When Kalel Mullings committed to Michigan football, he was supposed to be the next great Wolverines linebacker. However, it didn’t exactly work out that way for him.
Mullings spent his first few years working on the defensive side of the ball for the maize and blue before playing dual duty in 2022 — splitting time between linebacker and running back. When Blake Corum’s season was ended due to injury, Mullings went over to offense full-time, playing running back.
It didn’t start off well. Despite throwing a no-look pass to tight end Luke Schoonmaker against Ohio State that year, Mullings had a big miscommunication on the goal line with quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the College Football Playoff, and he coughed up the ball. At the time, Michigan fans wanted him to go back on defense.
However, they’re glad he didn’t. In 2023 and 2024, Mullings shined in his running back role. Expected to be a backup this past year, he wrested away the starting job from Donovan Edwards. And now, like his predecessor Hassan Haskins, he’s been drafted by the Tennessee Titans, who picked him in the sixth round with the 188th overall pick.
Mullings led the Wolverines with 185 carries for 948 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024, adding to the 36 carries and 222 yards the year before. Mullings had three rushing touchdowns in his limited time in 2022.
With his selection, Michigan football has had six players selected thus far, with Mason Graham going at No. 5 overall, Colston Loveland at No. 10, Kenneth Grant at No. 13, Will Johnson at No. 47, and now Mullings at No. 188.