At this time last year, it felt like we’d only see Michigan football running back Donovan Edwards in a winged helmet for one more season. However, the junior Wolverine’s 2023 season did not go as expected.
Despite being billed as one-half of the best running back duo in the country, Edwards could not find much running room and there were few of his signature home-run-style runs. Sure, he broke out against Penn State and in the national championship game against Washington. But with only half of the production from a year ago, Edwards sat down, prayed, came up with reasons he should stay or go and acted accordingly.
He spoke to Jake Butt on “The L.A.B. Podcast” by Champions Circle to detail his decision to return.
“I made my pros and cons list right? And for me, a couple pros was getting a degree, I graduate in the fall,” Edwards said. “Getting a degree, still be comfortable in my hometown, in my home state. Being able to connect with other people. And some of the cons were things that it’s just like a possibility, like maybe what happened, versus the pros, it was like, it’s going to happen. So for me, I’m not here for anything else, but to, you know, like, be the best version of myself and bring the best out to others. It’s not about money for me, it’s not about gloating in myself. It’s not about that for me. For me, it’s more so just doing what I have to do, just being a great person. What other place is there to be able to grow than at the University of Michigan, which is the school in the country?
“So that’s just what it was, for me, just made my pros and cons list, and the pros outweigh the cons. And I also prayed on it too. And, I just feel like that’s what God needs me to do, is to continue to grow up, continue to be a righteous man and uplift other people, and to be a mentor now. And I finally get the opportunity to be able to do so.”
The mentorship aspect is big for Edwards, considering there will be a new-look team next year, no matter which way you slice it.
While the defense returns most of its production, the offensive side loses a great deal: running back Blake Corum, the entire starting offensive line, tight end AJ Barner, both starting wide receivers and quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Though Michigan just won the national championship, Edwards said he and his teammates believe they still have unfinished business, and they’re out to prove something this next season.
In order to do so, Edwards said multiple players must step up. And he and some of his teammates are eager to help them rise to where they need to be to make another championship run.
“I’m still hungry,” Edwards said. “The season wasn’t how I wanted it to be necessarily. And, just popping out the way that I did on the biggest stage, for me, it’s like, that’s great. But, you know, like, what’s better than doing it again, you know, like, what’s better than, you know, like, working hard in the offseason. And to be able to do it again. So, that’s what my mindset is, I’m still hungry.
“And, I feel like now I’ll be one of the leaders on the team now and that’s what I want to implement to the guys. Everybody’s gone right now so what we have to do is continue to stay together. Bring the young guys up, have the older guys like Kalel and I mentor Cole Cabana, Ben Hall, Jordan Marshall — that’s coming in. So that’s where my mindset is like.
“We’re still hungry. And the other guys that I’ve talked to to like Tavierre, Alex Orji, Will, (Colston Loveland) — we still hungry, even though we have the, saying the job’s finished, we still want more.”