Last year’s Michigan football team might’ve run on double-lightning, but this year it’s looking like graduate running back Kalel Mullings will bring back the thunder.
The dangerous duo of former running back Blake Corum and now-senior running back Donovan Edwards — nicknamed “lightning and lightning” — didn’t need a “thunder.” With Corum now off to the NFL, though, Edwards is in the market for a new sidekick — and Mullings is first up to the plate.
“I feel like we all know what (Edwards) brings,” Mullings said Wednesday. “He’s lightning fast, he can get out at any time. I feel like for me, I bring some size, some power to complement that. (For the opposing) defense, one snap you’re going against the guy that’s gonna break it out the house. The next snap, you’re going against the guy who wants to run you over. That’s hard to go back and forth with.”
Mullings, now a graduate running back, didn’t start his career in the backfield. He spent his first two seasons with the Wolverines as a linebacker while playing the majority of his snaps on special teams.
As a junior, Mullings made his first appearance on the offensive side of the ball. He took on the role of a short-yardage back, scoring three touchdowns on 14 carries for 31 total yards.
However, one of his most memorable offensive plays during the 2022-23 season didn’t even involve running. It came in the form of a gutsy third-down jump pass against Ohio State, a play that eventually led to a touchdown. Continuing to prove his versatility and value, he also appeared in 10 games at linebacker and registered 12 tackles.
This past season, Mullings transitioned into a full-time running back. Throughout 13 games, he ran for 222 yards on 36 carries and scored one touchdown.
Although he no longer contributes as a linebacker, Mullings has used — and will continue to use — his defensive experience to help him become a better offensive weapon.
“I definitely think being able to see and understand defenses — the fronts, where the blitzes are coming from, different things like that — part of that comes from playing defense, so I know what I’m looking at maybe a little bit better,” Mullings said. “I think those have been my biggest strides — being able to identify what the defense may potentially be doing, where a blitz may be coming from, where guys are dropping to, things like that.”
In addition to taking full advantage of his positional background, Mullings also recognizes that becoming the best running back he can be also requires a bit of adjustment.
Eyeing an increased workload with Corum out of the picture, he’s dropped about eight pounds since the end of last season. His unique skill set still revolves around size and power, no question, but he doesn’t want to be a purely short-yardage back anymore.
“I’ve been working this offseason to prepare myself and prepare my body for that expanded role,” Mullings said. “And I definitely feel like those preparations that I’ve made and changing my body, trying to get a little bit lighter, trying to get a little bit faster, will definitely help. And I’m just excited for it, honestly.”
As he continues to learn from past experiences and carve out his place alongside Edwards in the backfield, all signs point to Mullings becoming a key component of Michigan’s offense — because this year, the forecast is back to thunder and lightning.
The post With his own unique skill set, Kalel Mullings looking to step into new dynamic running back duo appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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