Michigan Michael Allio-USA TODAY Sports

The Michigan Wolverines will be absent a key contributor vs. the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Michigan running back Donovan Edwards was ruled out ahead of the game vs. Illinois Saturday. The sophomore running back exited last week’s game against Nebraska early for undisclosed reasons. No real status update was provided up until today and Edwards was promptly ruled out. Tony Garcia of The Detroit Free Press reported the news of Edwards’ absence.

Garcia wrote, “Donovan Edwards is OUT today for Michigan, a team spokesman tells the Free Press. The sophomore running back took two snaps on the first series a week ago but didn’t return for the final three quarters against Nebraska.”

Edwards is a key contributor to the Michigan offense. He has spelled star running back Blake Corum all season. To this point he rushed for 471 yards on 70 carries with four rushing touchdowns.

The sophomore also contributed in the passing game until the injury. He caught 14 passes this season for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns.

The Wolverines will face a stout rushing attack against Illinois. The Fighting Illini boast Chase Brown, who’s rushed for 1,442 yards this season, the nation’s best mark. The Wolverines must rely on Corum heavily now without Edwards’ presence.

[Tony Garcia]

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Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022