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Michigan's Harbaugh: I believe in preserving RBs for NFL

Evan Habeeb / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Michigan is unlikely to have a 1,000-yard rusher this season, and that's apparently by design.

In a radio appearance Thursday on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh said he believes in limiting the wear and tear on running backs in college so that they'll be better positioned for the NFL.

Last year, some questioned whether Derrick Henry was entering the league with too much tread on his tires, after he racked up over 400 touches on the season for Alabama. His 2,219-yard campaign resulted in a Heisman Trophy and a national title, but may have hurt the eventual second-round pick's stock in the draft.

Other decorated Crimson Tide running backs to come into the NFL over the last decade, such as Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, were also heavily leaned on to carry Nick Saban's program to glory, but arguably at the expense of their professional longevity. Historically, Saban's running backs haven't fared well in the NFL.

As for Harbaugh, his team has given almost equal carries this year to De'Veon Smith, Chris Evans, and Ty Isaac, while Karan Higdon has received his share of handoffs, too:

RB CAR YDS TD
D. Smith 61 336 2
T. Isaac 53 297 4
C. Evans 48 400 3
K. Higdon 35 253 5

Meanwhile, senior running back Drake Johnson, who was expected to be Michigan's top rusher before the season began, has yet to see the field this year due to injury.

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