Kornacki: Higdon Eyes Rushing Milestone in Home State
12/31/2017 7:01:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
TAMPA, Fla. -- University of Michigan running back Karan Higdon is on the threshold of a 1,000-yard rushing season.
Higdon enters Monday's (Jan. 1) Outback Bowl game against South Carolina with 147 carries for 929 yards, and with 71 yards he will reach the numerical plateau that has long been the measuring stick for tailbacks. Reach it, and you've done something special.
"It's a huge mark -- just a huge mark," Higdon told MGoBlue.com. "I'm very excited by that and very humbled by it. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens, and I don't want to come up short. I've come too far to fall short. So, I have no choice but to make sure it happens."
Higdon grew up a short drive down Interstate-75 in Sarasota, where he played for Riverview High, and estimates that 50 family and friends, including his parents and brothers, will be in attendance at Raymond James Stadium.
"That is very special to me -- coming back and finishing a great season in the place where I started, pretty much," said Higdon. "And to do it in front of my friends and family, who are coming out to support me, is tremendous.
"So, that is very big to me, and to make sure I get that mark in front of an incredible crowd. I want to make sure I lead the team."
Higdon, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound junior, could very well have already reached his yardage goal. However, he didn't become the starter until the fourth game, when Ty Isaac was injured. Then, Higdon played at less than 100 percent with his own injury in the final two games, he and still finished averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
It's been six years since the Wolverines have had a 1,000-yard rusher. Fitzgerald Toussaint, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ran for 1,041 yards in 2011.
Toussaint has been the only Michigan back to achieve that feat since Mike Hart did it for the third time in his career as a senior in 2007.
"That hasn't happened at Michigan because we operate with a lot of different backs," said Higdon, noting that Chris Evans has run for 661 yards and Isaac for 548 yards. "We look at the history, and it's always been more than just one traditional, featured back. So, to hit 1,000 yards in a committee like this, is outrageous."
Higdon had an interesting encounter with Hart after rushing for 200 yards at Indiana, where Hart is now the running backs coach. Hart congratulated Higdon after the game and requested and received Higdon's gloves. However, until Higdon's brother informed him about Hart being Michigan's career rushing leader, Karan had no idea just how special their meeting really was. Hart also was the last Wolverine running back to run for 200 yards in a game, in 2007.
Three games later, against Minnesota, Higdon ran for exactly 200 yards again. I asked Higdon about the chances of hitting that number right on the nose twice.
"There are no words for that," Higdon said with a chuckle, while adding that he hopes to reach that total again.
Higdon, who rushed for 431 yards last season playing behind starter De'Veon Smith, was asked where he'd made the greatest improvements this season.
"I think it's just understanding the game," said Higdon. "I'm understanding my O-linemen. I'm understanding opponents as a whole, and that's the biggest leap I've made. It's been able to help my game. I'm better with the progressions and make better reads, and that makes for opportunities."
When asked to describe the relationship he has with his blockers, Higdon said, "It's very strong. Those guys know I trust them and know I'm going to count on them a lot. And I think they know they can get the same out of me. I'm going to give my all 110 percent of the time. They trust that and believe that, and we have a great relationship."
He noted that building that "relationship" has been central to his success.
"You can see it in my speed," said Higdon. "I'm able to be very decisive and make long cuts. Sometimes I'll make a cut that you might not even see that was there because I'm just trusting my O-linemen to be in the spot where I can expect them to be."
He continues striving for improvement -- like having even better "anticipation" on when to be patient and when to hit the hole, and staying in his pass-blocking technique more consistently while picking up blitzers.
Higdon played at Raymond James Stadium in the 2015 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl, scoring a five-yard touchdown for the South, and he attended USF games there.
"So, I'm familiar with the stadium," said Higdon, adding that he's never seen an NFL game at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I finished strong, and I'm excited to go back there and pick up where I left off.
"I expect a lot of Michigan fans wearing maize and blue to be at the Outback, and I expect it to be rocking just like the Big House as if it were a home game. We're going to turn that stadium into our stadium. That's what we had at our last two bowl games in Florida, and it shows how our alumni and fans support the Maize and Blue."
The relationship between Higdon and his blockers, like Ben Bredeson (74), is built on mutual trust
South Carolina's run defense (146.7 yards per game allowed) was comparable to Michigan's (125.9) and ranked sixth in the Southeastern Conference.
"They are very stout," said Higdon, "and do a lot on defense that can cause teams some chaos. We have a very good game plan for these guys. We know they're going to fly to the ball, they're going to be trying to rip the ball out, and are going to play hard-nosed defense.
"That's what I like. I like the challenge, and I think it's going to be a great game."
Higdon said this has been his favorite bowl game experience and credited coach Jim Harbaugh's approach.
"Coach has attacked us with a businesslike mindset, and we've also been able to relax and be human beings, too," said Higdon. "That transitions onto the field because each and every day we've been focused and been on top of it as a team. I'm so happy to be a part of that."
Higdon said winning this game is important beyond the win-loss record for opponents that both carry 8-4 records into the Outback Bowl.
"It's a big one," said Higdon. "It's definitely a big one. There's a lot on the line for the young guys and the guys who have been here awhile. I think this will set the tone for next year and give the guys going out a chance to be on the pedestal in their final game.
"I'm excited for this game, and I'm ready to put on a show."
