As Blake Corum’s Michigan career was winding down, he provided a glimpse into the future of the Wolverines’ running back room, highlighting Benjamin Hall as a player with potential to make a significant impact. The two-time All-American praised Hall in 2023, saying, “Ben Hall, man, Ben Hall: I like him a lot. His attention to detail, his willingness to learn—he wants to learn, always is on time. He might have a couple of mistakes here and there, but he’s watching the film, asking, ‘How can I get better? What can I do?’ He’s going to be a great running back for Michigan, and I’m excited to see where he goes down the line.”
After appearing in three games during his freshman season, carrying the ball 15 times for 69 yards, Hall enters the 2024 season competing for a spot in Michigan’s running back rotation, playing behind Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings.
“Ben Hall has played at every bit of his 230-pound frame. He’s been running physically and with speed. So, we’re super excited about how he’s progressing and gaining momentum,” Sherrone Moore recently stated. However, the Wolverines have a deep running back room, with sophomore Cole Cabana and freshmen Micah Ka’apana and Jordan Marshall all competing for playing time. Among them, Jordan Marshall has received the most public praise, with Moore noting that the former Top247 prospect “has a chance to be special, dynamic.”
Reflecting on his own progress and what he expects from Michigan’s running backs in 2024, Ben Hall shared his thoughts:
On what has changed from his freshman to sophomore years:
I just think the game has slowed down for me a lot in terms of understanding everything that’s going on around me. I kind of have leaned away from doing what’s best for me and doing whatever I can do to help this team. That’s the same with every guy in that room. Just doing whatever I can to help the team this year is my goal.
On when the game slowed down for him:
I’d probably say my second spring ball cycle is when it started to slow down. This camp, everything has just been firing, firing, firing for me. Just continuing to build on that into the season and making my mark this year.
On Blake Corum’s comments about his potential and what he learned from the star RB:
Since I’ve been here, all I’ve ever tried to do is emulate things he did here because obviously he’s a Michigan legend. Part of me wants to hope that he saw a little bit of himself in me in terms of work ethic and just kind of style of play.
On what he sees in Donovan Edwards:
Donovan has taught me so much on and off the field but I think the biggest place he’s helped me grow is as a person. He’s getting me to relax and have fun with the game because that’s all he ever does is have fun out there. I think that’s the biggest thing he’s taught me since I’ve been here.
On the areas of his game he’s working on:
Being consistent every day. Being a guy that people can count on because that’s the biggest thing. Consistency and reliability.
On the confidence in the team expressed from the coaching staff:
To play here you’ve got to have a lot of confidence. If a coach is telling you that he’s confident in what you’re doing, it helps you play a little more free. Feel free to make mistakes because that one mistake could lead to a big play.
Playing more freely and just being able to go out there and do what you do because that’s what you’re brought here to do.
… We’ve brought guys in that emulate everything that this team is about. That confidence is instilled because they know what they’ve got in the player. If you know what you’ve got in someone, you’re going to have the confidence to push that person to do more.
On what he’s seen from the offensive line in fall camp:
I’ve been running behind this O-line since I got here. Every time I line up back there,I’m happy to see who’s in front of me. I’ve got studs all around.
Let’s not forget every O-line man on this roster is a champion because they were here last year. If we’re playing championship football with champions, it’s the formula to win games, isn’t it?
On his mindset throughout limited playing time in 2023:
Where I didn’t see the field, I learned so much from the people in front of me and the coach — Coach Hart — we had. I think last year was just as beneficial as it ever could have been in terms of being on the field, off the field. Just showing up here every day and playing against the best guys in the country.
Anything I saw on Saturday couldn’t have been better than what I was seeing on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
On what he’s emulating of Blake Corum:
He’s just so consistent in everything he does. Shows up every day. Such a great leader.
I guess just trying anything I can do to emulate what he did would be a huge step in the right direction because he was such a huge part of this Michigan team last year.
On a play from fall camp that stands out:
If you put on the tape, that’s all you’re going to see is spectacular plays. Offense has been on fire. Defense has given us good give and take. There’s no play that stands out because there’s just so many of them.
We turn on the tape every day and watch back the best plays and we’re in there all day because there’s so many good ones.
On his role with Michigan football in 2024:
The role I’ve embodied is just doing whatever I can to help this team win. That’s what I’ve been working toward all camp. Just going out there and grinding every day. It’s been a great process. The whole room is looking really great. Regardless of who’s out on the field, I think that we’re going to be in great shape because we have so many great guys on this running back room.
On Donovan Edwards’ challenge to the RB room to outwork him:
“When you’re in a room full of people you love, you’re competing with them every day, but once you’re off the field, that’s your brother. That’s your guy. Even on the field, when you make a play, you come to the sideline and ask, ‘What could I have done better? What can I improve?’ because you know the guy next to you is just as good as you, if not better. It’s a room full of guys who push each other to get better. I think we’re going to be a huge, huge part of this team this year.”
On what Jordan Marshall has brought to the Michigan RB room:
He’s brought so much energy, so much juice. Just comes out there every day and gives his all. He runs so hard. I love everything he’s brought to this room. I think he’s a great addition to this room. If not this year, he’s going to be a name to remember at Michigan for sure. He’ll go down in those record books, I think.
On what he’s learned from RB coach Tony Alford:
For me, specifically, I just love the way he communicates with me. Everything’s wide out in the open, so anytime I have a question, I know I can go ask him, go talk to him. He just pushes me to that next gear, I’d say. That’s why I’ve been so successful. He’s bringing the best out of everybody in that room.
He’s tailoring it to different people in different ways because we’re all so different. For me, specifically, he’s brought the best out of me. I’m just doing whatever I can to keep this thing going into the season.
On Michigan RBs Micah Kaapana and Cole Cabana:
“Micah comes in and runs hard every day. Even though he’s not the biggest guy, his personality is huge. He goes out there and does his thing, making runs that leave me thinking, ‘How could I ever do that?’ He gives his all on every play, and I believe he’s going to be a great, great Michigan tailback, just like Cole.
Cole is so versatile—you can multitask him, put him in the slot, in the backfield, anywhere. He’s a fantastic addition to this team, and watching him attack this camp has been really beautiful. He’s making plays in the backfield, making plays in the slot, flying down on kickoff—he’s doing everything. Whatever you ask of him, he does it at a high level. That’s what you love to see. He’s my classmate, and I want us all to succeed at the highest level.”
On Michigan not having lost a Big Ten game since October 2021:
The biggest thing for us is going into every week 0-0. No matter who we’re playing or what it’s been in the past, we’re treating it like it’s the biggest game of the year. I think that’s the formula to keep winning, is just going in and treating it like it’s the next game.
The biggest game of the year this year is Fresno State because it’s the next one. Treat it like that every week and go in and attack it because that’s the only thing we can do.
