Toughness, Leadership, Production Make Higdon a Player to Rally Around
11/6/2018 10:45:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Karan Higdon finds daylight with the football cradled in his arm and is off to the races. University of Michigan fans become louder with each stride, anticipating a big play becoming even bigger, and the Big House roars.
However, the star of the moment is so focused that ...
"I hear nothing," said Higdon. "I'm just running. It's me vs. me."
He also thinks of nothing, letting his well-honed instincts guide him on a sort of tailback autopilot.
"My mind goes blank," said Higdon, "and I only have one goal, and that's to score."
Higdon was asked about relying only on his vision.
"I don't," said Higdon. "It's just, 'You've got to catch me.' I'm looking at the end zone, and you've got to come catch me.
"I'm in a locked-in zone. Have you ever seen one of those movies where somebody dives under water and the music (soundtrack) just drops off? There is just nothing but the bubbles. That's just how it is, a dead silence. That's how I feel; I love it."
Higdon has rushed for 963 yards in eight games, missing the SMU contest with an injury, and has scored seven touchdowns this season. He's also had runs of between 30 and 67 yards in all but two games, and he leads the nation with a streak of seven consecutive 100-yard games while ranking ninth in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten with 120.4 yards per contest. The Wolverines are 12-0 in Higdon's career 100-yard efforts.
"I think it's time for him to get nominated for some big-time awards," said Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson.
Higdon is among 20 semifinalists for the 82nd Maxwell Award, given to the collegiate player of the year. Higdon is one of seven running backs to make the cut that includes four other Big Ten players: Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins, Penn State's Trace McSorley, Purdue's Rondale Moore and Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor. Three finalists will be named Nov. 19.
Higdon also is a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, created in 1989 to recognize the nation's premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom, and citizenship in the community. Ten semifinalists will be announced Nov. 16, and the field will be trimmed to three finalists Nov. 20.
The senior captain already has earned his degree in general studies from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts and is pursuing a postgraduate degree in the School of Social Work. He's also the founder, co-CEO and vice president of Empire for the Youth, Inc., designed to provide an outstanding after-school environment and safe house that empowers disadvantaged youth to grow and flourish.
The Maxwell and Doak Walker awards both will be presented Dec. 6 at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show presented by Gildan.
Harbaugh calls Higdon "a very good example for the entire team as a leader."
"Karan deserves a lot of credit," said Wolverine coach Jim Harbaugh. "He's gotten tough yards (carrying 33 times at Michigan State in a physical contest), yards after contact, yards more than what the play is blocked for. Karan has also shown a real penchant for the big play. He can break out of a pile of players as good as anybody. So, knowing that that's always a possibility, that's a huge factor in staying with the run like we do. You talk about the plus-50(-yard) type of runs. He has a real knack for them."
 Higdon has seven runs of 30-plus yards this season and two more over 20 yards.
"He's very mature -- which helps as a football player," continued Harbaugh. "Very goal oriented. I think that's a very mature trait. He understands the benefit of hard work and has been a very good example for the entire team as a leader and has played tough in practices and in games, which has also been something I think other people rally around."
Higdon inspires his teammates.
Wolverine defensive tackle Carlo Kemp noted: "He's a great player and just runs so violently. When he runs, he's turning his feet, and if you watch I think he's always falling forward. Keep handing the ball off because he's going to make something happen. He just has it in his heart that he's going to keep going, and he takes it upon himself: 'Let me be the guy who gets the play going. Let me be the guy that gets the drive going.' It's just fun watching him run."
Higdon said, "I run for my family, people back home depending on me, the support system around me with my teammates, coaches, and for the personal goals I have for myself."
What are those goals?
"Just to be the best back I can be," said Higdon. "Day in, day out, just do my job and make sure I'm playing at a high level at all times."
Higdon came so close to 1,000 yards last year, falling six yards shy of that coveted plateau. He's 37 yards short with three games remaining, but when asked how much that now motivates him this year, Higdon said, "It don't. I stick to my goals and my focus."
