Michigan Football 2011: Frosh Could Challenge Veteran Wolverine Ball Carriers

If the eight running backs already on campus aren't enough to compete for the starting job, along come a pair of freshmen to further muddy the works. 

Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes, a pair of competing pals from the Flint/Saginaw corridor, both see themselves in the Michigan lineup before long. 

“We both inspire each other,” Hayes told mlive.com. “(Rawls is) going to be a great teammate. I can’t wait until we both step on campus and compete."

Waiting for these two are Stephen Hopkins, Michael Cox and several others who plan on getting their share of carries. 

Let's take inventory of the Michigan running backs for 2011. Just for fun, we'll estimate the total number of carries each back will get.

Stephen Hopkins

Sophomore Stephen Hopkins comes from the mold of "north and south" tailbacks. They run hard between the tackles, but still have a burst of speed when they hit the second level. Ron Johnson and Anthony Thomas were just a couple of big Michigan halfbacks.

With Michigan going through a transition to a pro-style offense. Hopkins will most likely get the first shot to shine.

The 6'0", 230-pounder carried the ball only 37 times last season, but tallied 137 yards and four touchdowns.

Projected Carries: 102

Note: Denard Robinson will carry the ball 124 times.

Michael Cox

Michael Cox was a lost soul in the spread offense. He only carried the ball 19 times for 169 yards in two seasons under Rich Rodriguez.

A new offensive scheme and a new coaching staff have enabled Cox to have an excellent spring. So far he's in the mix for the starting deep back position. At 6'0", 211 lbs., Cox has the proper balance of size and speed to be effective this season.

Projected Carries: 79

Fitzgerald Toussaint

Toussaint made his Michigan debut against Bowling Green last fall, after redshirting the 2009 season.

On his first play, the 5'10", 200-pounder rambled for 61 yards before eventually suffering a shoulder injury. Toussaint played sparingly after missing the next five games.

He finished the season with 87 yards on eight carries. In the Gator Bowl against Mississippi State, Toussaint got his first career start, but carried the ball only twice.

Like Cox, Toussaint was impressive during sprint practice, thus adding another back in the battle for additional carries.

Projected Carries: 60

Thomas Rawls

With such a large contingent of running backs, it would make sense for Rawls, Hayes and probably fullback Joe Kerridge to redshirt. But Rawls, at 5'10", 215 lbs., is a perfect candidate for Brady Hoke's offense.

You never know who might catch the injury bug, and Rawls already says he's ready to compete.

Those first few weeks of fall drills may tell a lot, but things will sort themselves out during the non-conference part of the season. Rawls may have to beat out three or four veterans, but from all indications he's up to the task.

Projected Carries: 41

Michael Shaw

Michael Shaw enters his senior year with 159 carries for 802 yards. His average of 5.0 yards per carry average is nothing to sneeze at, but he never earned enough carries to make much of a difference

While missing only one game due to injury, Shaw had fewer than five carries 17 times. Granted, read-option offenses distort rushing statistics, but getting five carries is hardly worthwhile.

At this point, it looks like Shaw must keep earning the respect he never really got. That, too, will not be easy. At 6'1" and 190 pounds, he really isn't the power back the new offense requires. Or so they say.

Projected Carries: 56    

Vincent Smith

Other than Denard Robinson's 1,702 rushing yards, Vincent Smith was Michigan's leading rusher with 601 yards in 136 carries last season.

At 5'6", 180 lbs., Smith will be hard-pressed to match his carries of a year ago.

The junior speedster could be effective on outside runs, screen passes and reverses. Like Shaw, Smith will be trying to prove he can run between the tackles.

Projected Carries: 49  

Justice Hayes

Not much bigger than Smith, it appears Justice Hayes might need that redshirt year to grow into his 5'10" frame.

Hayes has already claimed he's not interested in moving to receiver, and believes he's ready to play the running back position in the Big 10.

Projected Carries: None (Redshirt)

There are three other running backs on the roster: Teric Jones, Jihad Rasheed and O'Neil Swanson. Jones is coming off a season-ending knee injury and should only get a few carries, if any. Rasheed and Swanson are not expected to see any action.

Fullbacks are an integral part of the pro-set offense. Let's see who wins the job:  

John McColgan

Between 2009 and 2010, McColgan appeared in 23 games and never carried the ball. He did, however, catch a two-yard pass for a touchdown last year against Bowling Green.

The redshirt senior had a very good spring and appears to have locked up the fullback spot. Look for him to get three or four carries per game and catch a few passes out of the backfield.

At 6'1", 231 lbs., McColgan has the size to be a solid fullback.

Projected Carries: 32 

Joe Kerridge

A 6'1", 230-pound incoming freshman, Joe Kerridge is already being compared to former Michigan fullback B. J. Askew.

Providing Steven Hopkins and Thomas Rawls stay away from the fullback spot, Kerridge will get a few carries, spelling McColgan.

Projected Carries: 19