Michigan winners and losers vs. Arkansas State: Kalel Mullings makes case for bigger role

Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia breaks down the winners and losers for Michigan football in the Wolverines' 28-18 win over Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor.

Three up

RB Kalel Mullings

For the second time in three weeks, Mullings looked the part of a lead running back as he bulldozed 15 times for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns. His big day started immediately, after he trucked for a six-yard run on his first touch, then bounced the next rush to the right side as he waited for wideout C.J. Charleston to pull across the formation and seal his block, before he broke a tackle and high-stepped away for a 30-yard touchdown.

In the second quarter he added another 30-yard rush off the left side before a five-yard score up the middle. Ten of his first 11 rushes went for four yards or more and he finished with a career-long 38-yard rush in the fourth quarter. Out of more than 100 ball carriers with 30 attempts, Mullings is third in yards after contact (6), 12th in yards per carry (7.5) and 16th with five rushes of 15 yards or more.

LB Ernest Hausmann

Hausmann rebounded after a tough afternoon against Texas for one of his more productive games in a maize and blue uniform. The defensive signal-caller led all Wolverines defenders with seven tackles. U-M led 14-3, when Arkansas State faced third-and-6 on its own 29 and Hausmann came on an a-gap blitz and swallowed Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor. According to Pro Football Focus, Hausmann lined up 45 times in the box, six times on the line and three times in the slot as he finished with a team-high five stops .

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Unproven pass catchers

Tyler Morris was announced as questionable pregame and once it became clear he was not going to go, Michigan needed playmakers to step up. That became more apparent when standout tight end Colston Loveland was lost temporarily during the second quarter. He tried to come back after the half and was tackled on the opening catch of the third quarter and ruled out for the game .

Three young pass catchers had career days Saturday. The leader was Loveland's replacement, Marlin Klein. A much-hyped, formerly raw prospect who's a native of Cologne, Germany , Klein had three receptions and led all U-M pass catchers with 43 yards — not bad for somebody who only had two grabs for 15 yards in his career prior. Fredrick Moore finished with a career-high three catches for 38 yards, essentially matching his career marks of four grabs for 32 yards prior to Saturday. Freshman tight end Hogan Hansen played in his first career game and caught the lone U-M passing touchdown, a nine-yard floater from Alex Orji early in the fourth quarter.

Three down

QB Davis Warren

All the blame is not on Warren for his three interceptions, but after throwing six through less than three games (remember, last year J.J. McCarthy threw four across 15 games ), coach Sherrone Moore had little choice but to try a new look. The first interception was in part on running back Donovan Edwards — who blamed himself postgame for a miscommunication on his blocking assignment — but it was equally on Warren. He forced a pass into traffic while drifting backwards to avoid pressure. It would have been a pick-six if it weren't for a touchdown-saving hustle play from Max Bredeson.

The second interception felt baffling in that it came after Warren had seemingly found a rhythm. The senior had just completed six straight passes to four different receivers for 95 yards. But he badly missed Semaj Morgan on an out-route after his elbow was bumped on the release.

The final mistake came late in the third quarter, when he took a play-action fake then forced a a throw to Morgan in double coverage. Out of 125 qualified passers (minimum 50 dropbacks), Warren ranks 95th in touchdown passes, 120th in passer rating and 121st in interceptions.

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WR Semaj Morgan

It was a rough afternoon for U-M's sophomore receiver, who many hoped was going to use his fourth-quarter touchdown against Texas as momentum moving forward. Instead, it was another quiet afternoon for the West Bloomfield graduate (two receptions for three yards) on a day where Michigan's top pass catcher went down. Though he did have a 13-yard "rush" on a toss from Warren behind the line of scrimmage, the three-touch, 16-yard performance adds to the concern for Michigan's receiver room.

Morgan was electric as a freshman as the fourth option in the passing game in a gadget role, however stepping into an every-down receiver has proven difficult. Not counting an impressive 31-yard touchdown grab against Texas against reserves, Morgan's other eight grabs have gone for 25 yards.

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Third-string defense

It was a stellar performance for 50-plus minutes for Wink Martindale's top and backup units, but once the newcomers came on in mop-up time, the defense unraveled. Michigan held Arkansas State to 25 yards or fewer on seven of its first nine drives, before it put together consecutive lengthy touchdown drives. The first went nine plays for 64 yards and ended with a 24-yard touchdown strike in a gap in the defense beyond cornerback Myles Pollard and safety Brandyn Hillman.

U-M's offense went three-and-out, and the defense went right back on the field and promptly allowed an 11-play, 75-yard drive that finished with touchdown from Timmy McClain to Reginald Harden Jr. U-M gave up 149 yards of offense through three quarters and 131 in the final 15 minutes.

"We've gotta finish at the end," Sherrone Moore said to Big Ten Network on the field postgame. "We can't have those things going on at the end of the game so we'll clean those things up."

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Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan winners and losers vs. Arkansas State: Kalel Mullings makes case for bigger role