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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — We still haven’t even grazed the surface when it comes to seeing what Michigan sophomore running back Zach Charbonnet can do.
Having arrived in 2019 as an early-enrollee, Charbonnet quickly had a surgical procedure to scope his knee due to sustained injury from his high school days. While he got the start on day one for the Wolverines, he was never quite at the level he was during his recruitment.
Now, fully healthy, it’s a different story. He enters his second-year ready to go, no longer burdened by being limited physically.
“I’d say that was a big thing for me to battle with,” Charbonnet said. “In terms of now, being able to have this whole offseason to actually work on my body, my speed, strength. I think it’s just given me a little bit of an advantage to overall make me a better football player by having this offseason healthy.”
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In his first season of college football, Charbonnet carried the ball 149 times for 726 yards and a freshman record of 11 touchdowns. According to PFF, he graded out with 74.8 rushing grade — good for 210th nationally and 20th in the Big Ten.
However, he’s aware that he’s got a lot more work to do, that he’s capable of so much more. And he knows what has to happen for him to get to that next level.
“There was room for a lot of improvement,” Charbonnet said. “One of my things that I need to keep working on is just trusting my reads, my holes – stuff like that. And just pass pro, keeping my eyes disciplined, keeping my eyes to see where the blitzes are coming from. And also, making that second-level defender miss.”
Charbonnet says that he finally felt back to 100% ‘during the quarantine’ and that being at full capacity has allowed him to open up his stride more.
But the big question facing him is not as much as if as it is when, as the Wolverines have four capable backs with co-starter Hassan Haskins returning, true freshman Blake Corum entering the fray and Chris Evans being welcomed back to the team.
Despite being the workhorse to start the year last season, Charbonnet remains unselfish, will be ready when his number’s called and will celebrate his teammates’ success if he’s not the one making the big plays.
“Whatever role the coaches bring, I’m gonna do the best I can at my job. Execute – obviously every other running back feels the same way, too. Whoever’s in, we’re just gonna cheer on and execute whatever’s called.”
We’ll get our first look at the former four-star on Saturday, when Michigan travels to Minnesota for its 2020 season opener.
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