Injuries at running back give Bryson Kuzdzal a chance to shine for No. 18 Michigan vs. Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Michigan went deeper on the depth chart at running back — and still produced a 100-yard rusher.

Bryson Kuzdzal, asked to step in in the absence of Judge Haynes and Jordan Marshall, ran for 100 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to lift the 18th-ranked Wolverines over Maryland 45-20. Kuzdzal, a junior who had 25 career carries for Michigan before this weekend, had 20 more against the Terrapins as his team called his number throughout.

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“We always say next man up, right? And no matter who it is, it’s nameless, faceless,” coach Sherrone Moore said. “There’s a standard to being a running back at Michigan. There’s a standard to being a Michigan football player that you have to play to, and he played to that standard today.”

Moore said Marshall could have played Saturday if needed, but the Wolverines were able to hold him back with No. 1 Ohio State on the schedule next weekend. Fullback Max Bredeson’s availability appears riskier after he was sidelined on crutches in the second half on Saturday.

But against Maryland at least, the Wolverines didn’t miss their injured backs too much. Kuzdzal scored on runs of 2, 19 and 1 yards, then freshman Jasper Parker got into the action with a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“The O-line is amazing and is going to be amazing at Michigan,” Kuzdzal said. “It’s just something that I think we’ve built this program around. The O-line, the D-line, they win in the trenches, and you see it.”

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Kuzdzal had 15 carries for 53 yards in a win over Northwestern last weekend. This was the game Marshall left with a shoulder injury. Then Kuzdzal had an even bigger game against the Terrapins.

“I ran hard, I ran physical, I ran hard. It’s a real honor for him, for his family, to be an alternate,” Moore said. “The trust factor we have in him is very important and he has played at a very high level for us.”

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