ATLANTA — Michigan probably will need more than one running back to replace Karan Higdon in Saturday’s Peach Bowl against Florida.

The leadership void left by Higdon’s exit may be even more difficult to fill.

“Karan was our guy, our offensive leader, and we all kind of followed him,” quarterback Shea Patterson said Thursday of Higdon, the team’s leading rusher and offensive captain.

Higdon is one of No. 8 Michigan’s four draft-eligible players who chose to skip the Peach Bowl to begin preparations for the NFL draft. No players for No. 10 Florida have said they are bypassing the bowl game.

Michigan senior right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty and two juniors, defensive end Rashan Gary and linebacker Devin Bush, also are missing the game.

“It was definitely fun, a big honor to play with those guys,” Patterson said. “... We’re just focused on ourselves right now, and I think with our mindset, that we’re all we’ve got, we’re all we need.”