[jwplayer 5hWBNgGm-XNcErKyb]
BRIGHTON, Mich. — What was once seen as a perceived weakness very well should be a team strength for Michigan in 2020.
Though the Wolverines lose Tru Wilson to transfer, the running backs room returns most everyone, particularly co-starters from a year ago in Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins,
And they get another productive piece back, with Chris Evans’ reinstatement.
Evans returns a senior, with three years playing experience, and speaking with WolverinesWire on Saturday, he thinks the sky’s the limit for this emerging group.
“Real good,” Evans said. “We’re gonna push each other every day. Nobody’s gonna try to be the tough guy. We’re all gonna keep everything in the room. That’s how we’re gonna do it.”
He already has an inkling of what Haskins can do, having spent a year with him — though the third-year back spent much of his first year with the linebackers.
But Evans got to watch his team from afar while he was serving his one-year suspension, getting to see now-second-year tailback Zach Charbonnet ball out in his first season of college football.
Given his experience, what are Evans’ impressions of Charbonnet? Obviously, all great things.
“He’s a really good player,” Evans said. “Good pass protector, especially at a young age. Being able to see it – I really couldn’t see everything. At a young age, he’s very mature and carries himself well. I’m excited to be a part of it.”
In December, as Michigan prepared to take on Alabama in the VRBO Citrus Bowl, a loophole allowed Evans to participate in three practices, though he had not rejoined the team in official capacity just yet. But he wasn’t alone in that.
Big things are expected of recently signed four-star RB Blake Corum, who showed out in his senior year at Baltimore (MD) St. Frances Academy. Corum also partook in those three practices, and Evans likes what he’s seen from the guy who should still be in high school.
As a matter of fact, he sees a lot of the 2016 version of himself in Corum.
“(He’s) good – he got a mature mind in his head,” Evans said. “He’s all about work, just grind, grind, grind. As an older guy, you got no choice but to match him. It’s good to have a younger guy, because that’s how I was when I came in. Trying to push against the older guys, push against the older guys. I’m just gonna match his intensity.”