paul resembles Haskins. See also Bell, Ronnie.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:41 PM ^
There’s a reason Haskins was the guy who was counted on in pretty much every 3rd/4th and short type situation this past season. Because he was 220lbs and the type of runner most likely to pick up a yard that might not be there for a 200lb back.
That’s why. That’s probably why Michigan also went after the big ASU kid who ended up choosing LB at OSU. Because they know it’s a role that could be useful to them and a role that Haskins made some take for granted.
Could Edwards/Corum handle the role? Let’s hope so. But the truth is we won’t know until it happens regularly.
Personally, I’d like to think the offense as a whole will progress enough with all of the returning players that it will offset any issues that could arise without Haskins. We shall see though.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:01 PM ^
Keep recruiting top level talent. That is how we get closer to Georgia and Alabama. Every year. Every position. Can never have too much depth
January 16th, 2022 at 5:52 PM ^
5* = success
January 13th, 2022 at 11:46 PM ^
"potentially help fill the role"
I like that the OP acknowledged that H2 was an elite talent. I agree with you and others that we need a 220 lb battering ram for short yardage situations but Hassan was special. It's not going to be easy filling those DB hurdling shoes.
Having said that though, it will be interesting to see the degree to which our RB room adopts Mike Hart's tough running style.
January 14th, 2022 at 8:06 AM ^
Haskins' role they are trying to replace.... FB. Recruit a freaking FB.
Call him a superback or some BS if Gattis is that against having a FB on the roster.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:34 AM ^
Donovan Edwards is 6 ft and over 200 pounds already. Give him another offseason and I bet he's over 210 and can take the role of Haskins, though he probably won't be as good at always getting at least one yard because its not just about size but also running style.
The problem they are trying to address is seemingly not having a third running back they trust or like at all. Them continuing to go after running backs is a sign they don't have a ton of faith in Dunlap or Stokes to be able to carry any weight if one of the top 2 goes down. They aren't bringing in any of these guys for an important 3rd and 1 over Corum or Edwards.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:49 PM ^
Agree
January 13th, 2022 at 9:48 PM ^
I agree with this general sentiment (perhaps not the details illustrated above though). You don't need thunder and lightning. You need the players that can execute the game plan. This year's game plans called for a lot of thunder. Next year's roster has a lot of lightning. My focus would be on changing some offensive concepts or patterns to best match our roster instead of trying to replicate something, which may be a futile task.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:48 PM ^
I don't understand why people keep asking why we need to replace Haskins.
He and Corum were thunder-lightning.
Corum and Edwards are lightning-lightning.
You need a power back for short yardage and change of pace.
Also, you need 3-4 viable backs in a season.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
I still see Edward's as a thunder or lightning. He's capable of power running imo, haskins wasn't thunder until his Jr year.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:27 PM ^
Sorry .......
January 13th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^
I laughed. At least he's committed to the approach, I guess.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^
dreaded double post ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
January 14th, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
Donovan does not have the frame to be a power back. His future is likely at slot; less pounding ,larger checks. Unfortunately, He didn’t seem open to a switch.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:18 PM ^
Keep posting. More will eventually figure it out. We need more talent with every recruit that comes to Michigan.
January 13th, 2022 at 11:02 PM ^
So you're saying if Michigan simply stopped focusing on recruiting the water boys that made up last year's B1G Championship team, and signed all the 5*'s instead, we would be more likely to all the football games.. that's truly ground breaking stuff right there.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:45 PM ^
I do agree you need a short yardage back on your roster to manage those types of situations, but I'm not necessarily sure you need to feature a power runner like Haskins if it doesn't suit the skills of your most talented rushers on the roster.
Part of what made Michigan's offense so effective last season is that they ran an offense that complimented what the most talented running backs on their offense were good at. In the case of Haskins, he was at his very best (not that he couldn't make plays on the perimeter too) when he was running trap/down g/inside zone between the tackles. He is a very powerful runner sure, but he also happened to be one of the best players on the roster last season. So it makes sense to tailor your offensive playbook to accentuate what your best players are good at.
There is no reason why Michigan shouldn't be able to do that for the 2022 season. Their top two running backs bring a different dynamic than Haskins/Corum did, but that doesn't change the fact they're still an extremely talented duo; it should be on the coaches to utilize them as such. Hopefully Dunlap can develop into the role of the guy that brings the wood when it's needed. But I don't think it's necessarily mission critical to find a plug and play Haskins simply because that's what was effective for the offense last year. Just once again tailor the run game strategy to accentuate what our playmakers at running back do best in 2022.
January 14th, 2022 at 3:10 AM ^
"Also, you need 3-4 viable backs in a season."
