'He's done everything for us': Kalel Mulling's redemptive arc to become Michigan's RB1

In a cavernous and crestfallen Michigan locker room, amid nan stunned soundlessness of a dream play gone unexpectedly and unfathomably awry, an improbable protagonist waited for nan inquest he knew was coming. Inch by inch, reporters tiptoed person and person to moving backmost Kalel Mullings, a converted linebacker whose goal-line fumble successful nan 2nd 4th had swung momentum moreover further toward nan emboldened underdogs from Texas Christian. The media members danced astir nan shot security-shaped elephant successful nan room pinch questions astir nan stunning quality of nan Wolverines' 2nd consecutive nonaccomplishment successful nan College Football Playoff semifinals and astir Mullings' move to tailback pursuing a season-ending knee wounded to starter Blake Corum.

But nan unavoidable questions could only beryllium avoided for truthful long. And soon enough, nan achy taxable was delicately broached: What happened connected nan botched handoff betwixt backmost J.J. McCarthy and Mullings, who was aligned arsenic a fullback successful a three-point stance and past mislaid nan shot successful a heap of bodies erstwhile Michigan faced first-and-goal from nan 1-yard line, a double-figure shortage already showing connected nan State Farm Stadium scoreboard?

"I conscionable went to return nan handoff for illustration usual," Mullings said. "I didn't really get it excessively cleanly. I kinda went to put it distant and autumn guardant for that half yard, really. And past it conscionable slipped, obviously. And past it took maine for illustration — I didn't moreover process that nan shot had — it was truthful accelerated that, like, I didn't moreover process that nan shot was connected nan ground. By nan clip I went to spell effort and get it, they're D1 shot players, too. If nan shot is connected nan ground, they're gonna hop connected that."

And judge enough, they did. The Horned Frogs recovered Mullings' fumble successful nan extremity area for a touchback that robbed Michigan of its champion scoring opportunity successful a lopsided first half. Another touchdown from TCU extended nan lead to 18 points by nan 4:56 people of nan 2nd 4th successful a crippled nan Wolverines ne'er led, their undoing mostly attributed to self-inflicted wounds: questionable playcalling, different substitution patterns from moving backs coach Mike Hart, 2 pick-6s thrown by McCarthy, a mistimed threat pinch nan crippled connected nan statement successful nan 4th quarter, and nan mishandled goal-line speech pinch Mullings. When it yet ended aft astir 5 hours of existent time, nan Horned Frogs precocious to nan nationalist title crippled pinch an unforgettable 51-45 win.

That Mullings stood dutifully by his locker and faced nan euphony said volumes connected an evening that was unquestionably among nan astir achy of his career. He politely fielded questions from immoderate and each media members who sought an mentation for his fumble, moreover arsenic immoderate of his much salient Michigan teammates — most notably McCarthy, who had thrown 2 interceptions and fumbled doubly successful nan astir turnover-prone crippled of his profession — refused to fulfill their postgame responsibilities. It was Mullings who personified accountability.

All of which has made Mullings' early-season redemptive arc successful 2024 that overmuch much satisfying for a subordinate who changed positions aggregate times, alternating betwixt linebacker and moving backmost during nan first fewer years of his career, earlier yet earning his spot arsenic nan No. 1 tailback successful a run-heavy, run-dependent Michigan discourtesy that would abruptly beryllium mislaid without him. Mullings carried 17 times for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns successful past week's pulsating triumph complete No. 11 USC, including a breathtaking 63-yarder successful which he collapsed tackles, dragged defenders and willed nan stagnant Wolverines toward nan extremity area for an eventual game-winning score. He leads nan squad successful carries (53), rushing yards (429) and rushing touchdowns (four) done nan first 4 weeks of nan season.

"He tin return it nan distance, arsenic he's shown," Michigan caput coach Sherrone Moore said aft Saturday's win. "He tin tally you over. He's conscionable done everything for us. He's a awesome walk protector. He's been incredible. Last twelvemonth he averaged 6 yards a carry. So it's not a astonishment pinch really bully he is and what he's done. But to spot him return nan adjacent steps and really make those explosive plays [is awesome]. And erstwhile nan crippled is connected nan line, he wants nan shot successful his hands and he makes plays happen. He's a star. He's a game-breaker."

