WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — Donovan Edwards has scored dozens of touchdowns on this field, where on Saturday afternoon the Michigan running back returned as a coach and mentor.
Hosting his third annual youth football camp at West Bloomfield High School, Edwards led boys and girls ages 6 to 14 in speed, strength and agility drills on a sunny summer day. The event was sponsored by Sack the Stigma, which raises mental health awareness among athletes and is a cause with which Edwards can relate personally.
Speaking to reporters during a break in the action, Edwards described the emotional toll of entering 2023 with such high expectations only to see his immediate NFL dreams and hopes of stardom falter during the regular season.
"Mike Hart told me to see a therapist because he knew something was wrong with me. And I'm like, 'You're tripping. I'm not seeing a therapist,'" Edwards recounted. But he changed his mind, and "ultimately it helped me out." Now, he knows, it's important to recognizes and talk about struggles.
"The kids out here today, they're going to think that life is all sunshine and rainbows, but we know that that's not the case," Edwards continued. "I thought that was going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but it's not. And I realize that, so it's my obligation to be able to spread that message."
That emotional growth has Edwards sounding like a different person this offseason. Prior to his junior year, Edwards predicted how he would shine on Saturdays and spoke of his expectation to leave Ann Arbor as a first-round NFL Draft pick. Now, Edwards is talking about the weight and responsibility that comes with being labeled as the face of one of college football's most storied programs that's coming off its best season in decades.
"I realized that in life, you're going to have to go through things to build your character," he said. "I went through an experience of three years that have built my character to shape me who I am today. I've had great moments. … But the spiritual spiritual side of me says, 'Okay, I see that God has blessed me with all these great gifts. Now, how am I going to be able to give that back to other people? How can I build my teammates up into a leadership role that I want them to be and I can push them by not being a tyrant, not being mean, by not being whatever? How can I make the people around me even better? How can I make an impact on these kids?'"
The impact was clear Saturday among thechildren— and quite a few adults — who approached Edwards for high fives and autographs and selfies. And the running back hopes that his own matured mentality translates ashis Wolverines begin their national championship defense.
"You can say I could be the face of Michigan, but I don't look at it that way. I'm here to do a job," he said. "I'm here to be a Michigan man and to uplift people the best that I can and to bring my players, my teammates along with me, as well younger generation and older generations too. … I just want other guys to be able to emerge themselves as well."
Not that Edwards is only focused on the mental aspects of his game. He's put on weight this year in an effort to boost his longevity during a season in which he'll be Michigan's featured back.
"I feel like it's going to make me more durable, to be more balanced off tackles and to stay on my feet a little bit more," he said. "And at the same time, I feel like — and I hope that — it allows me to be healthier as well."
But when asked about his ownaspirationsfor 2024, Edwards deflected the attention away from himself, instead talking about the offensive linemen.
"It all starts up front. Those guys are some dawgs down there, some dawgs up on that front line," he said. "The running backs or the quarterbacks or the receivers can't do anything unless the linemen are doing their job. There's no doubt in my mind that they're going to be contenders for the Joe Moore Award."
Pressed for more details, Edwards cracked a joke and flashed a smile. Then he went back tohisafternoon'spurpose: Teaching and mentorship on the football field he used to call home.
