Karan Higdon (image via The Wolverine)
Ian Boyd from Football Study Hall writes about “Stopping players, not formations: The next shift in defensive strategy” (LINK).
The 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl took place yesterday, which the North won by a score of 34-24 over the South. Karan Higdon was the only Michigan participant in the game (Chase Winovich missed due to injury). There was a lot of talk during the week that Higdon impressed in practice, particularly in the passing game, but he went without a catch and carried the ball 5 times for just 18 yards. Here’s the recap (LINK) and the box score (LINK).
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If you look at 3:55 of the Senior Bowl highlights, clearly there is a Michigan player (or at least a player with a Michigan helmet) playing on defense as Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow is catching the ball. Any idea who this is? I actually looked on the rosters and indeed Higdon is the only player from Michigan. Was this Higdon playing defense on a random play?
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That’s Delaware Safety Nasir Adderley
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Any idea how the helmet thing works for these post-season “all star” type games? Do players get to keep their helmet when they leave school? Or does each university allow use of their equipment during the games but they have to be returned?
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Several years ago the players had to return them. I’m not sure if that’s still the case or not.
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I did not see anything exceptional from Higdon in his career at Michigan. He had a solid career and he’s a quality back without any obvious limitations but also no stand-out skills or attributes. Durability and ball security may be his greatest qualities. That’s not nothing but it’s also not going to get you an NFL roster spot like say kick return ability might.
Still, the NFL seems to chew through these sort of replacement-level RBs pretty quickly. Higdon seems like he could have himself a respectable multi-season career if he lands in the right spot and stays healthy.
He seems as well prepared for the next level as he can be. I could see him contributing right away as a backup but could also see him languish on a practice squad. He’ll probably get a shot at some point and then fate will take its course.
Wish him all the best.
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Agreed. There have been plenty of backs like him to linger on NFL rosters for at least a few years. Fitzgerald Toussaint, who was more talented than Higdon, stuck around with Pittsburgh, but that’s a decent Michigan comparison, IMO. Then there are some more talented backs who are out of the league, such as Akrum Wadley from Iowa. You never know how things like that will shake out.
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Yeah, I think that’s a solid comp. Thomas Rawls might be another. On the less optimistic side — Deveon Smith (who Higdon backed up) spent the year stuck on practice squad and his NFL career production amounts to a handful of catches.
These are all players I dump into the same broad bin (along with many other college backs). None of them are going to be difference-makers but some will get an opportunity due to injury or produce in a good offensive situation (e.g., strong OL). Most will need some luck – Rawls got a lot for example in his rookie year.
In Higdon’s favor – he seems like a hard-worker, mature professional, and high caliber teammate. That’s not worth a great deal in the NFL but it might help him get a shot and/or dodge the waiver wire for a bit.
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