ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The college football world is abuzz about Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, and with good reason. The Tigers tailback has been electric as the most prolific runner in college football, with the most yards and yards per game of anyone in the sport. Thus, when analysts and pundits put out their midseason Heisman choices, Hardy is usually included as the sole non-quarterback on their lists.
But Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore believes that Justice Haynes deserves some consideration.
Haynes is the first Wolverine running back to rush for over 100 yards in his first five games with the team, and he appears to be en route to Blake Corum’s record of eight straight games with 100 yards rushing. On Monday, after Haynes managed 117 yards against what was the nation’s best run defense, Moore sang his praises while also looking back to getting Haynes to transfer to Ann Arbor from Alabama.
“Animal. Animal. He should be up for the Heisman,” Moore said. “Yeah, I mean, fifth game with 100-plus yards. Is he the first running back in Michigan history to do that?
“Yeah, he’s pretty good. Yeah, this dude is — what you saw on film is an explosive player, because I remember we were watching him, and I think it was, I can’t remember what the team was, but he ran over somebody, and then he took it like another 60 yards or something. And I think he had the most explosive runs on their team. So, yeah, I saw it. I knew it. And obviously, Tony (Alford, Michigan’s RB coach) had a relationship with him. So, as soon as he called, as soon as he got in the portal, the first person he called was Tony.
“And, yeah, and what you saw even more is when he got here in the spring, like just telling you, he never got caught ever. I remember Wink saying, ‘Well, I’m glad he’s on our team,’ because he never got caught whenever he had those explosive runs. But he’s consistent. He works his tail off. He’s a great human being. He’s becoming a leader in the right ways. So, yeah, I’m glad we got just his hands on our team.”
Moore was asked if Haynes reminds him of anyone he’s been around, and he had two pretty solid examples — one from Michigan and another from his time as a player at Oklahoma. While Haynes has some differences, there are certainly some similarities.
What’s more, he’s not just acclimated to the team, he’s starting to help lead it.
“(It) seems like it’s like ’22 when Blake would get the ball and all of a sudden he’d be gone. He’s got a little bit of that in him,” Moore said. “He’s got a little bit of DeMarco (Murray) when I played with him. Maybe not as shaky, but the speed and just a long-stride ability. But he’s strong, he’s physical. He gets those extra yards you need, and obviously, he’s super explosive.
“But great, I think just the way he carries himself and what he does and how he attacks the weight room, how he attacks his recovery, everything he does off the field is awesome, and he just continues to get better.”
Fans will get another chance to see Haynes in action on Saturday when Michigan football travels to Los Angeles to face USC at the Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT, and the game will be broadcast on NBC.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Sherrone Moore on Michigan RB Justice Haynes: ‘Animal. He should be up for the Heisman’
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
