ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football already has its two starting running backs set in stone in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards — perhaps the best tailback duo in the country. But the battle this offseason has been for who will come off the bench to spell them and be a change of pace?
The Wolverines have options. C.J. Stokes and Benjamin Hall have long been thought of as two contenders for the role, but a lesser thought of incumbent has had something to say about that.
Jim Harbaugh said on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio program on Monday night that converted linebacker Kalel Mullings is currently the No. 3 back for the Wolverines. Mullings started the year on defense but moved over late in the year after injuries sidelined Corum and hampered Edwards. He was phenomenal when called upon in the Big Ten Championship game, and threw a successful pass to tight end Luke Schoonmaker against Ohio State. But after fumbling and turning the ball over in the end zone against TCU in the College Football Playoff, his name isn’t one that’s been often on the lips of fans unless there are expletives following it.
Mullings is hoping for a bit of a reprieve in 2023. He’s no longer splitting time on defense, and the high school running back offers something different than any other player at the position on the roster.
“Blake and Dono are amazing running backs, and you guys are all gonna see that this season. But for me, personally, I’m the biggest guy in the room, so I’m going to bring that power,” Mullings said. “And that’s my goal for myself is to add something that they don’t have as much just to help out the team and help out the room.
“So with everything that they’re going to do, I’m hoping to just bring some power and bring that extra — that hammer down from the running back position.”
What’s helped Mullings out a bit, now that he’s singularly focused, is that he knows what he’s looking at across from the line of scrimmage.
Though he never played linebacker until he got to college, he spent three years playing mostly at the position, before last year’s late-season switch. He feels like that will be an added benefit when he’s lined up, peering at what the defense wants to do compared to what his unit has planned to defeat said defense.
As a result, he now feels like he’s gotten a handle on the running back position, once more.
“I would say if you asked me like a year ago, I would have definitely said I felt like more like a linebacker,” Mullings said. “But coming back to it now, I definitely feel more like a running back and I also feel like my experience playing defense has helped my growth as a running back a lot. And just even the thought process I go through before each play, kind of understanding what the defenses are in, who’s blitzing from where, what the weaknesses are in certain defenses, it’s helped me a lot and it has helped me a lot to feel like a true running back.”
What’s more, Mullings is getting some run as a kick returner, along with big-bodied quarterback Alex Orji. He feels that it will be intimidating for kickoff coverage teams to see him downfield with the ball in his hand should Jay Harbaugh elect to put him back deep.
“I know if I was on a kickoff team, if I saw dude as big as myself, I’d be like, ‘Shoot!'” Mullings said. “But, for me, it’s something I’m used to, something I’m comfortable with. And, using my size and my speed that comes with that on kickoff, as well, I got to — like I said, that’s a lot. So, I’m excited for that.”
Fans will likely get to see Mullings in action on Saturday when the Wolverines host East Carolina for the 2023 season opener. The game will kick off at noon EDT from The Big House and will be streamed live on Peacock.