ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In the rivalry against Michigan State, much like the one vs. Ohio State, the team that runs the ball better tends to win the game. And the Wolverines ran wild all over the Spartans on Saturday.
Michigan football managed 276 yards on the ground, with both running backs — Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall — eclipsing 100 yards and getting into the endzone (Haynes scored twice). In recent weeks, the duo has looked more like expected in the offseason, at least in terms of being 1A and 1B. But unlike the preseason expectations, the duo are showing more differences than they are similarities.
On Monday, WolverinesWire asked Sherrone Moore if the two star tailbacks remind him of the Hassan Haskins-Blake Corum duo in 2021, and he shared his estimation of the standout players in comparison.
“Yeah, a little bit. I think both of them have the ability, as we’ve seen, to have the explosive playability,” Moore said. “I think both of them can run you over, make you miss, do that, but I think Justice, we’ve just seen more of the 50-yard run, 60-yard run, where Jordan’s only had a couple of them.
“Jordan’s really got the thumper that wear you down back that moves the pile, where Justice isn’t that as much, but they both have that ability. The biggest difference is probably Jordan’s more of that thumper guy, whereas Justice is the one cut. He can bounce it outside and get that touchdown, or he can one cut and go for 50, but both of them obviously super successful in what they’ve been doing.”
Haynes announced himself in Ann Arbor almost immediately, with the longest streak of a newcomer managing over 100 yards in program history. But Marshall took a little while to find his footing. And once he did, it didn’t come a moment too soon.
After Haynes was injured in the second quarter of the USC game, Marshall performed admirably in that game, but then really started to show out in the ensuing week against Washington with Haynes out. Haynes returned against MSU and started out strong, but Marshall also showed the Spartans he isn’t to be trifled with.
With that, Moore feels like Marshall has earned the right to ensure some carries every week, even when Haynes does have the hot hand.
“Yeah, 100%. I mean, Jordan, he would go to 95% of schools in the country and be the starter, if not all of them,” Moore said. “So he’s an outstanding running back. He has the ability to make you miss. He has the ability to run you over. He has the ability to, you know, take the big one to the house. So he’s done everything he can at this point to get carries, and he’ll continue to do that.”
Michigan will have another chance to pile on the yards on the ground with the 75th-ranked rushing defense, Purdue coming to town on Saturday night.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football’s Haynes-Marshall tandem evoking Haskins-Corum vibes after MSU game
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
