Michigan Football: The Wolverine's Top-25 Since '97 - No. 2
The Wolverine continues its series of the top 25 Michigan players since 1997 with No. 2, Mike Hart.
Over the course of his Michigan career, Hart went from a three-recruit from Syracuse, N.Y., to one of the most successful running backs the storied Wolverine program has ever seen.
At the time he graduated from Onondoga Central High, Hart had set national career records in touchdowns and career points by non-quarterbacks, with 204 and 1,246, respectively. Hart was also a three time state champion and lost only one game during his high school career.
Hart got right to work once he arrived at Michigan, setting the school's rushing record for yardage by a freshman with 1,455 yards. That season, the Wolverines went 9-3, and Hart was named All-Big Ten first team and Big Ten Freshman of the year. Due to injury, Hart was unable to duplicate his success in his sophomore year.
His junior year in the maize and blue was perhaps his most spectacular. Hart's 1,562 yards in 2006 currently stands as the No. 6 single season mark in school history. His yardage total, along with his 14 rushing touchdowns that season propelled him into the Heisman Trophy conversation, and he finished fifth in the voting that season. Hart was also a finalist for the Doak Walker award that year and was again named All-Big Ten first team.
As a senior, Hart once again rushed for 14 touchdowns, doing so in just 10 games. He totaled 1,361 yards in 2007 and was once again a Doak Walker finalist and All-Big Ten first team. However, he and his fellow seniors were never able to beat Ohio State during their four years at the school.
For his career, Hart is first in yards and fourth in rushing touchdowns at Michigan, with 5,040 and 41, respectively.
Following his career as a Wolverine, Hart was drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Hart played sparingly during his three years in the NFL, though he did have two carries in the Colts' Super Bowl XLIV appearance.
Following his professional career, Hart got into coaching, begging as a quality control coach at Eastern Michigan. He is currently the running backs coach at Indiana.
The full list:
No. 3: Jake Long
No. 4: Braylon Edwards
No. 5: Steve Hutchinson
No. 6: LaMarr Woodley
No. 7: Brandon Graham
No. 8: Chris Perry
No. 9: Anthony Thomas
No. 10: Leon Hall
No. 11: Chad Henne
No. 14: Denard Robinson
No. 15: Marlin Jackson
No. 16: Glen Steele
No. 17: David Baas
No. 18: Jourdan Lewis
No. 19: David Harris
No. 20: Ernest Shazor
No. 21: John Navarre
No. 22: Jake Butt
No. 23: David Molk
No. 24: Taco Charlton
No. 25: Jeremy Gallon