He worked hard between seasons and during this season to "stay consistent" and do the little things "such as taking care of my body," weight lifting, "being a great teammate" and team captain, "taking good coaching" and "utilizing it all in one bundle."
Higdon has become the campaign manager for an offensive line that starts center Cesar Ruiz, guards Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu, tackles Juwann Bushell-Beatty and Jon Runyan, and tight ends Zach Gentry and Sean McKeon.
"Credit to our O-line," Higdon said after the Wolverines ran for 320 yards against a solid Wisconsin defense. "We've got the best O-line in the country, and it's a pleasure running behind those guys."
The next week, he was sure to point to his blocking after rushing for 144 of the team's 183 ground yards at Michigan State, where the Wolverines nearly tripled the nation-leading average the Spartans brought into the rivalry game.
"It all starts up front with the O-line," said Higdon, before rushing for 132 yards against Penn State. "They're working their tails off each and every day, making sure they're watching extra film, asking questions, and making sure they know their assignments so when we go outside we can perform at a high level.
"I trust those guys, the tight ends, the fullbacks, and I just follow what they give me."
Higdon carried the ball 33 times for 144 yards in the 21-7 win at Michigan State.
Higdon, despite having only 11 rushes for 19 yards as a freshman in 2015, has moved to No. 17 at Michigan in both career rushing yards (2,401) and touchdowns (24). He's on pace to reach the top 12 in the regular season and is a threat to crack the top 10 in those categories, taking up residence near storied runners such as Ron Johnson, Tshimanga Biakabutuka and Billy Taylor.
"It's a great accomplishment," said Higdon, "but it's not something I look towards. I celebrate it in the moment and focus on the opponent at hand."
Once Higdon reaches the end zone, the sounds and all other senses return.
"Everything is brought back to life," said Higdon. "You can hear the crowd and everything else again. Then I love celebrating with my teammates, seeing them happy, coming to the sideline and celebrating with a great group of guys who work just as hard."
He often joins teammates after games by climbing onto the brick wall in front of the student section to interact with classmates and others.
"It's special," said Higdon. "You've got a great group of fans who have supported you, looking toward you to bring home victory, and you jump up on the wall to get patted on the back and sing 'The Victors' with them. It's a great feeling. Feeling that great energy is a great feeling.
 "It definitely goes fast. But when you attack things with a purpose and take advantage of each and every day, you try to forget how short the season can be. But it's also something I realize."
So, he savors each opportunity and gets ready for games in his own way.
"I just get loose, probably listen to some country music like Sam Hunt, and clear my mind, relaxing, before preparing and waiting for the game. Then I release all my emotion."
That begins with a sprint down the storied Michigan Stadium tunnel to jump up and slap the M Club banner at midfield.
"It's engaging," said Higdon. "There's no turning back at that moment. Any fear you might have, the emotions, the nerves, you can't have 'em. They go out the window. If you feel that way, you should've stayed in the locker room."
He said he was intimidated by that experience just once, in his first game as a freshman in 2015, but after that, "I knew, this is what I'm here for."
"Feeling that great energy is a great feeling," says Higdon of postgame celebrations with the student section.
Higdon played at Sarasota (Florida) Riverview High and was headed to Iowa before Harbaugh was named Michigan's coach in the weeks leading up to national signing day. He's happy he came to Ann Arbor and glad he decided to stay for his senior season rather than test the NFL Draft waters.
"I never second-guess myself," said Higdon. "I made a good decision, and it's up to me to make it a right decision. I've made it a right decision."
What tells him it was the right decision?
"Just my production," said Higdon. "The relationship I've increased with my coaches and teammates. I'm with a great group of guys, and we're playing some great football right now. There's nothing more rewarding than that."
He was elected one of four captains by his teammates, and he was asked how he's adjusted his leadership in that role.
"Being more vocal," said Higdon. "Holding the guys to a higher standard and making sure that we're all on the same page. Making sure that guys stay on top of their stuff, keeping that focus, keeping their eye on that dream."
In terms of leadership, academics, community involvement and production on the field, Higdon does it all.
