Jim Harbaugh on walk-on RB Tru Wilson: ‘He’s gonna play a lot this year’

On this week’s “Attack Each Day: The Harbaughs’ Podcast,” head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about the process walk-on players go through to make the team.

One walk-on Harbaugh was excited to talk about was Tru Wilson, a junior running back from Warren.

Harbaugh alluded to a long list of players before speaking about Wilson — in fact, Wilson was one of the last players Harbaugh touched on — but the way he began speaking about Wilson really spoke volumes about how highly he thinks of him.

“Peter Bush right now, you could make an argument is maybe our most talented (walk-on), along with (Nate) Schoenle,” Harbaugh began. “Tru Wilson ... eh, maybe I’ll take that back. Tru Wilson is our third (string) back. He’s gonna play a lot this year.”

Of course, junior Chris Evans and senior Karan Higdon will be the lead backs for Michigan this year, but it is a bit of a surprise this summer to hear Wilson is the third man up. I figured Michigan would feature a three-headed monster in the backfield with Evans, Higdon and Kareem Walker in 2018, but now those dreams have been crushed now that it appears Walker is transferring.

Other backs like sophomore O’Maury Samuels and freshmen Christian Turner and Hassan Haskins will also compete for the third string job, but as of now Wilson has one leg up in the competition.

Wilson played in one game his true freshman season in 2016 — gaining one rushing yard on one attempt against Illinois. He also saw action in four games last year, all on special teams.

Some recent notable walk-ons to contribute heavily for Michigan include Jordan Kovacs and literally every player with the last name “Glasgow” to ever walk through the University of Michigan’s campus.

So although the road to heavily contribute it much longer for a walk-on than it is a scholarship player, it is certainly not out of reach for someone like Wilson to do good things for the team this upcoming season.