Running back Ben Hall wants to take the next step for the Michigan Wolverines
West Bloomfield — Football preseason training camp begins in just under two months, but Michigan running back Ben Hall is already in the midst of his preparation, focusing on his nutrition and strength training.
Hall, a sophomore, is 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds and is led by veterans Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, but he got some experience in three games last season and his frame, particularly his tree-trunk legs, sets him apart from the pack.
He was at West Bloomfield High on Saturday for the third annual Donovan Edwards Youth Football Camp, which promotes the Sack the Stigma campaign to destigmatize mental illness. Hall confirmed that his body has changed a little.
“A little slimmer, yes,” Hall said, laughing. “I did a full-body scan the other day. I’ve lost about 11, 12% body fat. Hopefully we’re playing at about 9%.”
Hall said his body fat percentage was closer to 17% before starting this process and credits the change to working with Wolverines sports nutritionist Abigail O’Connor as well as Justin Tress, the team’s new strength and conditioning coach.
“We just listen to the people around us, use our resources and become great players,” Hall said.
A lot has happened since Michigan’s national championship season ended. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh is now with the Los Angeles Chargers, and former Michigan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore is now the head coach. There have also been changes in the running back room. Mike Hart, who spent the last three seasons as the Wolverines’ running back coach and recruited Hall, is no longer part of the staff, and Tony Alford, the former Ohio State running back coach, is now at Michigan. The one constant that has remained is Fred Jackson, the longtime Michigan running back coach who has been on the staff as an analyst the last two seasons, working with the position group.
“Coach Alford teaches us things, Coach Hart taught us things, but (Jackson is) the guy that can give us that little extra bit of knowledge,” said Hall, who added that he didn’t know Alford before becoming an assistant at Michigan. “But I’m glad to know (Alford) now. He’s a great coach. We had a great coach in Mike Hart, and Coach Tony came in and filled that role in his own way.”
Michigan’s offensive centerpiece over the past three seasons has been the running game, and with questions at quarterback and receiver in the fall, the Wolverines will likely look to the running game again. Hall, who had 15 carries for 69 yards as a freshman, including nine for 58 yards against Indiana, is expected to be the third running back behind Edwards and Mullings.
Hall said he was ready to take the next step in his career.
“My preparation and my hard work and having a lot of people around me believing in me,” Hall said, explaining why he thinks he can make a big contribution this fall. “I’m going to do what I can to help this team win games, that’s my goal this year.”
But he also listed the names of all the running backs in the room and said each of them is competitive and worthy of playing. Hall included incoming freshmen Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana, who participate in offseason workouts with the team.
“They’ve come, they’re eager to learn and they’re eager to play,” Hall said. “We all have that competition in the room.”
During spring practice, Alford praised Hall for being difficult to tackle and described him as a compact and tough runner. Edwards said in the spring that Hall has “some of Blake Corum” in him, referring to the Wolverines’ standout running back of the past two seasons who set season and career records for rushing touchdowns last year.
After training camp on Saturday, Edwards spoke about Hall, saying he will have to rely on patience this season.
“Ben is a very special player,” Edwards said. “It’s a little bit like me last year. As long as he takes advantage of every single day, day by day, and gets better, he’s going to do his absolute best. I promise him that. He’s going to learn because I’ve learned.”
Hall said he wanted to work at the West Bloomfield camp out of respect for Edwards.
“I’m just here for my buddy Donovan,” Hall said. “Show him support, show him love, because he does so much for us. Even though he’s not on the field every day working hard, his faith is growing, he’s growing as a person, as a leader. We want to make sure we let him know we appreciate everything he does for us, so I’m going to be out there doing what I can. And just coming out here and being in the community. I didn’t grow up in this community, but I felt like if I can give back to a community that supports us and supports the team, I’m doing my part.”
And doing his part is his goal this season too.
@chengelis
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