The quote from Moore is 1 that, a fewer months ago, astir fans mightiness person expected would beryllium attached to Donovan Edwards, nan erstwhile five-star enlistee who appeared poised to inherit nan workhorse domiciled erstwhile Corum's profession concluded. After all, it was Edwards who had exploded for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns successful nan nationalist title crippled against Washington. And it was Edwards who rampaged for 520 mixed yards and 3 mixed touchdowns successful games against Ohio State, Purdue and TCU to reason nan 2022 play aft Corum tore his meniscus and underwent surgery.

But contempt entering nan twelvemonth arsenic Michigan's unquestioned lead backmost — and being voted a squad skipper on nan measurement — Edwards has been nan statistically less-effective runner than nan 6-foot-2, 233-pound Mullings successful 3 of nan Wolverines' first 4 games:

The accumulation Mullings managed against USC was peculiarly herculean fixed nan Wolverines' alteration successful backmost from Davis Warren, a pouch passer, to Alex Orji, a non-vertical threat. So constricted was Michigan's downfield passing onslaught pinch Orji moving nan discourtesy that it wasn't until nan team's last thrust that he yet completed a walk for much than 9 yards. Instead, Moore and violative coordinator Kirk Campbell entrusted Mullings to transportation nan shot 8 times for 83 yards connected what proved to beryllium nan game-winning possession, moreover arsenic nan Trojans understandably stacked nan container pinch defenders who knew Michigan was improbable to pass.

"I conscionable consciousness for illustration that's conscionable a practice of who we are, you know?" Mullings said aft nan game. "Always straining until nan very end. Throughout that drive, you know, it was conscionable grit and grinding out. We for illustration to say, ‘grinding meat.' We were conscionable grinding nutrient that full time, sidesplitting nan timepiece and getting down there.

"Shout retired to nan O-line, outcry retired to [H-back Max Bredeson], outcry retired to everyone, man, clearing retired holes. And we were conscionable capable to execute. At nan extremity of nan day, a batch of shot is astir what you do erstwhile you look adversity, truthful it feels bully to beryllium capable to look immoderate adversity and flooded it."

The punishing 10-play, 89-yard thrust that won Michigan nan crippled underscored cardinal differences betwixt nan moving styles of Mullings and Edwards, pinch nan erstwhile appearing to beryllium amended suited to anchor nan offense, sloppy of who plays backmost for nan remainder of nan season. Mullings churned retired 5.65 yards per transportation after contact against a revitalized and revamped Trojans defense coordinated by D'Anton Lynn. And he's averaging 5.3 yards per transportation aft interaction crossed nan Wolverines' first 4 games, which ranks 4th nationally down Ashton Jeanty of Boise State (6.3), Kaleb Johnson of Iowa (5.8) and Jonah Coleman of Washington (5.4). Edwards, meanwhile, is averaging 2.9 yards aft interaction per carry, including a lowly 1.6 against nan run-minded USC defense.

Even Moore couldn't contradict what has go evident for nan extracurricular world to spot erstwhile asked if Mullings should beryllium nan team's No. 1 tailback against Minnesota connected Saturday (Noon ET connected FOX and nan FOX Sports App) and beyond.

"I deliberation he earned nan correct to beryllium successful that speech and talk astir it, person those conversations pinch some of those guys," Moore said earlier this week. "But those are nan things we'll talk astir pinch them. Kalel played a heck of a game, and you can't contradict nan effect that he had connected nan game. So we'll conscionable person those conversations arsenic an offense."

Michael Cohen covers assemblage shot and hoops for FOX Sports pinch an accent connected nan Big Ten. Follow him astatine @Michael_Cohen13.

[Want awesome stories delivered correct to your inbox? Create aliases log successful to your FOX Sports account, travel leagues, teams and players to person a personalized newsletter daily.]