ANN ARBOR >> Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards are Michigan’s leading rushers, but with two regular-season games remaining, there’s movement toward getting the younger backs more involved.

Case in point: Sophomore Ben Hall was the second back in at Indiana in the Wolverines’ last game nearly two weeks ago, after Edwards started. Mullings had one carry in the first half, late in the second quarter, but played a more significant role in the second half. Hall this week said he earned the playing time because of his practice performance.

“I think it was more like a boiling-point thing, where they couldn’t deny the practice tape,” Hall told reporters after practice on Tuesday. “So I just hope I get the opportunities to go out there and help this team win games.”

Mullings has 740 yards on 141 carries and eight touchdowns, Edwards has 513 on 114 carries and three touchdowns, and Hall has 11 rushes for 44 yards. Head coach Sherrone Moore this week said he wants to get freshmen Jordan Marshall, who has seen the field this season for kickoff returns, and Micah Ka’apana, carries in Saturday’s game against Northwestern.

That is Michigan’s final home game of the season, and while it is a sendoff for the seniors, for a team that is 5-5 and needing a victory to become bowl eligible, it’s also a springboard into next season. Northwestern is 4-6, 2-5 in the Big Ten and offers Michigan its best opportunity the final two games to get a win. The Wolverines play at No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 30. The Wolverines need the extra practice time a bowl game affords to get a head start before winter conditioning and spring practice, hence the focus on reaching at least six wins.

Mullings and Edwards are still expected to get the bulk of carries against Northwestern, which ranks 28th in rush defense, allowing an average 114.6 yards, but Moore would like the younger backs to see game action.

“The guy that really took a next step, and he’ll be implemented in the game plan a little bit more this week, is Micah Ka’apana,” Moore said Monday on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show, referring to practice performance during the bye week. “Very shifty, great contact balance. He’s small, but he’s not little, and the dude plays with power. He plays strong, but he’s super fast. He’s got ability to be dynamic, so I’m excited to see what he does with the ball in his hands.”

Marshall has yet to get a carry. Moore wants to see that happen but acknowledged it’s difficult to share the reps among five backs.

“You gotta manipulate different ways to get those guys on the field, but we’ll see him at some point during the game,” Moore said.

Mullings said Marshall, Mr. Ohio last year as a senior, and Ka’apana are mature freshmen. Marshall has shown flashes during his kick returns, with seven for 151 yards this season.

“Jordan is like the perfect freshman. I’d say the same thing about Micah Ka’apana,” Mullings said. “They’ve both come in and been nothing but sponges, take tidbits from us as older guys and what the coaches are saying and they go out on the field and do it. I’ve been here for five years, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen young guys come in with that much maturity and that ability to adjust to the college game so quickly. I can’t wait to be an alumni watching them do their thing.”

He also said Hall has been improving.

“It’s been so fun to watch,” Mullings said. “Ben is also so positive, a great vibe and guy to be around. It goes without question he’s going to do amazing things here.”

Hall experienced the high of being with Michigan as it went undefeated in 2023 and won the national championship, and he has experienced the challenge of this current season. He said he wants to be more of a leader going forward and already has exercised some of that leadership.

“I’ve been trying to become more vocal,” Hall said. “At practice, just getting guys riled up, getting guys going, making sure we’re not starting slow. The biggest thing I’ve been trying to work on is being more vocal as a leader, and letting my play do the talking as well.”

He said he wants to help get the program back on track and re-emphasize the identity of the team the last three seasons during all the success. That means, being a strong, hard-nosed run-first offense with a physical offensive line.

“You hear Coach Moore crediting me for going hard in practice, that’s the way I like to lead, going as hard as I can and bringing other guys with me,” Hall said. “I just go out there every day and go as hard as I can. I think that’s been my story here, just working hard. So just continuing to do that day in and day out, and just seeing what I can do with it.”

That’s why a win Saturday is so important for Michigan’s future.