New Era at Michigan Evident at the NFL Draft. Plus: Wolverine Prospects, 2018

Brady Hoke laid the groundwork for this program by reviving the recruiting program that took a dive under the previous regime. He could easily sell the program to the kids but he had serious troubles in getting a return on the field with all that talent. Jim Harbaugh came along with his NFL experience and deep-rooted love for all things Michigan and pushed the program over the hump by winning 10 games and a New Year's Day bowl game against the Florida Gators.

Now some of those Hoke recruits turned Harbaugh disciples are taking their talents to the NFL. 18 players to be exact. 11 of which were drafted - breaking the previous record of 10 players drafted out of the program. And it was the most players out of any program in the country! That is something that was simply out of the question just a few short years ago if you were a Michigan fan.

Round One
Jabrill Peppers

Jabrill Peppers, Safety/Kick Returner - Pick 25
Cleveland Browns
5'11"/213lbs
Jabrill takes his talent to Ohio. At the surface it seems like a terrible place to be as an NFL rookie, nevertheless one from Michigan. The Browns have simply been terrible for as long as anybody outside of Cleveland can remember and it has become known as a place where first round picks go to die. Besides, it's Ohio. Ugh... Upon a closer inspection of the roster and schedule though, I see the makings of a good football team that could see opportunity come knocking for them this fall. Yes, believe it or not, I do think the Cleveland Browns have a real chance of being in the mix for a playoff spot come December. And I do bilieve that they are heading in the right direction. Adding Peppers to the mix only helps their chances of building a good defense. I've see a lot of 'experts' blast the Browns for taking him, but he looks like a good fit to me. That defense is full of young talent and it could be an ascending unit this year. NT Danny Shelton, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, LB Christian Kirksey, and LB Demario Davis are all players on the rise, and number one overall pick DE Myles Garrett will be expected to bring some heat from the edge. Adding a big-bodied, athletic safety with sub 4.5 speed and the demeanor to crash into opposing rushing attacks behind the line of scrimmage could provide a building block in the secondary. Despite all his flashiness as a return specialiast, Peppers is a blue-collar, lunchpail guy that comes to work every day with "an enthusiasm unknown to mankind" on defense. He may have only had one INT in his career, but he did lead the team in tackles for a loss. He just does his job and does it well. And like many players on this list, Jabrill was a Hoke recruit that ended up being a Harbaugh guy. If he says he can play safety in the NFL, then I don't doubt him. I surely wouldn't bet against him. And I might not want to bet against the Browns in the near future either. They could quickly become a contender if they could get either Cody Kessler or DeShone Kizer to emerge as a leader at quarterback.


Taco Charlton, Defensive End - Pick 28
Dallas Cowboys
6'6"/277lbs
Taco goes into Dallas with the opportunity to be a force on the edge for a playoff-ready team. And while the Cowboys defense was a bit of a surprise in 2016, it still has lots of room for improvement. The pass-rush was more effective than originally expected - posting 36 total sacks - but there was no dominant rusher that really stood out. It was simply a solid team effort. Taco is not a speed-rusher, though he did run a 4.9 forty, but he is a team guy. His strengths are in his upside and ability to play within any scheme. He is very athletic and seems to still be growing into his body. He has already shown the ability to fight through blockers with a variety of moves and use his long frame to his advantage against the run and the pass, but it kinda feels like he has only scratched the surface. It shouldn't be long before he is an NFL starter. If he can prove effective at getting to the passer he could help elevate this defense and making this team a real threat to make a run in the playoffs.

Third Round

Chris Wormley, Defensive Line - Pick 74
Baltimore Ravens
6'5"/300lbs
Chris joins former Wolverine teammate Willie Henry as John Harbaugh rebuilds that Raven's D-line. And while he is not the most explosive athlete of the bunch, he was perhaps the best lineman at Michigan for the last two years. He can play strong side end or tackle and is effective against both the run and the pass. He's not a flashy pass-rusher but he can maul his way through blockers and use his long arms to harass ball carriers and passers in the backfield. I like him as an end on rush downs and a tackle in passing situations. He looks like a three-down player with enough potential to warrant excitement. I thought he could have been a late first or early second round pick. At worst he appears to be a two down run-stopper at left end. I see both he and Henry being NFL starters very soon.

