Michigan running back Justice Haynes shocked the college football world when he decided to enter the transfer portal at the end of last season, his second at Alabama.
Despite playing for one of the most well-regarded programs in the country, Haynes opted to take his talents North, joining the Wolverines and head coach Sherrone Moore. As it turns out, Moore may have been one of the main reasons why Haynes chose to come to Ann Arbor, and it has to do with his similarities to a legend.
Haynes told Pete Nakos of On3 that Moore reminds him of former Alabama coach Nick Saban, whom Haynes played one season for.
“He reminds me of a young Coach Saban in a lot of ways,” Haynes said. “He’s going to kick it with you. He’s going to have fun with you. But then there is also a time to be serious and a time to be disciplined. Everything is discipline-oriented around there. We train differently from anyone else in the country. We work harder than anyone in the country, and we’re all about running the ball and stopping the run. That’s what we pride ourselves on, and that’s ultimately what led to my decision. I knew they were going to value the running back position, and I knew I could thrive in the offense.”
Haynes added to his point on the high standard Moore sets for Michigan, much like Saban did at Alabama.
“Whether you are the best player or the worst player on the team, you have to meet a certain standard, and it’s the Michigan standard,” Haynes added. “If you have a problem with it or dislike it, that’s OK, then you can happily leave. There’s a certain standard that we have in Michigan. We abide by it.”