From Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis (Detroit Mackenzie, Notre Dame), to schoolboy legend Tyrone Wheatley (Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Michigan, NFL), to Heisman Trophy winners Pete Dawkins (Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (Army) and Mark Ingram Jr. (Flint Southwestern, Alabama, NFL), the state of Michigan has a rich history at the running back position. The class of 2021 backfield standouts look to continue that tradition this upcoming season.
Here are the state of Michigan's top 10 running backs for the class of 2021 --
Top 10 Running Backs for Michigan's Class of 2021 --
1. Donovan Edwards-6-1, 190-West Bloomfield -- Ranked the No. 2 running back recruit in the nation, Edwards is wanted by every major D-I college football program -- and for good reason. Edwards has it all, with size, speed, vision, footwork and toughness. Last season, Edwards rushed for 1,326 yards and 16 TDs, while catching 33 passes for 419 yards and five TDs. A four-year varsity performer at a suburban Detroit powerhouse and football factory (currently the Lakers have players at multiple Big Ten and high-level D-I schools including Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Missouri, Wisconsin and Syracuse, plus Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl LB Matt Judon is a former West Bloomfield standout), Edwards is the next great one to wear the forest green and white. Georgia, Michigan State, Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Florida, Miami (Fla.), LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Notre Dame offers.
2. Anthony Tyus-6-1, 210-Portage Northern -- Might be the state of Michigan's most complete running back, at least when it comes to speed, power and agility. Father played college football at CMU. Last season, Tyus rushed for 1,861 yards and 19 touchdowns for Northern, a school just outside of Kalamazoo. Also a high-level linebacker prospect. Named to the AP Division 1-2 (big school) All-State first team as a junior. Verbal to Northwestern
3. Cam Terry-5-9, 195-Grandville -- Has a quick burst through the line of scrimmage before using his 4.4 speed to outrun most any opposing defensive player. Highly under-recruited in my opinion, Terry has strength and power unique for a high school player. Already as a junior, Terry can bench press 320 pounds, while squatting 450 pounds. Big Ten? MAC? Check this player out...
4. Tyshaan Williams-6-0, 220-Battle Creek Central -- Raw, but pure physical talent, Williams looks like a Big Ten running back already as a junior standout for the Bearcats. Thick-legged and fast, Williams punishes opposing defenders unlucky enough to get in his way. Robbie Crockett (Iowa) and Larry Caper (Michigan State) are former Central running backs to go on to play big-time college football. Williams is the next running back stud for the Bearcats. Three-year varsity player, Williams runs a reported 4.5 40, benches 315 pounds and squats 485 pounds. Army, CMU offers. C'mon, Big Ten? Where are you on this kid?
5. Davion Primm-5-11, 195-Oak Park -- Primm comes from one of the state of Michigan's top programs in Oak Park. Last season's No. 1-ranked player overall, Justin Rogers (6-3, 300 OL-DL, Kentucky commit) is a former Knight. Future NFL running backs Edwin Baker (MSU, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints ) and John Kelly (Tennessee, Los Angeles Rams, Super Bowl LIII) are also former Oak Park stars. Primm is the latest standout in the Knights' backfield rushing for 1,125 yards on 95 carries with 10 TDs last season. Verbal to Michigan State
6. David Holloman-5-11, 200-Auburn Hills Avondale -- Quite possibly the fastest player not only in the state of Michigan, but the Midwest. Holloman has been timed at 4.21 in the 40-yard dash. Last season, Holloman rushed for 1,236 yards on 106 carries with 16 TDs. He had 1,548 all-purpose yards last year. Holloman is not only a "one cut and go"-type of player, he's an all-around talent with excellent vision and the skill to set up blocks for extra yardage and to open up holes. Also a top defensive back prospect. Verbal to Indiana
7. Rae'Quin Lee-5-10, 175-Southfield A & T -- With quick feet and an explosive burst, Lee stood out last season on a Southfield A & T squad that sent two players to Purdue and one to Louisville. Seemingly faster than his reported 4.6 40, Lee, once he was in the open field, was rarely, if ever, caught from behind last year. Just scratching the surface of his talent, the ceiling is definitely high for this emerging star. Verbal to Ball State
8. Carson Vanderhoff-6-0, 205-Caledonia -- Powerful runner for Caledonia, a school near Grand Rapids, Vanderhoff squats 500 pounds. With brute strength, Vanderhoff also possesses good speed and footwork. Last season, Vanderhoff rushed for 1,729 yards and 19 TDs, earning AP Division 1-2 (big school) All-State first team. Rushed for a season-high 384 yards versus Holland West Ottawa and 331 yards against Grand Rapids Northview this past year.
9. Caden Woodall-6-1, 220-Livonia Stevenson -- This is a kid I believe is going to have a break out year next season. Woodall missed most of his freshman and sophomore seasons with nagging injuries. Healthy for the first time last year, Woodall was an absolute load for any defender to handle. With speed uncanny for a player his size, Woodall is tough to bring down in the open field or between the tackles. And once he gets to the second level, he has the breakaway speed to score from anywhere on the field. Rushed for 1,101 yards on 159 carries with 16 TDs last season. Also LB prospect. Woodall is a definite "sleeper/diamond-in-the-rough"-type prospect. But a surefire D-I college football player. CMU offer.
10. (TIE) Dorion Riley-5-9, 185-Jackson -- Explosive, shifty and fast back for Jackson. Riley was named to the Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team as junior rushing for a school record 1,743 yards and 20 TDs. In a 59-27 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln last season, Riley ran for 250 yards and scored a school record seven touchdowns. Brandon Miller-6-1, 180-Fenton -- Speed, speed, speed. Miller is one of the fastest players in the state of Michigan and one of the fastest in the nation. Miller finished third in the 200 meters in 21.1 at the AAU National Junior Olympics last summer and fourth in the 100 meters in 10.6. Miller is truly a game-breaker once he's in the open field. Also has the potential to be a lockdown-type corner at the next level. Very intriguing prospect.
Other top running backs for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Brock Woodard-5-10, 185-Hillsdale (rushed for 1,201 yards on 126 carries with 13 TDs, while catching 14 passes for 254 yards and two TDs, named to Jackson Citizen Patriot Dream Team last season), Kolby Hindenach-5-10, 190-Paw Paw (rushed for 1,588 yards on 201 carries with 25 TDs last year, named to the Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team and Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State first team), Justin Whitehorn-5-8, 185-North Farmington (rushed for 816 yards and eight TDs, 1,020 all-purpose yards as junior, 255 bench press, 515 squat), Gage Chapin-5-11, 200-Midland Bullock Creek (rushed for 810 yards and seven TDs, caught 10 passes for 221 yards and three TDs last season, named to the Midland Daily News Dream Team), Will Alexander-6-0, 175-Sand Creek (rushed for 1,500 yards on 150 carries with 23 TDs last season).
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