Donovan Edwards: "I'll be up there with Walter Payton, Barry Sanders"
What's the line that Harbaugh uses about hoping kids don't realize how good they are? He isn't having so much luck with Donovan Edwards.
“I will go down as one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game,” Edwards proclaimed after being asked what onlookers should expect from him. “I’ll be up there with [former Chicago Bears running back] Walter Payton, [former Detroit Lions running back] Barry Sanders. I believe I will revolutionize the game and the position at running back, for how I run my routes, for how I play as a running back and how I can play at receiver, too.
We can only hope he is right about his own capabilities:
“I’m the best dual-threat running back. I’ll catch a ball 50 yards down the field, over the shoulder. I’ll be the best slot receiver in the country if I was really mastering that craft, which I am this year. You can’t put a linebacker or safety on me. Shoot, you might have to double-team me or put your best corner on me. You can’t look at my game and go, ‘Oh, that’s weak.’”
August 8th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
Is this 5D chess, slippin in the slot reciever remark to mess with OSU's planning?
It can be a way of putting pressure on yourself. These moments people like to focus on how it "motivates the opponent" but I'll bet he's only trying to motivate himself.
We're heading into the dog days of fall camp. When you're grinding through S&C and long practices while guaranteed a de facto starting spot, you're tired and cranky and hurt all over, it's tempting to let up. Times like those it's convenient to remind yourself, "Hey, I said all those things to the press, I'd better kick it into gear if I'm not going to embarrass myself."
I'm a little concerned here. Donovan has all the tools. What he maybe lacks is confidence.
Just in case anyone is looking for the link for the PFF interview:
EDIT: New link cued up to where Donovan is answering the question, "What do you think separates you from other top running backs in college football?" It doesn't sound as arrogant in context, to me anyway. He does have a lot of confidence though."
August 8th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
I'm all for confidence but this...seems a bit much.
I am impressed that he is even aware of Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
Wow Michigan is talking way too much this off-season. I see an upset or two happening if they continue this over confidence and cockiness.
Most of this team has beaten OSU, been to the CFP and won the Big Ten championship twice. A large portion of the team is back. We should be better than last year. I think they have some swagger that is well deserved. The majority of the team has never lost to OSU, though the Jrs and Srs know that pain. ...and most of them went through 2020. I don't think they'll overlook anyone.
"Get confident, stupid!"
He needs to run lower behind his pads or he his going to get destroyed one day.
Other than that he has all the tools. My big concern would be health.
Yes, his first two seasons were hampered by injuries. He needs to get through this season relatively unscathed to avoid the dreaded I.P. label.
Trademark, copyright, or patent?
Yeah, Barry was the little guy that materialized out of the scrum. If you're laying the boom on Edwards from half a mile off, he won't play very long. Still, I'm all for the bravado. And--it's true--you can see hints of what he's talking about in his game.
He runs more like Adrain Peterson.
Sounds like he is more Jim Brown and less Barry Sanders.
No looking back now. Gonna need about 2000 yards this year.
Barry had over 2800 yards in 12 games his Junior year.
I'll take anything close to that kind of production.
I'll take half that with Corum picking up the other half.
2800 yards shouldn't be a problem for the 2nd string RB behind an unanimous All-American Heisman candidate on an offense led by a potential #1 pick at quarterback.
I'll go with 8200 yards @ ~60 yards/touch.
I mean, I've heard rumours that he averaged 80 yards per carry on two carries against Ohio State. I think I caught part of that game, but forget how it came out. Anyone want to remind me?
45-23
I was kidding, but it's always fun to see that score...
Which touch?
Yeah, Barry is the single greatest talent the sport has ever seen.
I think we’re undervaluing what he’s already accomplished. He hasn’t had a full year without injury and he’s put up amazing numbers. I can already say that he’s a better receiver than Barry or Walter, and why shouldn’t he set the bar high for himself?
Availability is the best ability.
"But he's not as good as Jim Brown" -- William Sanders
August 8th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
I wonder if he's just having some fun with the interview.
Agreed. Dollars to donuts the reporter prompted that sort of response and then chose not to provide any context. Also, I see nothing wrong with that level of confidence or aspiration. Wnat he supposed to say? "I hope to be an average pro RB" or "I don't like playing slot and I probably won't be very good."
a) That's a false dichotomy. You're acting as if those are the only two options. He could also say something like, "I want to be the best I can be. I want to maximize my talents. I'm going to do everything I can to be the greatest I can be, and I know Coach Hart, Coach Harbaugh, and my teammates can help me on the way." Or something like that.
b) He's said other things in the past to indicate that this is not a one-off type of situation. This is who he is. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it is what it is. It's a little off-putting and puts a target on his back.
c) I'll say what I've said about other Michigan players who have showed significant bravado, such as Hunter Dickinson, Tate Forcier, and yes, even Mike Hart. At some point these types of comments come back to bite you in the ass, whether it's because you fail miserably, somebody stops you/beats you, or you do well but not as well as what you want. He could go to the NFL and have a solid seven-year career with a couple 1,000-yard seasons, but if he doesn't become the next Barry Sanders/Walter Payton, then people are going to point at this stuff and laugh.
