Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Donovan Edwards. Edwards caught 10 passes for 170 yards and 1 touchdown in the 2021 matchup against Maryland. This year he caught 0 passes for 0 yards. Because he didn’t play in the game. Michigan only has four scholarship running backs on the team, and it appears that the Wolverines coaching staff only trusts two of them – Blake Corum and Edwards. So when one goes out with an injury, the other is going to get the lion’s share of opportunities. Hopefully Edwards can return healthy from his leg injury to relieve Corum a little bit and they can be consistent as a 1-2 punch.
Name: Isaiah Gash Height: 5’10” Weight: 178 lbs. High school: Green Bay (WI) Bay Port Position: Running back Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #41 Last year: I ranked Gash #99 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He played in two games and had 6 carries for 17 yards. TTB Rating: N/A
Gash, whom I feel compelled to point out again is the son of former NFL fullback Sam Gash, continues to be a little light for running back at the Big Ten level. I keep expecting to open up an updated roster with him suddenly around 195 or 200 pounds, but that doesn’t seem to be likely at this point. It’s rare to see a Big Ten running back hovering in the 170-180 pound range, but that’s where Gash has been. Perhaps it has something to do with his fledgling amateur boxing career.
Regardless, Gash is going to chill here in the 90s. Considering his pedigree, I thought he would move up this list at some point in his career, but that seems unlikely right now. If he can’t or won’t put on weight, then he will probably never factor into the running back depth chart much other than getting a chance to carry the ball late in blowouts, like he did against Northern Illinois and Maryland last year.
Name: Isaiah Gash Height: 5’11” Weight: 172 lbs. High school: Green Bay (WI) Bay Port Position: Running back Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #41 Last year: I ranked Gash #102 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted. TTB Rating: N/A
Gash is the son of former NFL fullback Sam Gash. Listed at 5’10” and 185 pounds last year, he is now on the roster at 5’11” and 172 pounds. That’s just another reminder to never trust high school/recruiting site measurements. His former listed weight is too light for a Big Ten running back, let alone his current weight. I don’t think I’ve seen a running back that light at Michigan since 5’6″ walk-on Alijah Bradley (171 lbs.).
Chances are once again slim for Gash to get on the field. Not only is he particularly light, but he’s behind some very talented players, some of whom are already established. Even special teams might be a stretch. For now Gash is likely to be a scout team player.
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Name: Isaiah Gash Height: 5’10” Weight: 185 lbs. High school: Green Bay (WI) Bay Port Position: Running back Class: Freshman Jersey number: N/A Last year: Gash was a senior in high school. TTB Rating: N/A
Gash is the son of Sam Gash, who is considered one of the best fullbacks in modern football history. Michigan came in with a preferred walk-on offer, and Isaiah bought in. He ran the ball 213 times for 1,916 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior and probably could have played at a lower level, but Michigan has shown that walk-ons can get on the field, from the Glasgow brothers getting drafted to Tru Wilson getting a lot of run at tailback.
Gash looks like a guy who could slip onto the field as a freshman special teamer. There might be more opportunity as his career goes along, and we’ve seen people like Wilson (Northern Colorado) and Jordan Castleberry (Maryland) move on to greener pastures. While Michigan has plenty of depth at running back, that does open up the door a little bit for some opportunities to show off his skill in drills and on the scout team. He also has the pedigree to potentially be a good student of the game who might be willing to do dirty work and pick up blitzes. He will be an interesting guy to watch as his career goes along.
