One of the biggest talking points in college football over the past few days has been Michigan running back Justice Haynes returning to his home state and committing to Georgia Tech. The decision surprised many, as several NFL draft analysts project Haynes as a potential top-five running back in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Insider Explains What Really Caused Justice Haynes’ Split With Michigan and His Georgia Tech Decision
Haynes had been playing well for Michigan in the 2025 season before the right foot injury sidelined him for the final five games of the season. He was even gaining early Heisman Trophy buzz before the setback. While Haynes had the option to return to Michigan for his final year of college football, his decision to transfer to Georgia Tech was surprising for many.
College football reporters Brandon Marcello and Chris Hummer discussed some of the latest buzz around the sport on Thursday. Marcello asked Hummer whether he had heard anything new about Haynes’ injury situation, and Hummer shared what he knew about both the setback and Haynes’ split with Michigan.
“I have not heard anything about the status of his injury,” Hummer said. “I know his feedback maybe wasn’t what he wanted it to be with the NFL, and that’s part of the reason why he came back, and he certainly asked for a lot of money from Michigan. The running back markets really exploded, and I think Michigan felt like it made sense and Justice Haynes felt like it made sense to maybe part ways.”
Haynes was Michigan’s top running back and surpassed 100 rushing yards in six of his seven appearances. As an explosive, physical one-cut runner, Haynes is considered a “dream fit” in Georgia Tech’s offense due to his ability to open early running lanes and seal gap-scheme paths to the second level, according to PFSN analyst Ian Cummings.
Hummer also spoke of the level of upside he believes Haynes brings to Georgia Tech.
“He is somebody you can build your offense around,” Hummer further added. “He was the biggest home run hitter in college football this year for significant stretches in terms of his ability to create chunk yardage on the ground. I think he averaged 7.1 yards per carry this season, 857 yards before he got hurt. And if he can be healthy for Georgia Tech, he is the exact type of player that offense can be centered around, can be built around, can create explosive plays for you.”
Haynes is currently ranked No. 36 nationally with an 80.9 grade on PFSN’s CFB RB Impact Metric. He transferred from Alabama ahead of the 2025 season, where he totaled 616 rushing yards and nine touchdowns across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
