Michigan’s running game has been steadily improving over the course of the season, and the running backs are obviously a big reason why. However, the Wolverine fullbacks have played a significant part in the ground game’s success as well.
Jim Harbaugh was especially pleased with the play of the fullbacks during junior running back Karan Higdon’s 10-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter this past Saturday against Rutgers, singling them out during his Monday press conference.
“Everybody is working to make those big blocks,” fifth-year senior Khalid Hill said. “When you open holes, the running backs hit them and score, so it’s a good feeling as an offense when you work together and get the job done. We’ve been doing it a lot more lately, and need to continue to do it.”
Hill explained that the offense as a whole recently had some tough questions it had to ask itself if it wanted to improve.
“We kind of asked how ourselves what we want our identity to be,” he revealed. “Our identity is to run the ball, and we need to always be able to do that. Running the ball opens up the pass, and those two things complement each other very well.
“Coach Harbaugh asked us what our identity was after the first couple of games. We just needed to get back to the fundamentals — the past two years we had about 40 seniors, but this year we only have about eight fifth-years and a couple seniors.”
Hill is one of the few fifth-year players on the team, and another fellow fifth-year — center Pat Kugler — recently said he views fullbacks as offensive linemen. Hill refuted that claim.
“I’m more of a running back,” he laughed. “[Sophomore tight end] Sean McKeon was talking about how fullbacks have to run at people and hit them two steps away, so you have to be able to be under control and hit with velocity when you do that.
“It’s different from what an offensive lineman does because you need a unique skillset to come out of the backfield and hit somebody. Us fullbacks are kind of different in how much we like contact.
“I’m not saying offensive linemen have it easy though. I used to play tight end and thought it was easier to block when the guy is basically an inch in front of you.”
Freshman Ben Mason saw an extended run at fullback on Saturday against the Scarlet Knights, and Hill talked about how excited he is about the youngster.
“Ben is going to be a great athlete these next few years, and will probably be better than all the fullbacks we have here now. He’s athletic, fast and a very hard worker. He wants to be the best, and you can see that in the way he works.”
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