New Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has created dominant rushing attacks at every stop throughout his coaching career, and he plans on running the ball a lot in Ann Arbor.
Here's an early look at Michigan's running backs, and how they will fit in Harbaugh's system?
DERRICK GREEN
Green, who will be a junior next year, was the starting running back at the beginning of the season for the Wolverines, but missed the last half of the year with a broken clavicle. He recorded 471 yards and three touchdowns through six games last year on an impressive 5.7 yards a carry, and is the early favorite to start again this year.
The former five-star recruit is a powerful running at 5'11", 227 lbs., and is the most like the running backs Harbaugh is used to. Green only had one game with more than 15 carries last season - he should see a MUCH heavier workload in 2015.
DRAKE JOHNSON
Johnson will also be a junior in 2015, and he took over the starting role after Green got hurt. At 6'0" and 211 pounds, he's a little more shifty as Green, but isn't as powerful of a runner. Look for Johnson to be used as a third-down back with Harbaugh hoping to utilize his versatility in the passing game.
TY ISAAC
Isaac and Green were the top two running backs in the 2012 recruiting class, and he'll get his first chance to suit up for the Wolverines this year after transferring from USC. At 6'3" and 225 lbs, Isaac is a bigger back than Green and will likely split carries with him, similar to what Frank Gore and Carlos Hype did in San Francisco during the past two years. In a crowded backfield, Isaac will have his chance to show what he can do.
DE'VEON SMITH
Smith might find himself as the odd man out in Harbaugh's system. He saw the field sparingly as the third-string back last year, though he played well at the end of the season when he started to get more carries. Smith will be battling with Johnson for the third-string duties again this year, and either could be used in the return game.
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