Hassan Haskins was a three-star recruit out of high school in Missouri and was rated as the 41st-best running back nationally by Rivals. As a freshman at Michigan, he appeared in just three games on special teams before playing all 13 games – 12 on offense – in his sophomore season. He was named the Wolverine’s Offensive Most Improved Player after rushing for 622 yards and four touchdowns on 121 carries. In his junior year of 2020, Haskins led the team with 375 yards and six touchdowns on 61 carries in all six of the team’s games.
He was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021 after leading the team with 1,327 yards and a program season-record 20 touchdowns on 270 carries. The three-year letterman also added 18 receptions for 131 yards in 2021. He was also a second-team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association this past season and shared Offensive Player of the Week honors four times. His teammates voted Haskins as an alternate captain for the 2021 season.
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Player Bio
Name: Hassan Haskins
Jersey: No. 25
Position: Running Back
School: Michigan
Class: Senior
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 220 lbs
Games Watched: Alabama (2019), Penn State (2021), Georgia (2021)
Major Injury History: None
Player Breakdown
Vision (12.5/15)
Haskins has solid vision and will stay true to the play design. He has the patience to wait for the play to develop and cut through the hole at the point of attack. At the second level, he can make defenders pay in their over pursuit as he plants his feet and goes. When he drives downhill, he can anticipate very well in the open field and take one for big yardage.
Contact Balance (9.25/10)
Haskins is one of the more physical backs in this class as he doesn’t back down from contact. He will bounce off tacklers and keep his legs churning. The Missouri native is a big bruiser and is built to punish defenders. In 2021, he averaged five yards per carry and he will rarely ever be taken down upon first contact.
Explosiveness (6.5/10)
While there are times he can break off a big run, Haskins isn’t necessarily an explosive runner of any kind. He is powerful enough to punish tacklers in one-on-one situations and can bounce off you if you don’t wrap up. With below-average speed, relying on his big build and willingness to be physical is where he gets his big yardage. He does have some twitchiness to his game and can make some impressive cuts.
Long Speed (6/10)
Haskins only ran a 4.74 40-yard dash in high school and didn’t run at the combine or at Michigan’s pro day due to an ankle injury he suffered in the Orange Bowl. He isn’t going to win any track races and won’t win footraces in open space. His ankle injury could slow him down even more but Haskins’ speed or lack thereof doesn’t cause him to win any less.
Short-Area Burst (5/10)
Haskins won’t be a lightning-back as he doesn’t create plays on his own. If there’s a hole, he’ll hit it but he’s not going to beat anyone off the edge. His vision and patience help to make up for it. However, if a hole is never given to him the play is over. Even while he shows flashes of explosiveness, that isn’t going to a consistent part of his game.
Change of Direction (7/10)
Haskins will put his foot in the ground and rush upfield. Despite not being the fastest, he can change direction quickly and is a shifty back. He has some great body control and his contact balance certainly helps with that. His lack of speed and elusiveness, however, will cause him not to avoid as many open-field tackles.
Power (9/10)
Haskins put up 27 bench press reps at the combine, showing off his elite strength and that shows up on the field. He is a very dependable power back and will run through people with his contact balance ability. At the combine, Haskins said, “I’m a power back, but I’ve got everything in the tool bag. I like being the hammer, not the nail. I like going through people.”. That shows his willingness to be extremely physical on the attack to make plays.
Ball Security (10/10)
In 452 carries at Michigan, Haskins didn’t fumble once. Enough said.
Receiving Ability (6/10)
The experience Haskins has as a receiver is very limited, as he had 24 receptions in his career including 18 in his breakout 2021 season. He can make the catches but won’t create much space in the open field. His route running doesn’t stand out as above average, but he can be a solid target on screens and short passes.
Pass Protection (4/5)
With his brute strength and contact balance, Haskins is an asset in pass protection. This will help him to be a three-down player off the bat. He can be an anchor in protecting the quarterback and will pack a big punch at the point of attack. Haskins enjoys the contact and will seek it out to toss rushers around.
Player Summary
Haskins has some really strong traits with others being question marks. He is a legitimate power back with the makings of providing really good pass protection and being an asset on all three downs. What he lacks in speed and elusiveness, he makes up with power and patience. Haskins won’t be a consistent receiver out of the backfield, but he can be an asset in the facet. That is an area of his game that has only improved every year. He will grow into a consistent three-down back but early on will likely be more an early-down back or be put in goal-to-go situations.
Rookie Projections: Early-down back/high volume rotational back
Third Year Projections: Lead running back in a committee
Final Grade (75.25/100): Fourth-Round Pick
Player Comp: Jordan Howard
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
