Donovan Edwards is expected to be the Wolverines' main back in 2024 for the first time in his Michigan career. As a true freshman, Edwards played sparingly behind Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins. As a sophomore, Edwards saw a dramatic increase in production, rushing 140 times for 991 yards and seven touchdowns. Again, he was replaced by Corum. As a junior in 2023, Edwards battled some adversity, resulting in a decline in production.
As he enters his senior season, Edwards approaches this new opportunity with a better outlook on football and life in general.
“Honestly, I kind of lost my passion my junior year,” Edwards said. “I wasn't playing well and I wasn't getting the carries I wanted, but the passion just came back. Practice brought the passion back.”
“I'm grateful for everything that's happened to me, because it makes me even further as a player and as a person. I can't sit here and say I haven't faced adversity, because I have. But that adversity made me a person and that adversity will make me a better football player. I'm still confident. Don't mistake my confidence for arrogance, but I'm confident in myself and my abilities and my potential. My obligation is to continue to develop everyone else along with me, because as long as I can do that, we'll be successful.”
Being humble yet confident is the perfect mindset to have in a team leader.
Edwards expects the 2024 season to be a more productive one. He was all about breaking the Michigan record for receiving yards by a running back. During a recent conversation with 247Sports, Edwards said he's looking to break the record.
“Listen, that's a question you should ask Kirk Campbell, but I'm about 89 yards away from breaking the Michigan running back receiving record, and I'm going for that record,” Edwards said.
“Really, as long as we stay healthy, I think they're going to give us the ball. I'm sure Coach Campbell has the mindset of getting the ball to talented players and getting them going as quickly as possible. Get a feel for the game. We're going to be successful.”
Edwards will almost certainly break that record in 2024. He has recorded 200-plus receiving yards in each of the past three seasons and is 96 yards away from breaking the record of 750 yards set by Anthony Thomas in 2000.
It's that special element to his game that makes Edwards such a dangerous weapon on the football field: He can run, he can catch… and he can throw a 70-yard touchdown pass if necessary.
While individual records are always impressive, Edwards knows his ultimate goal goes far beyond personal accolades. For the senior running back, the battle-tested Wolverines are preparing for the monumental challenge of defending their national champion status in 2024.
“This group has been through a lot together. We've grown together. We've been through good times and bad times together. As a team, all we have to do is continue to build that friendship with each other.”
“We lost to Georgia, we lost to TCU, we won a national championship. We've been at the highest peaks, we've been at the lowest peaks. All we have to do is get better and encourage each other. If we celebrate the success of the other team, our potential is limitless.”
–For more coverage on the Michigan Wolverines, visit Michigan Wolverines On SI–
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