Michigan football countdown to kickoff: 44 days until 2022 season
There’s much anticipation heading into the Michigan Wolverines football season, and TheWolverine.com is counting down the days until the Sept. 3 opener against Colorado State. We’ll discuss current Michigan events, upcoming season and/or take a look at a significant number that correlates with how many days remain until kickoff, whether it be a player’s jersey number, a year, a date, a score, etc.
With 44 days until kickoff, we look at a record that could well be broken this season. Former Michigan running back Chris Perry set the program’s record for running back receptions in a season with 44. Mike Hart, the Wolverines’ all-time leading rusher and now Michigan’s position coach, was the last U-M back to record more than 25 receptions in a campaign (26 in 2004).
We could see one Michigan running back surge up the all-time chart this season — sophomore Donovan Edwards. Not only is the West Bloomfield, Mich., native expected to have a big season as a runner, he’s displayed a knack for catching out of the backfield and from the slot and gaining extra yards in the open field. He actually told us as a recruit he came into high school wanting to be a wide receiver. Turns out, he can use those skills in his current position.
And he did just that last season. Despite seeing just 133 snaps on offense, Edwards racked up 20 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown. Ten of those catches came at Maryland, and that mark set the Michigan running back record for grabs in a single game. His 265 career yards already rank ninth in school history for a back.
Edwards will have a much bigger role this season now that Hassan Haskins is off to the NFL. He’ll split time with junior Blake Corum, the projected starter, but both will have different roles. Edwards can line up in the slot (he did so 12 times last season — nine percent of his snaps) and catch out of the backfield. He’s been used as a decoy, too, with no play being a better example than A.J. Henning‘s touchdown to break the scoring open against Ohio State last season. Edwards flared out to the left, and quarterback Cade McNamara faked a throw to him before handing it off in Statue-Of-Liberty type fashion.
We’ll predict it right here — Edwards will have 36 or more receptions this season, which would put him in at least the top five in Michigan history for a single campaign.
Michigan football countdown to kickoff
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