ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Back in 2022, Michigan football started experimenting with linebacker Kalel Mullings, having him split time as a two-way player moonlighting at running back. The move had mixed reviews. Mullings fumbled the ball in the spring game but then made big plays in the Ohio State game and Big Ten Championship Game. But he fumbled at the goal line in the College Football Playoff and his future at the position appeared to be in doubt.
However, Mullings came on strong last season, though he spent much of the year injured. From his speed, vision, and willingness to take on blocks, Mullings provided Michigan with the type of tailback play missing since Hassan Haskins — another converted player from linebacker.
Now that he enters his second year working solely at running back, Mullings feels fully converted and ready to go for the 2024 season. And he’s ready to go as the team’s No. 2 running back behind Donovan Edwards.
“I think the biggest thing for me has just been comfortability,” Mullings said. “When you take three years off of doing something, it’s kind of hard to get comfortable, but definitely learning from Blake last year and continuing to learn from Dono last year and this year, it’s helped me a lot, and has helped me get comfortable and find my game — how I always played running back again, you know.
“So I feel like that’s definitely the biggest thing so far, is just really getting comfortable to playing the position, and then adjusting to how the position is played in college. I feel like I’ve taken those two steps this year. So I’m excited.”
One of the ways that Mullings excels that doesn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet is his willingness to block. Considering that he used to be a linebacker, it’s not only the eagerness for contact but also his identification of the opposing defense and its own schematic tendencies that has made Mullings so adept on that front.
What’s more, for Mullings, blocking is fun, and he looks forward to plays where he doesn’t have the ball in his hands.
“It’s fun because I definitely say that it makes it a little bit easier at times to block, just because playing like being on the other side, I know that there’s more that they’re doing than just looking at me thinking, ‘I’m going to block,'” Mullings said. “So being able to take up ground on guys and get to them as quick as possible that’s part of it, and that’s a big part of it. So, yeah, I relish it and it’s fun.”
In 2023, Mullings appeared in 13 of the 15 games and had 222 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. His workload will likely increase significantly this year as the Wolverines look to defend their national championship.