Michigan football: Freshman running back Jasper Parker is turning heads

Michigan has a battle for No. 3 running back behind Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes, and freshman Jasper Parker has wasted no time getting in the mix. The Louisiana native has earned assistant Tony Alford’s respect with his play this fall, and head coach Sherrone Moore said Monday the frosh might be in line to be the Wolverines’ third back.

Alford stopped short of naming him that guy Wednesday, but he had some eye-opening praise for his first-year Michigan back. Micah Ka’apana and Bryson Kuzdzal are still in the mix, too, but Alford said Parker “is going to be a really outstanding player.”

“I mean, extremely outstanding player,” Alford said. “He’s a big, strong, physical kid. He’s got really good vision. One of the things — he’s a little taller than most of those guys in that room, but he has the ability to kind of sink his hips into contact and plays behind his pads really well. He’s elusive, and he’s got really, really good vision.

“As far as where he needs to improve, it’s just to improve on the details. Where’s your hand placement in blocks? How are you carrying your hands before you approach a block? Just little things and just the details, but in his defense, he’s played college football for what … I think we’ve had 23, 24 practices. June doesn’t count, July doesn’t count. He wasn’t here in the spring, so really, he’s only played football for 24, 25 days, in the detail that we need to have. He’s continually getting better and better and has an extremely bright future here.”

Alford wasn’t sure what to expect the first time he saw him play live, but he knew he liked the film. He put up a “quiet” 200 yards in front of the Michigan assistant and impressed with his power.

“I didn’t realize just how physical he is,” Alford continued. “I mean, he’s a physical player. In the tape you can see it, but action, it really shows itself. He loves ball. He really, really loves ball and the film … you can’t see that on video, when you’re around him every day and just how he wants to learn. He is in the hip pocket of Jordan and Justice, like their little brother.

“He really wants to learn and do well, and he’s a pleaser by nature. He’s a joy to coach and again, I think, I think this guy’s going to be a really, really good player for us.”

Perhaps starting as soon as this season for a Michigan offense looking for as many weapons as possible.