Donovan Edwards, others open up about their mental health ahead of National Championship

Donovan Edwards disclosed that he was seeing a therapist in the midst of pressure to do well in the most public setting.

The Michigan Wolverines’ coaches and players have talked candidly about the value of mental health in the run-up to their game versus the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff National Championship, emphasizing their excitement, preparation, and coping mechanisms.

With all of the time spent in the weight room, practice facilities, film room, press conferences and playing 13 games already this season (while still being full-time students), the athletes’ mental state is often overlooked.

Despite Michigan’s winning ways and the team’s success in every endeavor, a few players are struggling this season. This season, running back Blake Corum broke the Michigan record for touchdowns, but Donovan Edwards regressed from the previous campaign.

A superb talent, the former five-star made his breakthrough in 2022 against TCU and Ohio State. However, this year wasn’t as productive. His yards per carry have decreased from 7.1 to 3.5, which is less than half of what it was during the previous season. His rushing touchdowns dropped from seven to three, and his rushing yards dropped from 991 in 2022 to 393 in 2023.

While he expects more from himself, he is taking steps to stay mentally prepared as well as physically.

“I feel like this year has been a lot more of a mental aspect for me,” Edwards said. “I know that I’m going to be perfectly fine in the future, because as I said, God is going to put things in your life to show you the ups, show you the downs. It’s up to you to be able to rise to the occasion and remember the downtimes. Of course, I have the sensation of being agitated and irritated, and I have undoubtedly been working on it. For me, mental wellness is very important. Now that I see a therapist frequently, it’s easier for me to focus my thoughts. All in all, I consider this year to have been a blessing. I’m playing for a national championship. I own three rings from the Big Ten Championship. The group is triumphant. The group achieves great success. Regardless of how this year has turned out for me, I feel like my experiences have been far more blessed than just football-related. Despite my knowledge that I will always be a fantastic football player.

Many players echoed the statement by Edwards, speaking on the importance of trying to have fun amid the pressure and spotlight to succeed, training the mind for a grueling season and relying on the coaching staff and players to lift each other up.

J.J. McCarthy remarked, “I think coach Harbaugh does an amazing job of making sure we’re having fun when we’re working.” It significantly improves our mental well-being. Although many of the men pursue hobbies on the side, I think Coach Harbaugh gave us an extremely simple schedule. It isn’t intrusive. Even though we still have work to do, he has made it seem extremely simple.

Enjoying the victories and having fun while playing the game that everyone likes is important for maintaining the players’ mental health.

“I think the big piece for us is this is what we’ve been preparing for,” Sherrone Moore said. “From a mental health standpoint, we’re the happiest we could be because these are the moments that we’ve wanted, that we’ve worked for. I think it would have been vice versa if we wouldn’t have been here.

Moore brought out the team’s joy and delight at winning the championship, which brings attention to positive psychology—an often-ignored facet of mental health in sports. Athletes’ mental states can be greatly enhanced by the happiness and pleasure that come from accomplishing goals, which can lead to better performance and team togetherness.

A few Wolverines added that mental preparation is focused on from the first day of training camp, practicing repetition, balancing rest and strain on the body, and relying on the guys around them to boost them up, in addition to having fun and remaining positive.

Kris Jenkins stated, “I think that really just goes back to falling back on our training.” Coach (Ben Herbert) and our coaches deserve a lot of praise from us because of the way we’ve been training. Ever since the winter cycle, we’ve placed so much emphasis on training that Coach Herb will literally address the team and say, “You know you’re sore, you know your body hurts, you know you’re hurting, but what are you going to do?” Will you continue to put in the necessary effort to reach your goals and realize the dreams you stated you wanted to pursue, or are you going to give up and stay where you are?

Michigan’s approach to mental health is a microcosm of a broader trend in collegiate sports. Increasingly, teams

and coaches understand the importance of mental health to athletic success. Athletes now have access to more extensive support networks because to this recognition, which includes training in coping mechanisms, access to mental health specialists, and a culture where talking about mental health issues is not just acceptable but encouraged.

Their methods and experiences demonstrate the value of happiness, fortitude, equilibrium, and expert assistance in maintaining a sound mental state. This change benefits athletes not only in terms of performance but also in terms of their general health, which goes long beyond their time as collegiate athletes.