Michigan football got a glimpse of the future at running back in December. In the first quarter of the Wolverines’ game against Florida in the Chick…
Michigan football got a glimpse of the future at running back in December.
In the first quarter of the Wolverines’ game against Florida in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, then-freshman running back Christian Turner took an end around down the right sideline for a 46-yard touchdown.
Video review later showed that Turner stepped out of bounds, and the touchdown was overturned. Still, it was a tantalizing flash from Turner, a 3-star prospect from Buford, Georgia, who played in three games last season and tallied 20 carries for 99 yards.
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Turner could be called upon heavily this fall. Karan Higdon, who became the first U-M running back to rush for over 1,000 yards since Fitzgerald Toussaint in 2011, graduated. Chris Evans, the team’s second leading rusher, is currently not a member of the team.
There’s a lot of production to replace. And it could start with Turner, whose stock has gone up heading into spring ball.
“I’m happy about our running backs,” said Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday. “Christian Turner has surged from bowl practices to bowl game, and then since then he is A-plus-plus in terms of how he’s going about his business. He is really becoming a rising player.”
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U-M also returns Tru Wilson, who emerged last season as a reliable third-down back and pass protector.
