Michigan football: 5 most underrated players in Michigan Wolverines history

Few Michigan running backs were as good as Tyrone Wheatley.

Tyrone Wheatley spent 10 years in the NFL with the New York Giants and the then-Oakland Raiders. Though never a Pro Bowler professionally, Wheatley was one of the better running backs in the history of Michigan football. He arrived in Ann Arbor in 1991 as a dual-sport athlete, playing running back for the football team in addition to running track for the Wolverines.

As a freshman in 1991, Wheatley had 86 carries for 548 yards and nine touchdowns. Michigan won the Big Ten that year, too. In his second season with the program, Wheatley earned his first of three-straight First-Team All-Big Ten honors, as he rushed for 1,357 yards on 185 carries for 13 touchdowns. Michigan won the Big Ten again and he was named Offensive Player of the Year.

In 1993 and 1994, Wheatley went over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns each year as an upperclassman at Michigan, notching two additional First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Wheatley left Ann Arbor with 688 carries for 4,178 yards and 47 rushing touchdowns. He also had 51 catches for 510 yards and six additional touchdowns as a receiver out of the Michigan backfield.

Wheatley would be the No. 15 overall pick by the Giants in the 1995 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the G-Men before joining up with the Silver and Black for his last six professional seasons. These days, Wheatley has carved out a successful second football career as a coach. He currently serves as the head coach of the Morgan State Bears.