The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 69 RUNNING BACKS The Wolverines also feature a pair of walk-on running backs in sophomore Tru Wilson and redshirt junior Joe Hewlett, who saw considerable action in the spring game, Hewlett carrying eight times for 33 yards and Wilson three times for 25. They'll all be running behind the batter- ing rams of fullbacks Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi, both fifth-year seniors. Hill became Michigan's designated touch- down maker from close range a season ago. He managed 39 yards out of his 25 carries, but crossed the goal line 10 times, tying Smith for the team lead in touchdowns on the ground. Hill's expertise in short-yardage situations and blocking make him valuable. His former life as a Michigan tight end also makes him a threat to split out and supplement the posi- tion formerly coached by Harbaugh at any moment. Hill made 16 catches a year ago, tied for fourth on the team, racking up 118 yards and three touchdowns. "He can do pretty much anything we ask," Harbaugh said. "He's gifted in that regard. I would expect him to be a little bit of a jack- of-all-trades this year." "The running backs have a saying: 'We'll take the load,'" Hill offered during the spring. For him, that means not lingering on video of his many touchdown plunges, but putting his attention on plays in which he could have performed better. "I focus more on the things I did wrong," Hill assured. "I focus on the sack I gave up against Colorado for a touchdown, or the fumble against Iowa, or the missed protec- tion against Maryland. Those are the things I focus on. Those mean more to me than me scoring a touchdown. "If I didn't fumble against Iowa, we prob- ably could have won. They wouldn't have kicked that field goal." Poggi, meanwhile, continues honing his skills as a big-time blocker to supplement the six catches he made for 45 yards a year ago. "He's an outstanding blocker, and he's in better condition than he ever has been," Harbaugh said. "He's gotten even better at the point of attack, in terms of finishing line- backers on isolation plays. He's catching the ball better out of the backfield, too." That's not all the Wolverines feature in terms of fullbacks. While other programs have eliminated the position altogether, Jim Harbaugh's crew has it well stocked, and they added another promising youngster this summer when early enrollee freshman Ben Mason switched from linebacker to fullback. "I would imagine we have the deepest fullback room in the country," the younger Harbaugh noted. "A guy like [redshirt ju- nior walk-on] Nick Volk is playing his best football. [Redshirt junior walk-on] Greg Fro- elich, who used to be an offensive lineman, is playing outstanding football. [Redshirt junior walk-on] Joe Beneducci … all three of those guys are nipping at the heels of the two other guys. "It's unusual to have that many talented guys, which is pretty exciting." The excitement ramps up in August, when jobs are nailed down and greater responsibil- ities earned. In the meantime, the Wolverines have a summer to get in position for a strong burst out of the gate. ❏ Fifth-year senior fullback Khalid Hill tallied 10 rushing touchdowns to tie for the team lead in 2016, and he also caught 16 passes for 118 yards and three scores. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL "They're hard workers. ... That's the main thing, and I didn't know that until we really got going on the field. They're smart, they're tough and they'll run all day long. They really get after it." RUNNING BACKS COACH JAY HARBAUGH