To the tune of 153 yards and two touchdowns, graduate running back Kalel Mullings bulldozed the Arkansas State defense on Saturday. He made defenders miss left and right, creating space and imposing his will. Through 60 minutes, the Red Wolves proved no match for Mullings.
It was during his postgame press conference that he ran into some pushback — and it was from his own teammate.
Reflecting on his growth and development heading into this season, Mullings mentioned expanding upon what he did last year and learning from his mistakes. Senior running back Donovan Edwards disagreed.
“You had no mistakes, though,” Edwards interjected.
“Last year?” Mullings clarified with a chuckle. “Nah, there was some stuff left on the field.”
Edwards pushed back one more time, smiling as he said that players can be too picky about themselves, before Mullings explained that he’s always looking for ways to get better. This offseason especially, he was working to continuously improve his game.
Regardless of whether he made any mistakes last year, Mullings has now emerged as one of Michigan’s biggest offensive weapons. That was especially apparent in the 17th-ranked Wolverines’ win over Arkansas State, an afternoon that turned into a career day for Mullings.
Late in the first quarter, Mullings scored Michigan’s first rushing touchdown of the season with a physical 30-yard run. Following an impressive block by graduate wide receiver C.J. Charleston, Mullings slipped a tackle near the line of scrimmage and turned on the jets. He outpaced the Red Wolves’ remaining few defenders to find paydirt, putting the Wolverines on the board and reinvigorating the run game.
That was Mullings’ first of three 30-plus-yard runs on 15 total carries. He consistently broke or bounced off tackles, running through defenders and embodying the ‘smash’ mentality that Michigan prides itself on. His 38-yard rush in the fourth quarter stands as the Wolverines’ longest play from scrimmage this season.
“Everyone out there was doing their jobs, and it was just able to click really well,” Mullings said. “I’m just just proud of everybody and excited for next week.”
Mullings’ second touchdown came toward the end of the second quarter, set up by another of his long runs that brought Michigan to the five-yard line. Mullings ran straight up the middle for the score, helped by a big block from senior offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi.
By the final whistle, Mullings had set four personal career-highs — total carries, yards, touchdowns and 30-plus-yard rushes — powering the Wolverines to a run-heavy victory. And while Saturday was the first day Mullings recorded those types of numbers, Michigan coach Sherrone Moore wasn’t surprised.
“I think he averaged like six yards a carry last year,” Moore said. “So it doesn’t surprise me (that) he’s running the way he is. He just needed all the opportunities. But when you got Blake Corum, it’s a little different. He’s handled it very well.”
So when it comes to Mullings’ development, Moore and Edwards are in the same boat — he’s always been a good player, but now he’s getting the chance to show it.
The post Kalel Mullings runs with new opportunities in career day against Arkansas State appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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