The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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running and cutting with more authority and confidence. His pass blocking improved, too. "He's always been a very serious-minded guy who goes about his business. He's al- ways been very in-tune to whatever you say to him," Jackson said. "You knew there was going to be a time when it was going to all click. You just didn't know exactly when. "As the season went on and he started pay- ing attention to all the small, minor details, he became a much better running back. He has the feet, the quickness, the power, the ability to make a guy miss — all those things that are necessary for a good back — and now he knows where the defense is going to be." When the Boilermakers finally rolled into town, Toussaint exploded for 170 yards and two scores on 20 carries (8.5 yards per rush). Over the course of Michigan's final five regular-season games, Toussaint ran for at least 120 yards four times, with a career-high of 192 against Illinois. In that five-game span, he racked up 678 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry — someone had finally wres- tled the starting running back spot away from the other suitors. And Toussaint has no intentions of giving it up. u History Says Toussaint Should Have Another Big Year This season, Toussaint will look to become the first U-M running back to post back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns since Mike Hart in 2006-07. Redshirt junior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint burst onto the scene last season, tallying 1,041 yards. Now, the goal is to improve upon that number. In the past 40 years, the Wolverines enjoyed 15 seasons in which a non- senior running back passed the 1,000-yard plateau. In 10 of those 15 instances, the running back ran for at least 1,000 yards again the next season. In eight of the 15, the running back improved his numbers from the previous year, and in six he improved his numbers by at least 342 yards. The largest leap in rushing yardage a year after a 1,000-yard campaign was by Jamie Morris in 1987. After posting 1,086 yards in 1986, he came back as a senior and put together one of the all-time great seasons by a Michigan running back, rushing for 1,703 yards (a 617-yard improve - ment). Chris Perry also took a huge step as a senior. After rushing for 1,110 yards in his junior season, Perry ripped off 1,674 yards in 2003, including a record-breaking 51-carry, 219-yard performance in a 27-20 win over Michigan State. Year to year, Perry's rushing numbers improved by 564 yards. In 1976, Rob Lytle improved 439 yards from his 1,030 yards the year before (1,469). His 1975 backfield tandem partner, Gordon Bell, improved 342 yards from 1974-75 (1,048 to 1,390). Anthony Thomas and Butch Woolfolk also made big strides from year to year. Thomas gained 1,297 yards in 1999, and posted 1,733 as a senior in 2000 (436-yard improvement). Woolfolk leapt from 1,042 yards in 1980 to 1,459 the next season (417). In the majority of cases, an underclassman who tallied 1,000-plus yards reached that goal, again — and usually bested it. But there are always exceptions to the rule. In the last 40 years, five running backs failed to reach 1,000 yards after a season in which they did so. In most cases, there were ex - tenuating circumstances that held them back from reaching their full potential. Similarly, Ricky Powers fell from a career-high 1,197 yards in 1991 to just 321 the next season. He suffered an injury, and by the time he recuperated, Wolverine great Tyrone Wheatley had put a stranglehold on the position. In 1988, Tony Boles rushed for an impressive 1,408 yards. He was on his way back to another 1,000-plus-yard season — posting 839 yards in nine starts — but in the ninth game of the season, on the AstroTurf of Min - nesota's Metrodome, he suffered a season-ending knee injury. In 1977, fullback Russell Davis earned team MVP honors after leading the team with 1,092 rushing yards on the way to a Big Ten championship. Unlike the others who failed to reach 1,000 yards, Davis remained healthy and started all 12 games for the Big Ten champion 1978 squad. But the team shared the rushing wealth, with five players, including running back Harlan Huckleby and quarterback Rick Leach, gaining at least 350 yards on the ground. Davis finished the year with 683. Rk. Player Improvements On A 1,000-Yard Season By A U-M RB In The Last 40 Years 1. Jamie Morris 2. Chris Perry 3. Rob Lytle 4. Anthony Thomas 5. Butch Woolfolk 6. Gordon Bell 7. Jamie Morris 8. Tyrone Wheatley Year 1986 2002 1975 1999 1980 1974 1985 1993 Yards 1,086 1,110 1,030 1,297 1,042 1,048 1,030 1,129 Year 1987 2003 1976 2000 1981 1975 1986 1994 Yards 1,703 1,674 1,469 1,733 1,459 1,390 1,086 1,144 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL After breaking the Michigan freshman rushing record with 1,455 yards in 2004, Mike Hart dipped down to 662 yards the following season. Un - fortunately, Hart made eight starts in 2005, due to several injuries that kept him off the field. Diff. +617 +564 +439 +436 +417 +342 +56 +15 THE WOLVERINE 2012 FOOTBALL PREVIEW s 99