Fitzgerald Toussaint, young running backs ready for bigger roles at Michigan
Fitzgerald Toussaint didn’t see game action last year because of a broken collarbone, but the redshirt freshman did enough on Michigan’s scout team to impress running backs coach Fred Jackson.
“He’s a good player,” Jackson said. “I’ve seen enough. I didn’t have my blinders on.”
Michigan running back Michael Shaw celebrates with quarterback Tate Forcier after scoring last season. (Photo: Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)
Junior Mike Shaw and sophomore Mike Cox also are in contention for the starting job, while recruits Stephen Hopkins and Austin White enrolled early and will take part in spring practice.
Vincent Smith, Michigan’s top returning rusher at the running back position with 276 yards, is out for the spring after tearing his ACL in the Ohio State game.
Smith, a sophomore, is expected to be ready for fall practice, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said.
“I got five or six guys here that I got to make a decision on at the end of spring to see how we’re going to shape up for camp,” Jackson said. “I don’t know what to expect from of a lot of them, but I think we have enough talent to have an excellent group. It’s just a fact that I have not had a chance to put them all on an equal playing field yet, and once I do I’ll know a lot more.”
In all likelihood, Michigan will play a committee of running backs again next year, though Toussaint and Smith are best equipped to handle a feature role.
Toussaint would have played last year if not for his preseason injury, while Smith was Michigan’s most effective running back for most of November. He had a 166-yard rushing game against Delaware State, and caught seven passes out of the backfield against Wisconsin.
Rodriguez said he felt good enough about his team’s talent at running back that the position wasn’t a “need” area in recruiting this year.
“It (was) a position of concern with experience, but it wasn’t as much of a need,” he said. We’ve got “some young guys that we think are about ready to take the next step up. With Brandon and Carlos, they had a lot of experience and they had kind of been there, done that. But the young guys have enough talent. They can do it.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
buzz
Tue, Feb 9, 2010 : 3:52 a.m.
toussaint looks o be next Mike Hart but with more speed. ESPN said he was a major national Sleeper. Just looking at his highlights was REALLY impressive. Jackson sees something really special in him so that means alot since he coached Hart (UM's leading rusher). The offense looks to be really dynamic. Funny thing is alot of weapons were not playn late in the season and they still put up numbers. BigTen is really overlooking UM. The defense will actually be fast and the D-Line will be Big. Everything looks to be in place to run the tables in the BigTen. Go BLUE!!!
buzz
Tue, Feb 9, 2010 : 3:50 a.m.
toussaint looks o be next Mike Hart but with more speed. ESPN said he was a major national Sleeper. Just looking at his highlights was REALLY impressive. Jackson sees something really special in him so that means alot since he coached Hart (UM's leading rusher). The offense looks to be really dynamic. Funny thing is alot of weapons were not playn late in the season and they still put up numbers. BigTen is really overlooking UM. The defense will actually be fast and the D-Line will be Big. Everything looks to be in place to run the tables in the BigTen. Go BLUE!!!
wersch213
Sat, Feb 6, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
The dose of reality is that Michigan will have a better O-line in 2010, better QB play, more weapons at wide receiver, and a stable of running backs to compete over playing time. Youth and experience is the deadliest combination of all...GO BLUE!
Sean T.
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 11:32 p.m.
Lofty expectations for freshmen fellas, let's start being realistc about it. Being a freshman in the Big Ten is not a easy task. I'm not saying that they won't do big things but not on the scale that many of you are expecting.
buzz
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 4:37 p.m.
RR didnt need to recruit many OL men this last classs cuz he loaded it up on his frist 2 classes. Next season i can see him recruiting some mammoth linemen. This class needed Defensive players especially in the back 7. The D-line men in the 2010 class has time to bulk up and get bigger to plug up holes at the line and also punish the back field and QBs
buzz
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.
The Running game is goin to be dangerous, i would like to see how Fitz is goin to do against Uconn, i can see him making big plays. Many of the RBs are very talented and look to be very promising to a successful season. The offense despite not havin Minor and Brown will be even more dynamic. I can see the Blue putting up huge number next year and defense making more stops next year, especially more turnovers. GO BLUE!!!!!
BlueInBama
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 3:48 p.m.
Right on, Theo. I don't understand why Michigan is even wasting their time with recruiting running backs. This class is by far one of the BEST recruiting classes in history in that is focuses on speed, speed, speed. 5 wide receivers, 3 Athletes (we'll figure out where to put them later), and ANOTHER QB is what I'm talkin' about! It was brilliant to ignore the offensive line recruits... I mean, really, who needs them? Beware the bubble screens! All hail Rich Rodriguez, the genius!
UMFAN22
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 2:38 p.m.
I agree with voiceofreason! How can you wright an article without investigating. Maybe they commited a crime when they were kids and we should drag them through the muck. Don't you think Birkett? I vote for the firing of every writer in the ann arbor area.
voiceofreason
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 1:59 p.m.
Mr. Birkett, Was a full background check done on these players before writing this? If not, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to continue with the whole "character assassination" agenda. I'm sure at least one of these players was acquitted of a crime at some point during adolescence.......
InRichRodWeTrust
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 1:49 p.m.
I can't wait til their first game against Uconn.
cnotegoblue
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 1:19 p.m.
Look out for this young kid named Tom Harmon he will be a monster
michboy40
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 1:08 p.m.
The line needs to stay healthy, especially David Molk. If they stay healthy, our backs will be fine.
michalllday
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
I really like this Toussaint kid...his high school numbers were ridiculous. I look for him to average 5 yards a carry
Fresh121
Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 11:22 a.m.
Fitz is gonna be sic next year and keep a eye on cox hes big strong and very fast the RB postion is not gonna be a problem, aslong as there not made outta glass like minor and brown both always hurt but ran hard when in game still its gonna be fun to watch go blue