Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford had a lot to say on In The Trenches this week — his departure from Columbus, his excitement for the upcoming season, and more.
The Michigan Wolverines have undergone significant changes heading into the 2024 season, including the arrival of former Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford. After nine years in Columbus, Alford’s transition to Ann Arbor adds another layer of intrigue to the storied Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.
This move comes at a pivotal time for both programs. Reflecting on the rivalry, Alford emphasized the importance of keeping the focus on the players, despite the media narratives and personal motivations that often surround such moves.
“A lot — yeah, a lot,” Alford acknowledged on In The Trenches when asked about the rivalry’s significance. “But I will say this, too, it’s about the players. And there’s always going to be side stories and different side things that are going to be said and reasons of this, and different motivations and that and the other. And those are all real, and to sit up here and say it’s not would be a bald-faced lie.
“However, it always goes back to the players. And this is a heated rivalry, goes back many, many years, as you know. But again, this is about the players and putting our players in the best position to have success and like I said, they’re gonna have theirs over there and we’ll have ours and they’ll have their coaches, we’ll have ours and we’ll kind of see what goes. We’ll line them up.”
While the reasons behind Alford’s departure remain somewhat ambiguous, he hinted at a mutual decision.
“I think it was time. I mean, for everyone,” Alford said. “There was just a time for a change for both parties. And I believe — I don’t want to speak for Ohio State and their staff, but I felt like that’s what they wanted, too. And I was kind of moving in that direction. And it was certainly time for me as well.”
With fall camp underway, Alford is embracing his new role, describing the transition to Michigan as a fresh start.
“I will say I’m not emotional, but I have great emotion about (how I’m) genuinely excited to be here,” Alford said. “We had a month off … most of that time was spent down in Columbus with my family and whatnot. But I’m genuinely excited to be here, man. It’s kinda like new energy, if you will. This is a new journey, a different chapter for me, too. Just as it is for the players as it is for me. So I’m excited to be here and ready to go.”
Alford inherits a running back room with high expectations but relatively untested players in new roles. With the departure of Blake Corum, the focus now shifts to Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, who are expected to carry the load this season.
“The first thing I see is a great brotherhood, a great camaraderie, and I see a bunch of guys in the room that truly care about each other,” Alford said. “There’s not a selfish bone in there that I’ve detected. There are some talented guys — obviously Donovan, Kalel, you got Ben Hall, who hasn’t played a lot, you got Tavierre Dunlap. Still waiting to see Cole Cabana; I know a lot of people are excited to see him, he’s a local kid. And then you have Jordan Marshall, Micah Ka’apana, so we got a bunch of guys in the room.”
While Edwards has shown flashes of brilliance, he has never been the feature back. Mullings, a converted linebacker, also steps into a more prominent role after serving as a rotational player.
“Really only two of them have played extensively, and even with that, they’re going to be thrust into different roles than they’ve been in,” Alford said. “Donovan is a household name, but Donovan has never really had to carry the entire load, either. He was fortunate to have Blake there. So that’s going to be a different dynamic for him. And then you have Kalel, who I think is an excellent player, a phenomenal player that just hasn’t played a lot.
“So we’re going to be depending on a lot of guys that really haven’t been in those roles before, but also that is college football, as we know. I’m really anxious to coach them, anxious to watch them play.”
Alford’s experience and fresh perspective will be crucial for a running back room full of potential, but light on proven experience. With a new chapter unfolding for both him and the team, all eyes will be on how this transition influences Michigan’s pursuit of Big Ten supremacy and beyond.