CJ Hester, John Volker give Michigan football two new running backs via transfer portal
First, Saturday evening, UMass transfer CJ Hester made his pledge to join the Wolverines, which he shared on social media. Assistant coach Tony Alford's running back room had dwindled to two primary options − Jordan Marshall and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes − after Ben Hall's decision to enter the portal earlier this month.
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"Beyond blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Michigan!," Hester posted with a picture alongside coach Sherrone Moore. "Thank you to everyone who's supported me on this journey. Maize and Blue, let's work! #GoBlue #Committed."
Hester began his career at Western Michigan in 2023 − U-M's now defensive line coach Lou Esposito was the defensive coordinator at the time − and ran 29 times for 124 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and a pair of touchdowns. Then a season ago he transferred to UMass, where as a sophomore he rushed 119 times for 529 yards (4.4 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns.
New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has also been known to use his backs out of the backfield in the passing game and Hester flashed a bit of that ability, too, with 14 catches for 58 yards for the Minutemen. Hester, a Cincinnati native (Wyoming High School), shares a hometown with Marshall and now also a potential role in the backfield.
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U-M locked up the commitment after he visited Ann Arbor this weekend during the spring game.
The Wolverines weren't done there. On Monday afternoon they added former Princeton running back John Volker. An incoming graduate student, Volker spent the past four years at Princeton, where his playing time grew each year.
A 6-foot, 210-pound back from Fair Haven, New Jersey (Rumson-Fair Haven Regional), he ran 245 times for 1,183 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns. In 2024 was likely his best season, when he had 89 carries for 514 yards (5.8 per rush) and six scores, including a career-long 75 yard rush as he was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy League.
Like Hester, he also has decent hands coming out of the backfield, catching 31 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns at Princeton.
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Fun fact: His brother, Charlie, also played football at Princeton but is now on the United States Bobsled team.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: CJ Hester, John Volker give Michigan football new two running backs
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