Yeah, Warren is really talented but I'm absolutely certain he won't go down as one of the greatest RBs in football history and when he stumbles, which is inevitable, he's going to hear about it. Now, if he can take his lumps and roll on that would be great but if this was a non-UM player saying it my guess is this board wouldn't be as measured in their response.
Who's Warren?
I'm guessing he conflated current Michigan RB Donovan Edwards with former Michigan CB Donovan Warren. Just a guess, though.
Have you seen my baseball?
In regards to B. I think a target was already put on his back after what he did to OSU.
Edwards is a rock head but he is the exact type of rock head who excels at the game of football. Talk that shit my man!
August 9th, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
Why not just look at it as a 20-year old setting goals to be one of the best there ever was, and be completely okay with that? Michigan Fan has been dying for years to get players of such a high caliber as Donovan Edwards, collectively whining, why can’t we land great players? Now that they're here, you can't turn it back around and say, "okay son, pipe down, shhhhhh, if you talk shit and then have a bad game, people will laugh at you." That’s total BS.
Check JJ McCarthy’s whiteboard, where it says something to the effect of, “If people don’t laugh at your goals, then you aren’t setting your goals high enough.”
Just for comparison’s sake, Forcier’s background always had him set up to be a douchey flash in the pan, you could see it coming a mile away, and it turned out to be true. Dickenson was a good, not great player, and turns out he’s kind of an asshole but big deal, he’s 21 years old. And Mike Hart was a great player, never lost to Sparty so he talked shit after a game. Then Michigan got bludgeoned for the next 7 years for reasons that have nothing to do with Mike Hart. It happens.
Michigan is now ranked #2 heading into a football season. It’s a breath of fresh air to FINALLY hear Michigan players talking about having very lofty goals, and coming at it from a place of great confidence. This is what Michigan Fan wanted, a team that walks down the tunnel and says, “Here we are. Here’s your target. Right. Here.” I don’t see this as the “Michigan Arrogance” at play. I’ll take a team that plays with confidence, attitude and lofty goals any day over a team that has players that say things like “I hope to be the best I can be.” Hope isn't a goal.
The reality is, nobody really cares if Donovan Edwards eventually becomes Walter Payton or Barry Sanders, and nobody will probably care if he doesn’t. Sweetness and Sanders never talked smack, and I loved that about them. I also love that Donovan Edwards is talking about wanting to be equal to the best RB’s to ever play. I know I’m just going to enjoy watching the dude play over the next 4 months and go from there.
And for the record, I predicted Michigan would be 10-1 in 2021 heading into the Ohio State game, with a chance to win, and I was right. Last year I predicted Michigan would be 11-0 heading into the Ohio State game, with a chance to win, and I was right. In 2023, Michigan will be 10-1 heading into the Ohio State game, with a chance to win. The loss is going to be brutal, but at that point Michigan will be 35-4 over the last three years, rarified air in the great history of M football. I’ll take the confident talk and the target on the back any day over watching the alternative.
He is a youngster. Being famous on a national level at such a young age would not be the easiest thing. People, especially your rivals, love to pounce on stuff in the media.
He is not saying anything rude to anybody and has a ton of self confidence.
Maybe not the smoothest delivery but I’m more of the ok good luck and I will be rooting for you but let’s move on opinion.
If he really wanted to get folks fired up he would have said he was going to be the next Michael Barrett.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Hope he is right!
August 8th, 2023 at 10:36 PM ^
OR opponents double-cover him and Corum and McCarthy shred opposing defenses. I'll take either one, really.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Dude's putting Fred Jackson out of a job.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
He's Fred Jackson but fast.
Some people may say he is even you.
Has anyone ever seen them both together???
He's Fred Jackson but grammar rules allow him to talk in first person!
August 8th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
We'll all lose our minds here in a few years if he does this, and we'll be saying he was underutilized while at Michigan. Be a more extreme version of Ducan Robinson.
August 8th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
He's already much more of a star at Michigan than Duncan Robinson ever was. His performance in the 2022 OSU game will always be remembered.
A more apt comparison, if he goes on to be an NFL superstar, might be ... Tom Brady?
August 8th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
That is an excellent point! That's a better comparison; I was just thinking of more recent players.
The most underutilized player at Michigan. That may be a good topic.
Spanning the last 5-7 years, my vote is Roshan Gary. Why in the hell did Brown have him play as anchor? He could have played any position on the line and backer