Michigan RB Cole Cabana updates injury status, talks ‘making big plays’ in spring practice, role for 2023
Michigan Wolverines football running back Cole Cabana was the program’s third-highest ranked recruit in the 2023 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking (No. 201 overall). He enrolled early and got off to a strong start in spring ball before being injured, and just enjoyed the team’s trip to the East Coast, which included stops in New York City, Washington D.C., Gettysburg and Ohio.
“It’s been pretty sweet,” Cabana told TheWolverine.com, discussing the trip. “We’ve learned a lot, and we’ve also done a lot of really fun things. I haven’t been here for that long, so just to be able to hang out with all the guys outside of football, outside of school and outside of Ann Arbor, it’s been a really sweet experience. I’ve had a lot of fun and grown a lot closer with all the guys.”
Relationships are being forged, and Cabana said the Michigan team has a “family-type atmosphere.”
“I’d pretty much say I’m closest with all the early guys, and the running back room is also really tight,” Cabana said. “I’m rooming with [junior running back] Tavi [Dunlap] right now, so me and him are getting closer.
RELATED
• INSIDE THE FORT, Part 2: Michigan football standouts, weights, and more
Cabana participated in “a little over half of the spring practices,” before going down with a minor knee injury that held him out the rest of the way. He was spotted with a knee brace on during the April 1 spring game at The Big House but is nearing full health.
“I’m just about at 100 percent right now,” Cabana revealed. “It was just something minor.”
Before the injury, Cabana was impressive.
“I feel like I was doing a pretty good job,” the Michigan back said. “The play book is definitely a little difficult to pick up on, but I’m getting used to it. As spring was going on, I was getting better and better, for sure, and I was making some pretty big plays. Overall, I think I had a really big spring.”
Michigan brought in two freshman early enrollee running backs this spring, with Benjamin Hall being the other. A three-star recruit, Hall turned heads in the spring game, rushing for 96 yards and 1 touchdown. The Wolverines have a dynamic duo in senior Blake Corum and junior Donovan Edwards at the top of the heap, and Cabana hopes he and Hall are a similarly formidable tandem down the road.
“Me and Ben are kind of the next little generation of Blake and Dono in how we’re supposed to be used,” Cabana noted. “I’m more like Donovan — catching the ball, quicker. And Ben is just like Blake. He can bang the rock. I’m really excited about our future and excited to start playing.”
Cabana doesn’t just view himself as similar to Edwards — the Michigan staff is planning to use him that way. He can play in the slot and in the backfield, and did so this spring.
“We do a lot of empty stuff, so I’ve been running the ball, catching the ball, just a lot of different stuff,” Cabana revealed.
Known for his speed, Cabana was a dangerous weapon from multiple positions as a prep player at Dexter (Mich.) High. In three years of varsity, he totaled 79 touchdowns and 5,781 all-purpose yards — both school records.
He had 3 touchdowns as a return man as a senior in 2022, and hopes to contribute on special teams for Michigan. The Wolverines lost starting punt returner A.J. Henning to the transfer portal following spring ball. Henning also returned the majority of Michigan’s punts. There’s now a vacancy at both spots, though senior wideout Roman Wilson has ample kick return experience.
“That’s what I’m hoping for — I would love to do kick return and punt return my freshman year,” Cabana said. “That would be a pretty amazing experience. But nothing is given, obviously. I’ve been practicing those spots, but there are also a lot of other guys practicing for the spots. That’s my goal, to be the kick returner, at least. I’d also love to return punts.”
Cabana noted that he’s “best” at kick returner over punt.
“That would be sweet, if I could earn that job,” Cabana added.
Task No. 1 for Cabana is getting fully healthy, before attempting to make an impact for Michigan this fall.
The post Michigan RB Cole Cabana updates injury status, talks ‘making big plays’ in spring practice, role for 2023 appeared first on On3.
