Name: Justice Haynes
Height: 5'11″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Buford (GA) Buford
Position: Running back
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #22
Last year: Haynes played for Alabama. He started six games and ran 79 times for 448 yards and 7 touchdowns; he also caught 17 passes for 99 yards.
TTB Rating: N/A
A second straight transfer in the countdown, Haynes started half the games last year for the Alabama Crimson Tide and would have played against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl if not for entering the transfer portal. Despite starting six games, his only 100+ yard performance came against Western Kentucky in the season opener when he ran 4 times for 102 yards and 1 score, including an 85-yard touchdown. Otherwise, his rushing output never topped 79 yards. He did reel off four straight games with a touchdown score, including three against ranked teams. So while the overall totals weren't great, there was some steady production. (Quarterback Jalen Milroe and running back Jam Miller led the team with 168 and 145 rushing attempts, respectively.)
With Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards off to the NFL, Michigan needed someone else to step in at running back. Cole Cabana transferred to Western Michigan after the season, and Ben Hall transferred to North Carolina after spending the spring trying to duke it out with Haynes for a role in the 1-2 combo with Jordan Marshall. Haynes and Marshall seem like very similar running backs, guys who have some power, some speed, and some vision, and Michigan's offense should roll smoothly with those two guys in the backfield. But after Haynes, there is a major question mark, because the remaining backs are totally unproven at the FBS level. Massachusetts transfer C.J. Hester already re-entered the transfer portal, and Princeton transfer John Volker will fight with Micah Ka'apana and a couple freshmen for the #3 job. That means Marshall and Haynes are both pretty valuable commodities.
Over the last five full seasons (not counting the 2020 COVID season), Michigan's #2 running back has never had fewer than 119 carries and has averaged about 130 carries per year. If that trickles over into 2025, Haynes should be touching the ball about 135-140 times once you factor in a few receptions. Haynes has a chance to be an integral part of an offense that intends to beat up opposing defenses.
Prediction: Backup running back
We're going to need a heavy dose of both guys. Hopefully they can stay healthy, because nothing after them is close to intriguing
ReplyDeleteYep he should be a fun one to watch. It'll be intriguing to see how things sort out between him and Marshall. Both are talented backs but Marshall was 3rd string and barely played until Mullings and Edwards became unavailable. Hayes lost the starting job at Bama and was 3rd in the pecking order for carries. On one hand that doesn't look like elite talent necessarily. On the other hand both flashed some high end ability, come with big recruiting hype, and stayed ahead of other highly regarded talents on elite programs.
ReplyDeleteWith the prevalence of heavy rotation at the RB position, snaps are limited, so I find it hard to rank guys too high in importance. But there is no doubt that Hayes could generate big stats and a be on a lot of highlights. If Marshall goes down for a stretch, he'll be elevated into a starring role.
Glad to have him on the team and to see if one of Michigan's biggest NIL targets pays off. Encouraging to hear speculation that his running style fits with the offense - though we'll have to see with our own eyes.
...Will also be interesting to see what he does after the season with another year of eligibility still on the table for 2026.
"Haynes and Marshall seem like very similar running backs"
ReplyDeleteYep it seems like it doesn't it. This is an interesting dynamic and a departure from the oft-referenced Thunder/Lightening duos. I don't really think it's any sort of problem but perhaps it opens the door for one of the RB3 guys to carve a niche role for themselves. I don't expect this at all, but I always do enjoy when a FB type gets a big role at the goalline and Bredeson deserves the shine.