Jourdan Lewis, Cornerback - Pick 92
Dallas Cowboys
5'10"/190lbs
In my opinion, Jourdan was the best player on the entire team the last two years. In fact, there weren't many perimeter defenders better than him in all of college football over the last three seasons. He probably won't start right away in the NFL, but he could immediately help in nickel and dime packages. Eventually, he could develop into a star. Jourdan is the ultimate competitor who has enough athletic gifts to play the position at a very high level. His only apparent weakness is a lack of size, which could put him at an immediate disadvantage against the league's monster receivers. Sound technique and a desire to win can overcome such things though. Watch for him in 2018.

Delano Hill, Safety - Pick 95
Seattle Seahawks
Ht/Wt: 6'1"/215lbs
I was a bit surprised to see Delano go in the third round. I had him projected more as a fourth or fifth round pick, though he did have a solid career on some very good defenses at Michigan over the last four seasons. He just never really stood out. I guess that could be viewed as a good thing too, since we did not see him get burned much. He also turned heads at the scouting combine with a 4.47 forty. Pete Carroll needed some insurance at the safety position and he knows that there is a lot of value in a well-coached player with speed to burn on the back end. At the very least he looks like a solid backup and an immediate special teams contributor.
Amara Darboh

Amara Darboh, Wide Receiver - Pick 106
Seattle Seahawks
Ht/Wt: 6'2"/214lbs
I was not surprised to see Darboh go before the third round came to an end. In fact, I would not have been shocked to see him go in round two. At any rate, the Seahawks once again trust Harbaugh and his ability to cultivate NFL talent. Darboh, can do it all as a receiver, though he doesn't really stand out in any single area. There wasn't anything he wasn't willing and able to do in the last two years for the Wolverines. He is athletic enough (4.5 forty, 136"vert) to make big plays that most players can't and he is big enough to gobble up smaller DB's on perimeter blocks. Very few kids have a polished game that this former refugee possesses. Expect him to be a valued special teams player right away and a future contributor in the rotation at receiver.

Fourth Round

Ben Gedeon, Linebacker - Pick 120
Minnesota Vikings
Ht/Wt: 6'2"/244lbs
Ben is not particularly a great athlete by any means, but he is no slouch either. He is quicker than he is fast - putting up great numbers in the 20 and 60 yard shuttles at the combine while only running a 4.75 forty. He also possesses a lot of raw strength and power with 27 reps on bench. Though he doesn't look like an ascending player with star potential, he should be good enough to carve out a niche on a roster somewhere for the next 10 years. The Vikings are an ascending defense so he could be arriving there just in time to get a good spot. He looks like a prime candidate for special teams duties with a couple blocked kicks on his resume, and he should be a solid backup with the versatility to play in the middle or on the weakside.

Ryan Glasgow, Defensive Tackle - Pick 138
Cincinnati Bengals
Ht/Wt: 6'3"/300lbs
After joining the team as a walk-on five years ago, Ryan quickly became a leader on some very good defenses over the last three seasons at Michigan. The Bengals are trying to build up depth along their defensive front and with Glasgow now in the mix they add a scrappy player who relies on technique, instincts, and a non-stop motor to get by in the trenches. He doesn't really stand out but he takes care of his assignments well and rises to the occasion against top competition. And while he may never be a fulltime starter in the NFL, he could surely be a versatile backup capable of helping out against the run-heavy teams.

Jehu Chesson, Wide Receiver - Pick 139
Kansas City Chiefs
Ht/Wt: 6'3"/200lbs
Jehu gets picked up about where I thought he would go after an up and down career at Michigan. I was one of the few that thought he should have come out for the draft last year, as I thought he looked like a solid second round pick after that Citrus Bowl win over Florida. But a knee injury sustained in that game prompted him to return in order to recover fully. He never quite regained his form though. Before his injury he was the fastest player on the team, supposedly running in the 4.3 range. After the injury he struggled to get separation from his opponents in one on one situations. He did still run a 4.47 at the combine. That's not really an elite number for a receiver but it's a solid one, especially for a guy over 200 lbs. One of the most impressive things about Jehu is is willingness to throw his body around as a blocker. He has laid out quite a few college defenders. I won't be surprised to see this guy contribute early on in his career.

