If Tony Alford had to categorize the Michigan football team’s top two running backs into specific roles, he’d probably designate sophomore Jordan Marshall as a powerful rusher built to break tackles, and junior Justice Haynes as someone with a big play potential. Perhaps, given Marshall’s physicality and Haynes’ quickness, the duo could even don the nickname ‘Thunder and Lightning.’
Luckily for the Wolverines’ running back coach — and potentially for Michigan as well — any such distinction shouldn’t be necessary this upcoming season.
“Both guys are adept at doing (the) entire offense, complete, complete players,” Alford said Wednesday. “They’re both very talented dudes, but there’s no defined roles, like, this guy’s gonna do this, this guy’s gonna do this. … If you said I had to pick someone to go for short yardage, I’d probably go with (Marshall). 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’d be a falsehood whatsoever. They’re both capable of doing that.”
There are, of course, nuances that separate the two. While Haynes has been improving his effectiveness in pass protection, Marshall is still superior at executing blocks. Where Haynes is more comfortable out on the perimeter, Marshall is more experienced with the Wolverines’ offensive system and structure.
“Jordan might get mad at this,” Alford prefaced before continuing, “but I’d say that Justice probably has a little more top end speed.”
Last season, Marshall didn’t have much opportunity to showcase his speed, firmly third on the depth chart behind veterans Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings. It took nearly an entire season for Marshall to register his first collegiate start, trotting onto the field as RB1 for Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama. The 100-yard performance earned Marshall ReliaQuest Bowl MVP, and it continues to be referenced in Marshall’s journey to becoming the Wolverines’ “1-B” running back.
Haynes’ path to Ann Arbor started in Tuscaloosa, but his work ethic and pure speed quickly set him up to be Michigan’s top back.
Even though Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore tagged Haynes and Marshall as “1-A” and “1-B,” respectively, Alford clarified that there’s no definite decision on who will take the first snap against New Mexico on Saturday, and Michigan’s rotations are far from set.
“That’ll play itself out,” Alford said. “… You look at Jordan, if you remember, in the bowl game, him and (then-sophomore running back) Ben Hall were kind of sharing carries and rotating. And then Jordan started getting hot, and so we just went with that hand. So I’d assume it’s going to continue to go the same way.”
Going with what’s working worked for the Wolverines against the Crimson Tide, and mirrors the sentiment that several coaches on both sides of the ball have shared throughout fall camp. Simply put, the best players are going to play.
“They say it’s kind of like that kid who’s got all the toys, right?” Alford said. “And the more you have, the better. … It’s good to have multiple guys that can go in and play.”
With two versatile, talented backs, Alford has a nice set of “toys.” On Saturday against the Lobos — after a long couple of months of scrimmaging — Alford, Haynes and Marshall will finally have their chance to play.
