Ranking the 10 best Michigan football running backs of the past 10 years
While Michigan football has always been known for churning out some of the best running backs over the course of its history, the Wolverines didn’t produce tailbacks like they used to for nearly a decade. Once Mike Hart left the program following the 2007 season, it took five years before the maize and blue had another 1,000-yard rusher.
However, the position has seen an incredible resurgence of late, with players such as Karan Higdon, Chris Evans, Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards all having their moments in the spotlight.
Taking a look at the past 10 seasons for Michigan football, here are the 10-best tailbacks that the Wolverines have had in that timeframe.
Blake Corum
Duh.
Rushing for 2,708 yards in two seasons as the bona fide starter, Corum went from being a home run-hitter like Edwards to becoming a complete back with a penchant for churning out more yards than initially available. The Heisman favorite in late 2022 before he tore his meniscus, there’s no shortage of big moments for the team captain. His touchdown runs against Washington and Alabama in the College Football Playoff this past year stand out, as does his touchdown against Ohio State a moment after Zak Zinter’s season-ending injury. His play on the field during his tenure in Ann Arbor was only overmatched by his philanthropy and his electric personality that made him a fan favorite and a forever Michigan football legend.
Hassan Haskins
Once a linebacker, Haskins switched back to offense and slowly asserted himself as the best back on the team. With a penchant for turning one yard into three, he always managed to fall forward or find holes where none existed. After scoring five touchdowns against Ohio State in 2021, the Wolverines’ first win in the series in a decade, Haskins cemented himself as a forever Michigan football legend.
Donovan Edwards
A home-run hitter who didn’t have the season he wanted or expected in 2023, Edwards is still a special talent and has another year to prove last year was a fluke. ‘The Don’ has seemed to come alive in the biggest of games, ranging from his two 75-plus yard touchdowns against Ohio State in 2022 and his two 40-plus yard touchdowns in the national championship game in 2023. Capable of more than just running the ball, Edwards is a versatile threat and will likely be the focal point of the offense in 2024.
Karan Higdon
Michigan’s first 1,000-yard rusher from the tailback position in a decade, Higdon found his stride midway through 2017 and never let up. Whenever Michigan needed some tough yards, Higdon found a way, and the team galvanized over his ability and identity in 2018. Despite having multiple backs, Higdon was a workhorse and something of a precursor to some of the tailbacks to come.
Zach Charbonnet
Phenomenal in his first year in college football, Charbonnet earned the starting job coming out of fall camp. He ended up splitting time with Hassan Haskins, but he was a complete back that could do a little bit of everything. However, he inexplicably didn’t get many carries in 2020, even after scoring a 70-plus yard touchdown on his first carry of the season, and ended up transferring back home to UCLA in the offseason.
De'Veon Smith
The first starting tailback in the Jim Harbaugh era, Smith reflected the attitude of his head coach. Gritty, tough, physical, and one who could eke out tough yards, he led the team in rushing for three straight years (2014-16). He wasn’t the most elusive back, but his 2016 game against Indiana showcased just how important he was to the team in Harbaugh’s second year.
Chris Evans
A versatile back, Evans never quite reached the potential he flashed in 2016, his freshman year. Though he took over games from time to time, when it appeared he had the fast track to starting in 2017, he was usurped by Karan Higdon. Thought to be the starter in 2019, he was academically disqualified and rejoined the team with a loaded backfield in 2020. Still, Evans was excellent, and a big threat catching the ball out of the backfield. But there was another gear we never quite got to see.
Drake Johnson
A promising career was cut short by injuries, but Johnson often had moments of greatness. His 2014 performance at Ohio State had fans on the edge of their seats as the Buckeyes couldn’t stop him. However, he tore his ACL, and upon returning the following year, he wasn’t quite the same. Then he got ran over by a forklift in the 2016 offseason, effectively ending his career.
Ty Isaac
Isaac never quite looked the part of a former five-star, but it had appeared as if he was going to win the starting job early in 2017. However, with Karan Higdon stepping up midseason after Isaac struggled hanging on to the football, he lost out on more production. But he was still a solid back who managed to get tough yards when called upon.
Derrick Green
Never quite looking the part of a five-star who was the top running back in the 2014 class, Green looked solid in his freshman year, but it was cut short due to injury. He never quite regained his poise when he returned, which happened to be Jim Harbaugh’s first year in Ann Arbor. Losing his job to De’Veon Smith, Green’s 471 yards in 2014 in six games were nothing but a promise of things that would not come to pass.
