This Michigan Football Player Is Ready To 'Bring The Hammer Down' And Seize A Role In 2023

Heading into the 2023 football season, Michigan has one of the best one-two punches a football team could ask for at the running back position. The Wolverines will have the luxury of trotting out Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards every game of the season and both are a homerun threat every time they touch the ball.

But as we saw last season, one play -- one hit -- can change the entire season. When Corum went down against Illinois in '22, Edwards was thrust into the lead-back role and shined. But the Wolverines put a ton on Edwards' shoulders during the last three games of the season and Michigan desperately needed someone else to step up to help out the backfield.

Michigan ended up using converted linebacker Kalel Mullings at the end of the season for goalline carries and Mullings scored three times on the ground last season. But it seems like Mullings has become a forgotten man in the Wolverines' backfield entering 2023. Most of the talk surrounds freshmen Ben Hall, Cole Cabana, or sophomore CJ Stokes.

But Mullings, entering his senior year, is now strictly a running back and is looking to take the RB No. 3 job.

The media got a chance to speak with Mullings on Monday and he thinks his time at linebacker has only helped him become 'true running back'. He now has a new thought process while playing the position since he experienced the defensive side.

"I would say if you asked me like a year ago, I would have definitely said I felt like more like a linebacker," Mullings said during media availability. "But coming back to it now I definitely feel more like a running back. And I also feel like my experience playing defense has helped my growth as a running back a lot. And just even the thought process I go through before each play kind of understanding what the defenses are in, who's blitzing from where, what the weaknesses are in certain defenses. It's helped me a lot and it has helped me a lot feel like a true running back."

What makes Mullings the best candidate to take on the backup role behind Corum and Edwards? He is the biggest running back in the room standing at 6-foot-2, 239-pounds. Mullings suggests that he has the power and will bring the hammer down from the running back position.

"Yeah, Blake and Dono [Edwards] are amazing running backs and you guys are all gonna see that this season," said Mullings. "But for me personally, I just -- I'm the biggest guy in the room so I'm gonna bring that power and that's my goal for myself. Add something maybe they don't add as much and just to help out the team and help out the room. So with everything that they're gonna do I'm hoping to just bring some power and you know bring the extra hammer down from the running back position."

While Mullings is a big dude, he shredded a few pounds to become faster. He believes he has a multi-faceted body that allows him to play multiple positions -- like he has.

"With me, I lost a little bit of weight, just to be a little bit faster, but not too much," Mullings shared. "Honestly, I have like a body type that allows me a lot of position flexibility, honestly. And, you know, it's just been able to use that and lose a couple pounds. And I'm running back now."

With the power Mullings has and if he can add some speed, Michigan could really utilize him this fall. Not only for short-yardage carries, but if Corum and Edwards need a breather, he could step right in and get some key yardage for Michigan.