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Donovan Edwards entered the 2024 college football season as one of the country’s biggest stars.
The Michigan Wolverines running back graced the cover of the EA Sports College Football 25 video game after serving as the backup to Blake Corum a year ago.
But just five games into the Wolverines’ national championship defense, it appears that Edwards has been benched in favor of backup Kalel Mullings.
Mullings, a 6-foot-1, 236-pound power back, shouldered the load for Michigan in each of its last two games. He carried the ball 15 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas State in Week 3. He then upped that workload to 17 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in a victory over USC in Week 4
Edwards played a part in each game, combining for 31 carries, 156 yards and two touchdowns. But he appeared to clearly lose his job as the starter to Mullings.
That trend continued on Saturday against Minnesota. Through 2.5 quarters, Mullings has 11 carries for 51 yards and two touchdowns. On the other side of the coin, Edwards has just six carries for 21 yards.
And fans took notice.
does Donovan Edwards even start at this point?
— Melek Robinson (@MRobinsonJRSM) September 28, 2024
I don’t know who this Donovan Edwards is, but it’s not the one from the previous 2 seasons. This one has no speed, zero burst or elusiveness. Mullings has taken sole ownership of the backfield. #goblue
— Josh Robinson 💦🥩 (@1stJoshRobinson) September 28, 2024
Michigan gets better when Donovan Edwards does not touch the ball
— Brett Lucas (@datdudechs) September 28, 2024
Donovan Edwards pic.twitter.com/Q8uq55vBLW
— Potato Joe🌴🥥 (@Coys1919) September 28, 2024
Michigan’s offense has looked more and more like that of a playoff team with each passing week. But that has also coincided with Edwards’ role in the offense decreasing.
It’s an absolutely shocking turn of events for one of the sport’s biggest names.