Donovan Edwards, RB Michigan: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Edwards was a four-star recruit from West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield, Mich. in the class of 2021

The defending Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines take the field today for their season opener against East Carolina. Junior running back Donovan Edwards is expected to play an ever larger role in Michigan’s offense this year. He projects as a third round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Donovan Edwards, RB Michigan: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from West Bloomfield, Mich.

Background: Edwards was a four-star recruit from West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield, Mich. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 42 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 59 for Rivals, and No. 34 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 68th in the nation with an 86 grade out of 100. Edwards recorded 1,439 rushing yards, 569 receiving yards, and 25 total touchdowns as a junior. He won four district titles with West Bloomfield and helped his school reach the state final as a freshman. Edwards was the 2020 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year when he rushed for 1,502 yards and 30 touchdowns on 134 carries. He amassed several other honors as a high school senior, including MaxPreps First Team All-American and MaxPreps Michigan High School Football Player of the Year. Edwards was captain of the Detroit Free Press Dream Team and was the STATE CHAMPS! Mr. Football Award winner. He received invitations to the Under Armour All-American Game, Adidas All-American Game, Hall of Fame World Bowl, and the Polynesian Bowl. Edwards was born on Feb. 25, 2003.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed three games in 2022, played in 2022 with a partially torn patellar tendon that required surgery in the 2023 offseason, suffered a bone fracture in his right hand in 2022 that required a cast and two screws

Awards: 2022 Big Ten Championship Game MVP

Pros: Plays through pain and bounces back up after big hits, lowers pad level, fast feet, fluid lower body, shiftiness to survey multiple gaps behind the line, speed and footwork to bounce runs outside, shimmy shake to make defenders miss one-on-one in the hole, lowers his shoulder and take a hit in the hole, accelerates to hit tight holes at top speed, instantaneous burst to hit the hole when he sees it, burst carries him to the defense’s third level, impressive top speed, angle erasing top speed, subtle open field movements to shake defenders, cuts leave defenders grasping at air, contact balance allows him to slip some arm tackles, falls forward when tackled, quick to diagnose threats in pass pro, no dropped passes in 2022, quick and nimble feet in his route running, scrambles to give his QB an option as a pass catcher on broken plays

Cons: Three total fumbles in 2022, ball gets loose from his body when he hits the gas, expanding injury history, well-rounded but limited elite categories, not quite twitchy, speed falls just short of elite, relies on big plays to equal out small gains between the tackles, recognition of rushing lanes should be a second quicker, vision doesn’t always reveal cutback lanes, could bounce more runs outside, contact high usually brings him down quickly, contact balance is inconsistent – sometimes brought down by initial contact, instances of body catching, route tree is basic, ducks head and shoulder and whiffs in pass pro, willing to chip but shouldn’t be trusted one-on-one in pass pro, lacks play strength for pass pro

Overview: Edwards doesn’t have a lot of power in his frame, but he’s a tough running back who is willing to play through pain and bounce back from big hits. The junior lowers his pads in the hole and occasionally drops his shoulder to meet a linebacker. He plays with fast feet and a fluid lower body. Edwards isn’t twitchy, but he has the shiftiness to survey multiple gaps behind the line. The running back has the speed and footwork to bounce runs outside, but his vision leaves yards on the table. Many athletic running backs are guilty of bouncing too many runs outside. Edwards has the opposite issue. He’s too dedicated to running into the swarm of bodies between the tackles, which leaves plenty of green grass unoccupied on the perimeter. This was an issue several times against Ohio State in 2022. When running between the tackles, Edwards has the suddenness to make defenders miss one-on-one in the hole. He fearlessly accelerates into tight spaces and displays instantaneous burst to hit the hole when he sees it. Edwards’ burst carries him to the defense’s third level. His top speed falls short of elite, but it’s still impressive and fast enough to erase some angles. The Michigan native’s subtle open field movements shake defenders and leave them grasping at air. High contact usually brings Edwards down. His contact balance is inconsistent but allows him to slip some arm tackles. Edwards falls forward when tackled. He is quick to diagnose threats in pass protection and is a willing blocker. Unfortunately, he ducks his head and shoulder, which leads to missed block attempts. Edwards chips defenders, but he lacks the play strength to halt linemen or edge rushers one-on-one. The former four-star recruit plays with quick and nimble feet when running routes. He works back to the quarterback on broken plays. However, Edwards’ route tree is basic, and he catches with his body. The ball gets too loose from Edwards’ body when he hits the gas, which will lead to fumbles. He relied heavily on big plays to equal out small gains between the tackles in 2022. Edwards’ recognition of rushing lanes should be a second quicker. His vision is still developing and doesn’t always reveal cutback lanes.

Overall, Edwards is a high-level athlete who plays with commendable effort and toughness, but his developmental vision and lack of elite traits put a cap on his draft stock entering 2023. Edwards will thrive in the NFL as a rotational runner, but he doesn’t have the marks of a franchise back.

Role & Scheme Fit: Rotational back in an outsize zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Mid to Late Third Round

Size: 6'1", 204 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 08-03-23