Fifth-year senior running back Ty Isaac’s Michigan career hasn’t exactly gone the way he hoped it would so far, but a strong final season could help change a lot of that.
His 2017 season certainly got off to a good start on Saturday against Florida, as he rushed for 114 yards on just 11 carries against the Gators. As a result, Jim Harbaugh named him Michigan’s offensive player of the week.
“It’s exciting, because it’s one of the things I wanted to accomplish,” he said. “It shows that I did a lot for the team, and that’s what I’m happiest about.”
Isaac wasn’t the only Wolverine running back to have a successful day on the ground. Sophomore Chris Evans ran for 78 yards on 22 carries, while junior Karan Higdon scampered for 28 yards on seven carries.
Isaac explained that it’s all about competition at the position.
“It never stops,” he said. “Karan might not have played as much in the first half, but then he came out and played a lot more in the second half — Chris played a good game too. The fullbacks, [fifth-year senior] Henry [Poggi] and [fifth-year senior] Khalid [Hill] had solid games as well.”
Harbaugh has used a committee approach with his running backs since he’s been at Michigan, and Isaac said he expects that to continue all season long.
Two other positions that saw plenty of rotation on Saturday were the receivers and tight ends. Both units had solid games on Saturday.
“They’ve been doing that stuff all fall camp,” the fifth-year senior said. “Nobody in the building had any doubts about [freshman receiver] Tarik [Black] or [freshman receiver] Donovan [Peoples-Jones], because they’ve been playing so well ever since they got here. [Sophomore tight end] Nick Eubanks has played well too, even during his redshirt year.”
Unfortunately, one player who didn’t perform his best on Saturday was redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight.
Despite throwing two interceptions, Isaac said the team never lost confidence in their signal-caller.
“Wilton could’ve thrown three picks, and still would’ve been fine,” Isaac said. “He never flinched and was just as confident afterward as he was at the beginning of the game. It gives you confidence knowing that your leader isn’t going to back down — everybody fed off his energy.”
While Speight is obviously the quarterback of the offense, senior left tackle Mason Cole is the captain on that side of the ball.
“Mason is just a ‘do-stuff-right’ kind of guy,” Isaac explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him doing anything wrong — he does the right stuff in practice as well as off the field. He’s somebody I’m proud to have as a captain.”
There were several times throughout the game in which Michigan faced a third-and-long situation, and ran draw plays to pick up the first down. Isaac touched on why those were successful.
“We looked at a lot of film,” the 6-3, 228-pounder said. “There were a couple of situations where we got the looks we were expecting, and that made it easier.
“I never doubt my own abilities — it could be third-and-30 and if they call my number, I think I’m going to get it. Whenever the coaches choose a play, we feel like there’s a good chance it will be successful.”
Michigan’s offense was more productive as the game went on, and Isaac said the Wolverine defense was part of the reason why.
“It makes you want to up your performance when they’re playing their tails off,” he exclaimed. “In that second half, we knew they were carrying us and we tried to put some points on the board for them.”
The success of Michigan’s defense was the main topic of conversation afterward surrounding the game, but Isaac’s outstanding day deserves plenty of attention as well.
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