Michigan’s running back room keeps getting more intriguing, and Tyson Robinson is a big reason why.
The four-star 2027 commit has already given Wolverines fans plenty to get excited about, and a recent workout video only adds to the buzz. Robinson looks set for his senior season, and the clip shows off the kind of burst and footwork that can turn a back into a problem for defenses in a hurry.
That matters in Ann Arbor, where the run game has long been part of the identity. Even during Michigan’s national title run in 2023, the offense leaned heavily on the ground, piling up 2,536 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns compared with 3,204 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns.
Kyle Whittingham’s work on the recruiting trail suggests that formula is not going anywhere. Michigan has already added five-star running back Savion Hiter, and Robinson gives the class another explosive option. The Wolverines also have three-star running back Lundon Hampton in the 2027 group.
Robinson’s production explains the excitement. He broke out as a sophomore with 1,295 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, while also contributing as a receiver with 668 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. His junior year was interrupted by injury, and he missed four games, but he still finished with 1,050 rushing yards, 295 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns.
The dip from 2024 to 2025 likely kept him from being rated even higher in the class, but the workout video suggests he may be close to the version that broke out earlier in his high school career.
For Michigan, the appeal is obvious. Hiter brings the power element, the kind of back who can run through contact.
Robinson looks like the quicker, more explosive complement, the one who can hit the second level and separate. That combination gives the Wolverines a running back future that already looks loaded, and Whittingham is still building.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Lost One Of Its Biggest 2027 Recruiting Battles
Michigan spent months working to get Josh Dobson on campus and in the mix, and the Wolverines made a real push for one of the top defensive backs in the 2027 class. The five-star cornerback from the nation's elite tier, ranked No. 12 overall, visited Ann Arbor multiple times and even took an official trip the weekend of June 12 after LSU was bumped from his schedule, a sign of how seriously Michigan was pursuing him.
Still, the recruitment ended with Michigan watching one of its biggest battles slip away, leaving the Wolverines to regroup on a player they had treated as a major priority. The good news for Michigan is that the secondary class is not empty behind him, with five defensive backs already pledged and enough early commitment strength to keep the long-term picture intact while the staff moves on to the next high-end target. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Missed On One Elite Corner But Landed A Massive Recruiting Win
Michigans cornerback board took a hit with five-star Joshua Dobson choosing elsewhere, but the Wolverines quickly answered with a significant win of their own. Four-star defensive back Monsanna Torbert committed to Michigan, giving the staff another promising cover man in the 2027 class and strengthening a position group that has become a clear priority in this cycle.
Torberts pledge matters beyond the rating next to his name because Michigan beat out Ohio State for his commitment, a swing that carries extra weight in any recruiting battle between those two programs. The Wolverines now have multiple cornerback commitments lined up in 2027, and the class is starting to look like one the staff can build around in the secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got A Huge Offseason Answer In The Frontcourt
Michigans frontcourt picture got a lot clearer this week with J.P. Estrella set to remain in the fold for the 2026-27 season. The former Tennessee transfer gives the Wolverines another experienced big to pair with center Moustapha Thiam, and that matters as the roster takes shape around a new coaching era and a portal cycle that can still reshape plenty of teams.
For Michigan, the timing is especially useful because Mike Boynton Jr. has already locked in several key pieces before the transfer portal officially opens. Estrellas decision helps stabilize a group that needed answers inside, and with another transfer portal commitment already in place, the Wolverines have started to build something tangible in the frontcourt rather than chase it from scratch. [Read more 🡒]