Tell that to my chiropractor. Ok, letting the door hit me on the way out. Goodnight everyone.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:37 AM ^
Why do people not think Edwards can be a power back? He's 6 ft 200+ as a freshman which is similar size to Haskins as a freshman. Give him an offseason in the weight room and he's probably getting up to 210.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:50 PM ^
The "hole" from Haskins is the role as a power-back/short yardage guy. Not a hole in production or skill. Edwards and Corum should get the bulk of the touches, but neither yet has exactly proved to be a tough, short yardage guy to keep drive's alive like HH was.
January 14th, 2022 at 7:48 AM ^
You all realize that Edwards is not a small scat back right? He's 6'0" 202. Weight will probably increase as he gets older. He wasn't asked to get the short tough yard last year because H2 was there. But that doesn't mean he can't do it.
January 14th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
"But that doesnt mean he can't do it"
No, but that doesnt mean he can either, and the staff that sees him and Corum and Dunlap everyday has decided they want to add something to the RB room (Trayanum, Paul)
January 14th, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
I don't really get it either. Junior Corum, sophomore Edwards, and sophomore Dunlap should be more than adequate. I like Dunlap as a power back
January 14th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
ASU back was to fill the Haskins role. A 2022 recruit isn't going to get those high leverage 3rd and 1 carries. This is for depth and the future.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:36 PM ^
Andrew Paul may be the #64 RB to 247 but his offer list (Clemson, ND, Oregon, Auburn) is chock full of schools that regularly produce very good running backs. I’m in.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
He also blew up in the state playoffs (with like 1k rushing yards just in those games). It seems like for the most part the recruiting services are done making big rankings moves at that point.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:40 PM ^
I wonder if Elston can be there already to recruit Jefferey Johnson the DT
January 14th, 2022 at 9:00 AM ^
He is not coming from very far away, if nothing else he could drive over for the day lol
January 14th, 2022 at 11:16 AM ^
If they are pursuing him, Elston has made contact. He would be recruiting him already. If he cannot be there this weekend he will certainly swing through his hometown in the near future.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
Andrew Paul is only a 3 star? We can't have three stars visiting, I mean Hassan Haskins was a...nevermind.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
Don’t beat Georgia with 3*.
January 15th, 2022 at 12:35 AM ^
Right! You need a walk-on like their quarterback.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:07 PM ^
Tweet from Holland about another recruit visiting. He is considered a ND lean but with Elston coming to Michigan it could change that.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:01 AM ^
Him visiting the first weekend Elston is hired, is a really good sign
January 14th, 2022 at 3:28 AM ^
People act like you need a 'thunder and lightning' the same way you need a qb. Plenty of teams and plenty of michigan teams have been quite good with just one good running back or two similar ones. Sure if you have 2 great running backs and one is fast and one is tough you call them thunder and lightning but its crazy how this board acts like we're doomed next year because we have no thunder. Who cares? We have two great rbs.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:02 AM ^
No one is acting like UM is "doomed" without a thunder. Another poster asked why they would need to fill the Haskins hole, and they got a bunch of good answers about needing depth and a player with a similar skill set as Haskins. Obviously the coaching staff has had somewhat similar thoughts, as they were interested in Trayanum and now Paul.
January 14th, 2022 at 9:54 AM ^
I care.
Yes, Michigan has two good backs. That doesn't mean when it's 3rd-and-2, I want to see Edwards/Corum slamming it up inside.
Jim Harbaugh likes big backs. He's had a bunch of successful ones, and he knows how to use them. Based on the 2021 season, Gattis knows how to use them, too.
This is like saying, "Who cares if Rich Rodriguez has a statue for a quarterback?" Sure, it's possible for statues to be successful. But running quarterbacks work for Rodriguez. Why would you want Rodriguez to work with a statue when that's not the personnel that he uses best?
January 14th, 2022 at 10:21 AM ^
I consider Edwards to be a pretty big back and would rather him be out there on a 3rd and 2 than some guy who happens to weigh 220 instead of 210 but isn't nearly the athlete or receiving threat Edwards is.
I don't know why people don't see Edwards as a big enough back? Haskins constantly got 2 yards because of his running style and being a really good running back, not because he weighed 10 more pounds than Edwards will next year. Plenty of guys are successful short down backs at 210, the question is whether Edwards has the skill, not that he isn't big enough.
January 14th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
You answered your own question. It's not about Haskins or Edwards' size, its about the skill to get those type of yards.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
Karan Higdon was not a big back, and he was 5'10" and 202 lbs.
Donovan Edwards is listed at 6'0" and 202 lbs.
So Higdon and Edwards weigh the same, but Edwards has his weight spread out on two more inches of body.
So I don't see Edwards as a big back.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
I don’t think Edwards is going to weigh 202 pounds next football season. It’s not like Haskins came in as a recruit at 220.
January 14th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^
I agree with you that Harbaugh wants a big back, and that ideally Michigan has a thunder/lightning approach, but I dont think Paul is the answer to that equation for 2022. If they can get him they will take him, but for an impact in 2023/2024.