Michigan RB Edwards, LB Stewart coming back

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

  • Elder WriterJan 15, 2024, 11:21 AM ET Close College football press reporter.
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.National champ Michigan

got a boost on both sides of the ball Monday as running back Donovan Edwards and edge rush Josaiah Stewart announced their objectives to return for the 2024 season.Edwards and Stewart revealed their choices on social media after a weekend that saw several popular Michigan players declare for the NFL draft, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum and protective linemen Kris Jenkins and Jaylen Harrell.Stewart, who moved to Michigan from Coastal Carolina in December 2022, ended up second on the group in sacks(5.5)and tied for third in deals with for loss(8.5 ). He made respectable reference All-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches. Stewart had a breakout freshman season for Coastal Carolina in 2021, taping 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.Editor’s Picks

1 Associated Edwards has actually played behind Corum for much of his profession and saw his production fall off this season till the championship game game, when he had touchdown runs of 41 and 46 yards to propel Michigan to a 14-3 lead over Washington. The junior finished with 104 backyards on just six carries in the championship game, and had 497 rushing backyards and 5 touchdowns for the season.He had his most efficient stretch late in the 2022 season, after Corum sustained a knee injury. Edwards rushed for 216 yards and two goals in an upset at Ohio State, and then followed with 185 yards against Purdue in the Big Ten championship game and 119 yards versus TCU in a CFP semifinal loss.Edwards will go into the fall with 1,662 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, and also has 200 or more receiving lawns in each of his first 3 seasons with the Wolverines.