Kalel Mullings' big game propels Michigan Wolverines to win over USC Trojans, puts name on NFL Draft radars
The Michigan Wolverines entered their Week 4 matchup against the USC Trojans as an underdog in Ann Arbor and left victorious, winning the day 27-24. Michigan would not have won this game without the stellar play of running back Kalel Mullings. Mullings got the fireworks started early, breaking off a 53-yard touchdown with three minutes […]
The Michigan Wolverines entered their Week 4 matchup against the USC Trojans as an underdog in Ann Arbor and left victorious, winning the day 27-24.
Michigan would not have won this game without the stellar play of running back Kalel Mullings.
Mullings got the fireworks started early, breaking off a 53-yard touchdown with three minutes left in the first quarter. Michigan would hold onto the lead until seven minutes left in the game.
Michigan's offense sputtered out of halftime, putting up just six total yards of offense in the third quarter. Mullings rarely touched the ball, and it wasn't until Donovan Edwards fumbled the ball late in the fourth quarter did Michigan pull him back and turn back to Mullings from then on.
USC scored the go-ahead touchdown off of that fumble and it looked like they had all the momentum on their side.
Until Mullings struck.
Mullings and the Wolverines marched 89 yards on ten plays at the end of the game and punched in the go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left in the game. Mullings broke off a huge 63-yard run on third and short, taking the ball down to the USC 17. From then on, Michigan's offense looked like this:
- Kalel Mullings run
- Kalel Mullings run
- Kalel Mullings run
- Kalel Mullings run
- Timeout
- Alex Orji incompletion
- Kalel Mullings run
- Kalel Mullings Touchdown
A week after rushing for 153 yards and two touchdowns, Mullings ran for 159 and two touchdowns on the USC Trojans. Michigan put up nearly 300 yards on the ground in this one, led by Mullings' effort. The former linebacker ground down the USC defensive front.
His performance is even more impressive, considering he was their entire offense. Michigan mustered just 32 yards passing, and USC never respected the Wolverines' ability to pass. They knew the run was coming, and Mullings still found a way.
Mullings is an NFL-caliber running back, with good vision, quick feet, and good decisiveness. He's earned the right to be Michigan's lead back for the rest of the season. This kind of performance should put him firmly on NFL radars, if he wasn't already.
