Michigan Wolverines football will have a 1-2 punch at running back in 2025, with junior Justice Haynes and sophomore Jordan Marshall leading the way. But those two are less focused on stats or status, and instead are intent on lifting up their entire position group, the offense and the team.

The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Marshall was asked this week what he and Haynes’ individual goals are for this season, but he didn’t bite.

“We don’t look at that,” the Michigan running back said. “We’re focused on winning games. At the end of the day, as long as we’re winning games, who cares?

“For me, I just want the best out of Justice, and I hope he gets the best out of me. And that we win a national championship, because that’s his goal, that’s my goal. Beat all of our rivals. Those are our goals. We don’t talk about our goals very much. We just want to push each other and become the best players we can be so that at that next level we can compete with anybody.”

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If things go according to plan, when games are in doubt, Michigan will have at least one of Marshall, who ran for 100 yards in the bowl game against Alabama last season, or Haynes, a Buford, Ga., native who racked up 448 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground as part of the Crimson Tide in 2024, on the field.

“You don’t see it very often, because those guys want to be the guy,” Marshall said of having two great running backs. “They want to have everything. But when you come to a place like this, you have to be unselfish.

“Our saying this summer was ‘team over me.’ And I truly believe that if I have to run the ball one time, 10 times, whatever it is, if I have to pass block, I’m just gonna go out there and do my best to help this team win.

“At the end of the day, I know Justice thinks the same way, I know [junior Bryson] Kuz[dzal] thinks the same way, I know [sophomore] Micah [Ka’apana] thinks the same way. I’m just excited to see what this team does. It’s not just me and Justice. This room is something special. It’s a scary room, and a lot of these guys could go play ball somewhere else and start. To have that in one room, it’s crazy.”

Not everything goes according to plan, though. Michigan has had to go deep into its running back depth chart in the recent past. For example, walk-on Isaiah Gash had a huge fourth down conversion against Illinois in 2022. One week later, Kalel Mullings switched from linebacker to running back and played a role in a victory over Ohio State.

The Wolverines are confident in the ball-carries beyond just Marshall and Haynes. Kuzdzal, who had a breakout spring game, Ka’apana, who had 1 rush last season, and Princeton graduate transfer John Volker (joined Michigan this summer) have all showed positive signs this preseason.

The battle for the third running back spot appears to be wide open, but considering the fact that UMass transfer CJ Hester — who rushed for 529 yards and 4 touchdowns last season — left the team this week with the intention of entering the transfer portal, all indications point to the competition being between some solid players.

“They’re all good,” Marshall said. “Micah has had a great camp. Kuz has had a great camp. John has had a great camp. [Sophomore] Tomas [O’Meara] has had a great camp. All of them could go in with the ones, and there’s no drop-off.

“Our goal is to be the best running back room in the country and also the best room in the country, meaning quarterbacks, no matter what room it is, we want to be the best. We’re all gonna make an impact on special teams, too. We want to be scattered around that field making plays.

“To be honest, I don’t know who that third back is. I think it could be a mixture of all those guys, because this is a long season. Somebody’s going to be banged up, something is going to happen — and somebody is going to have to make some plays. I know we don’t have a drop-off in that room, and that excites me.”

Volker is an intriguing option. The 6-foot-0, 214-pounder spent four seasons with Princeton, before contemplating his future. He worked out this offseason without knowing where he’d be headed, even considering joining the Olympic bobsled team if college football didn’t work out. He got his offer from Michigan this spring, and didn’t hesitate to commit following his visit.

“I think John is a tremendous dude,” Haynes said. “Very smart, Princeton education. That’s what it’s all about. Very smart, hard worker, determined.

“The way he carries himself is like a real pro.”

Volker reported that he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, and Haynes said the speed is legit.

“John can move!” Haynes said. “John can move. John can move. He’s strong as all get-out, too. He’s a strong kid, especially squatting.”

What Jordan Marshall wants to take from Justice Haynes

Marshall and Haynes have been collaborative as they both prepare to have huge roles on the Michigan offense in 2025. Haynes, a veteran after spending two seasons at Alabama, is well-known for the way he attacks nutrition and training, taking care of his body at a high level.

Marshall believes both backs can do it all on the field, and he’s looking at Haynes as a role model as they ramp up for the fall.

“I don’t know how different we are,” Marshall said. “We’re both complete backs. We balance from pass pro to catching the ball to running the ball. I don’t know how much different we are.

“Both of us are pretty physical. We like to make people miss. We like to talk a little smack.

“It’s been fun just learning from him and his game, and picking up on some moves, some things he does, some things he does off the field, how he prepares. That’s something that I really look up to is just how he prepares, how he gets his body right. That’s something I can be better at. I’m trying to take that from his game and learn from that aspect.”