WATCH: Tony Alford discusses roles for Jordan Marshall, Justice Haynes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football running backs coach and run game coordinator Tony Alford met with the media Wednesday afternoon ahead of his team’s season opener against New Mexico. Watch video from his press conference below.

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Running backs coach and run game coordinator Tony Alford

Michigan has two running backs that they consider at starter level in junior Justice Haynes and sophomore Jordan Marshall. Alford was asked if the Maize and Blue have different situations they want to use each in, such as short yardage, or if they’ll truly rotate.

“No,” Alford said. “Both guys are adept at doing the entire offense. Complete players. They’re both very talented dudes. But there’s no defined roles, like this guy’s going to do this, this guy’s going to do that. Now, there are some things that maybe you’re better at.

“Jordan, I’ll say if you said, I have to pick someone to go for short yardage, I’d probably go with him. He’s more rugged in between the tackles a little bit. But to sit there and say that Justice couldn’t go in short yardage or goal line, that would be a falsehood. They’re both capable of doing that.”

Alford compared the two Michigan running backs’ games.

“If I had to kind of cut it up a little bit, I’d say that Justice may have some more big play potential out on the perimeter and things like that. He’s probably a little more apt to take the ball out on the perimeter a little bit, more than Jordan is. Jordan wants to go north and south, and he’s a banger that way and has shown that he can do that. But he can also get you on the perimeter, just as Justice can get you on the interior.

“They both catch the ball well. I think Jordan is probably a little more ahead right now, as far as the pass protection team, as far as securing the block itself — not where they fit in protection, but actually executing the block. They’re both good at it, but I’d say Jordan’s a little further ahead right now.

“Jordan might get mad at this, but I’d say Justice probably has a little more top-end speed. But they’re both capable of doing all of those things.”