#Michigan’s 2024 offense was not great compared to previous seasons, but there was one position group that countlessly carried the Wolverines to victory. @JakeMSinger reviews how the running backs fared this past season.
The expectations could not have been higher for the Michigan Wolverines running back room heading into 2024. With the program’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns in Blake Corum departing for the NFL, fans turned their sights to incoming freshman Jordan Marshall.
The hype then continued into the summer, with the release of EA Sports College Football 25 , where Donovan Edwards was showcased on the cover. Finally, the Wolverines poached Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford to lead the group. Not to mention, hope was high for Kalel Mullings in a more lead role as well.
The room had mixed results this past season, and hope will once again be high in 2025. Today, we evaluate how the running backs performed in 2024.
Starter: RB Kalel Mullings
We have all heard the story of how Mullings played linebacker and running back in high school, was recruited to Michigan as a defensive player, and made the switch to full-time running back a season ago. After playing as the No. 3 tailback on the depth chart in 2023, Alford and Moore held a true running back battle throughout the Spring and into the summer to decide if Mullings, Edwards, Benjamin Hall or Marshall would lead the Wolverines in the backfield.
Edwards had the big play ability, the hands in the passing game and the breakaway speed, but Mullings had vision, and he had the size to carry defenders with him. In his first game against Fresno State , Mullings broke onto the college football scene, rushing for 92 yards on 15 carries, leading the Wolverines to victory. Against Arkansas State two weeks later, Mullings put up 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Then, he put the team on his back against USC for 159 yards and two scores. And finally, Mullings rushed for his third straight 100+ yard game facing Minnesota, carrying the ball for 111 yards and another two touchdowns. By October, Mullings was the clear No. 1 on Michigan’s depth chart, and climbing up NFL Draft boards as well.
As the Wolverines struggled to find a starting quarterback, however, Mullings struggled to establish rhythm after his hot start. When Moore switched quarterbacks against Washington and Illinois, Mullings’ average went down from 6.1 to just 4.0 YPC. After Tuttle retired, and the team switched back to starter Davis Warren, Mullings struggled even more, rushing 13 times for 18 yards against Michigan State and eight times for 16 yards against the Oregon Ducks.
The good thing for Mullings was that he put it all together when it mattered most, going into Columbus and putting up 92 rushing yards on 12 carries, and scoring the only offensive touchdown for Michigan in the game, to defeat Ohio State, 13-10.
In total, he ran for 948 yards in 2024, including 12 touchdowns and zero fumbles or turnovers. There were many points throughout the season where Mullings was the highest-graded player on the roster, and he hopes to translate that production to the NFL next fall.
Backup/Starter: Donovan Edwards
It was another disappointing season for senior running back Donovan Edwards. The former five-star has shown spurts and glimpses of greatness over his four years with the Maize and Blue, but it was never able to come all together to be a highly productive running back.
Edwards struggled during the regular season in 2023, averaging just 28.1 yards per game with only three touchdowns. That all changed, however, when Edwards was the MVP of the title game, ripping off 85- and 75-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to lead the Wolverines to a 45-23 victory over the Washington Huskies.
That performance alone earned him the honor of being a cover athlete on the CFB ‘25 video game, and Michigan fans hoped he could replicate those big-game performances weekly as the starting running back.
Unfortunately, The season started slowly for Edwards once again, as he ran for 27 yards on 11 carries against Fresno State compared to Mullings, who piled 92 yards on the ground.
Edwards did show some improvement against Arkansas State and USC, putting up 82 and 74 yards in each game, respectively. His production then dipped again against Minnesota, where he rushed for 34 yards on nine carries, but it rose back up in the loss against Washington, totaling 95 yards on 14 carries.
Halfway through the season, it was very difficult to get a read on Edwards.
Similar to Mullings, there was little to no run game during the next five-game stretch during the quarterback woes. Edwards registered 10 or fewer carries in five of the final six games, averaging 40 yards a game. To make matters worse, the poor quarterback play also impacted Edwards in the passing game, limiting his skills on the field.
Backup/Future Starter: Jordan Marshall
The future is bright in the running back room. The former Mr. Ohio Football was expected to see some time during his freshman campaign, but injuries quickly controlled his first year on campus. He saw the field just five times including the bowl game, preserving his redshirt.
Marshall’s biggest opportunity came against Alabama at the ReliaQuest Bowl. With Mullings and Edwards inactive, Marshall had 31 carries and totaled 100 yards.
Backup/Future Starter: Benjamin Hall
Hall received 13 carries for 44 yards in 2024. With the rise of Mullings and the presence of Edwards, Hall didn’t have much of a place in the lineup this year.
Hall saw some carries against Alabama but was not as productive as Marshall, gaining just 28 yards on 16 carries. Hall has some work to do to earn significant carries next season in another crowded room.
Future Outlook
Michigan has already been working in the transfer portal, bringing in top-ranked running back Justice Haynes from the Crimson Tide . With Marshall’s speed and upside, Haynes’ collegiate production and Hall’s bigger frame, every back brings something unique to the table.