Michigan has a handful of running backs that are capable of starting for Division I programs. Needless to say, the competition for snaps is heating up as we head into fall camp next week:
The Michigan Wolverines running back room is stacked with talent and experience heading into 2025.
While it has been assumed that Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes sit at the top of the depth chart, there are a ton of battles taking place for the rest of the room that could have playing time implications.
The Wolverines signed CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton) from the transfer portal in the spring, adding two former starting backs to a room that already included Bryson Kuzdzal and Micah Ka’apana, as well as incoming true freshmen Jasper Parker and Donovan Johnson.
With just a month to go before the season starts against New Mexico, running backs coach Tony Alford still has to sort out the depth chart. Head coach Sherrone Moore spoke to the media on Thursday at Big Ten Media Days, and he was quickly asked to address the decision to bring in two veteran running backs so late into the process after Michigan’s spring game.
“Both guys that have played college football, that add depth to the room, that give us more bodies in the room, that definitely add special teams value to the room,” Moore said.
“They’ll challenge and push those guys that are the presumed [leaders] — the Justice Hayneses, the Jordan Marshalls, the Bryson Kuzdzals. They’ll push those guys and make sure that they’re on their stuff as we go out through the year.”
Hester had a productive season for the Minutemen in 2024, rushing for 458 yards on 4.6 yards per carry in UMass’ final eight games last season. In games against Power 4 teams, he dazzled with 74 yards and a touchdown against Georgia in November, and 62 yards against Mississippi State earlier that month.
Volker, meanwhile, is more of a bruising short-yardage back. As a captain in 2024, he ran for 514 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 438 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.
Haynes and Marshall are expected to be the 1A/1B starting running back duo, bringing similar, yet different skillsets to the table. According to Moore and Max Bredeson, the combo can each hit the home run with a single carry and have an innate ability to churn out productive yards.
“If I were to compare them, I’d say they’re pretty similar, but like two running backs that can wear you down over time and once one gets worn down, here comes the next one,” Bredeson said.
Outside of the penciled in starters and newcomers, there are still multiple names fighting for carries that played in the spring game for the Wolverines. Michigan saw a breakout performance in April from Bryson Kuzdzal, who rushed for 105 yards. After Marshall and Haynes got some work in the first half, Kuzdzal was making noise by fighting for extra yards, making good cuts on the outside and showing off his speed against a talented secondary.
Redshirt freshman Micah Ka’apana, who did not play in 2024, scored the first touchdown of the intra-squad contest in the Big House.
To round out the room are two true freshmen in Parker and Johnson. While Johnson has been held out with an injury for most of the summer — and likely won’t see the field this season at all — Parker has caught the attention of the coaches.
“I wouldn’t put out Jasper Parker, this freshman from Louisiana, man,” Moore said. “He’s built like Hassan Haskins — big, strong, physical. But he’s a freshman, so we’ll see what happens.”
With eight players in a position room that typically only throws out two or three during a game, the competition is only going to get tighter as Michigan begins fall camp next week.