Tag: Arkansas State

Michigan vs. Arkansas State Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Kalel Mullings. I respect Michigan’s 1-2 punch at running back, and they’ve done a good job (for the most part) of keeping guys fresh over the past several years and having at least two very good running backs. From Charbonnet/Haskins to Haskins/Corum to Corum/Edwards, the Wolverines have garnered a lot of respect. A couple games ago, though, the “Thunder” in this year’s thunder/lightning duo only had 6 carries. That’s not enough. Mullings had 15 carries for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns against Arkansas State, and he deserves to have just as many carries as Donovan Edwards, if not more. Michigan has a big game coming up this weekend, and Mullings should be getting the rock.

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Michigan’s 10 Longest Plays vs. Arkansas State

Michigan played Arkansas State for the first time last Saturday. Here’s a look at the ten longest plays of the day for the Wolverines. (Okay, there are thirteen since there’s a six-way tie at 13 yards.)

1. Kalel Mullings 38-yard run (2024)
2. Davis Warren 33-yard pass to Marlin Klein (2024)
3. Kalel Mullings 30-yard touchdown run (2024)
4. Kalel Mullings 30-yard run (2024)
5. Davis Warren 20-yard pass to Colston Loveland (2024)
6. Davis Warren 17-yard pass to Fredrick Moore (2024)
7. Benjamin Hall 14-yard run (2024)
8. Keshaun Harris 13-yard kickoff return
9. Semaj Morgan 13-yard run (2024)
10. Alex Orji 13-yard run (2024)
11. Davis Warren 13-yard run (2024)
12. Davis Warren 13-yard pass to Colston Loveland (2024)
13. Davis Warren 13-yard pass to Fredrick Moore (2024)

Hit the jump for a couple clips.

Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18

Just go away already, Red Wolves. I just wanted Arkansas State to quit. Michigan kept gashing them in the run game. Michigan kept stuffing their run game. And yet . . . Arkansas State wouldn’t quit. It was 28-3. And then it was 28-10. And then it was 28-18 after a touchdown and a two-point conversion against Michigan’s third- and fourth-stringers. So the final was closer than it should have been, because Michigan was trying to get its top players a rest going into the USC game next week. Those two teams are not just a 10-point differential away from each other. But the situation will be forgotten shortly and people will just look at the score. Good for Arkansas State for not quitting, but I wish they would have.

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Preview: Michigan vs. Arkansas State

RUSH OFFENSE vs. ARKANSAS STATE RUSH DEFENSE
After two games, Michigan is in unfamiliar territory as the #101 rushing team in the country (114 yards/game) and the #87 team in yards per carry (4.0). The Wolverines are one of just eleven teams in the country with zero rushing touchdowns at this point. Michigan is also tied for #114 in rushing attempts per game (28.0), and that signifies the biggest issue. They have been unable to sustain drives, and Donovan Edwards (8) and Kalel Mullings (6) managed just 14 carries between them against Texas last week. That’s not enough touches for two of the three best athletes on the offense. Pro Football Focus ranks Michigan as the #47 run blocking team in the country. LG Josh Priebe and LT Myles Hinton rank as the top two blockers on the line, but there have been some major struggles opening holes. Starting running back Donovan Edwards has managed just 68 yards on 19 carries (3.58 yards/carry) so far this year. Arkansas State is #115 in rushing defense (199 yards allowed/game) and they’re #131 in yards allowed per carry (6.22). They’ve squeaked by Central Arkansas and Tulsa by a combined seven points, but they’ve given up 235 and 163 yards rushing, respectively, and 5 total rushing touchdowns. Senior hybrid safety Justin Parks (6’0″, 197 lbs.) and fifth year senior LB Charles Willekes (6’1″, 225) – a former Michigan State linebacker and the brother of former MSU DE Kenny Willekes – are tied for the team lead with 17 tackles, followed by fifth year senior LB Marvin Ham (6’1″, 231), a Colorado transfer, with 14 stops. The starting defensive tackles are 288 and 294 pounds, and some of the key backups are in the 270s. If Michigan is going to get back to playing smashmouth football, it needs to start this week against an undersized and less talented defense.
Advantage: Michigan

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Highlights: Virginia Tech vs. Arkansas State