Fifth Round
Jake Butt

Jake Butt, Tight End - Pick 145
Denver Broncos
Ht/Wt: 6'5"/245lbs
Jake had already made a few hundred grand by the time he got selected, having picked up a now lucrative insurance policy before he injured his knee in the Orange Bowl. The deal paid him more money the more he slid in the draft after he was widely considered a second round talent heading into the game. Bitter-sweet results for sure. Now he gets to try his hand in an interesting situation out in Denver. Honestly, I can't think of a better situation for him. There is no doubt that the organization is rooting for a guy like this and they couldn't wait to take him with the first pick in the fifth round. They may have to give him a year to work out after the injury, but he could definitely turn out to be a steal. What Jake might lack in elite measurables he makes up for with smarts. Few players in the country run better routes from the tight end position or possess the quality hands that he does. Watch for him in 2018 as well.

Sixth Round

Jeremy Clark, Defensive Back - Pick 197
New York Jets
Ht/Wt: 6'3"/220lbs
Another guy that was considered one of the top two or three fastest guys on the team who is now attempting to return from knee injury. Unlike Jehu, Jeremy will not be able to get another year of college to help recover. The Jets are willing to take a risk on him though, and if they are willing to give him a year to recover and develop they might end up with a very skilled and versatile player for their secondary. The guy has multiple starts at both safety and corner for the Wolverines, and he has graded out well at both positions. He also did 20 reps on bench at the combine. He wasn't able to run yet but he is widely considered a 4.4 forty-type of guy. He is another one that we might need to wait another year to see. In the end he could be a steal.

Rookie Free Agents:

De'Veon Smith, Running Back
Miami Dolphins
Ht/Wt: 5'11"/223lbs
De'Veon is a pure rushing talent that relies on vision and strength. Harbaugh loved him and kept him as his starting running back for a reason. No, he won't blow anybody away with his speed or athleticism, but he will punish tacklers on the second level. He could be a good short-yardage or goalline back. He has decent hands and can run some routes, but he will be limited with what he is able to do against faster players in the NFL. De'Veon could help the 'Fins play a tougher brand of football up the middle. Just don't expect him to rip off any long touchdown runs or challenge defenses too much on the perimeter.

Channing Stribling, Cornerback
Cleveland Browns
Ht/Wt: 6'1"/185lbs
Stribling doesn't stand out as starting material but he could find a fit in a zone coverage scheme. His strengths revolve around his ability to utilize his long frame and blanket most receivers in zone coverage, despite his lack of upper body strength. And though he isn't very fast (4.6 forty), he plays with enough downfield instincts and confidence to compete in the NFL. In the right scheme he could be a starter some day, but he still has a lot of work to do.

Kenny Allen, Kicker/Punter
Baltimore Ravens
Ht/Wt: 6'4"/222lbs
The other Harbaugh is well aware of the type of prospect he is getting here. Allen will compete for a job and could end up the starter in Baltimore. His versatility is a plus but not a deal breaker. He will probably need to win a job outright in order to stick around.

Matt Godin, Defensive Line
Houston Texans
Ht/Wt: 6'6"/280lbs
An intriguing prospect with great size and ability as a run-stopper. He was primarily a backup throughout his career and is a long shot to make an NFL roster.

Erik Magnuson, Offensive Tackle
San Fransisco 49ers
Ht/Wt: 6'6"/305lbs
Not a bad body to have in camp. He isn't a mauler but he could find a home as a tackle in the right situation.

Kyle Kalis, Offensive Guard
Washington Redskins
Ht/Wt: 6'4"/308lbs
Didn't rise to the level of play that many fans were hoping for but still had a decent career at Michigan.

Dymonte Thomas, Safety
Denver Broncos
Ht/Wt: 6'2"/199lbs
Didn't have any real breakout moments as a Wolverine, but started all of 2016. Is kinda caught between being a slot corner or a free safety. His best days of football could be ahead of him but it might be hard for him to stick around without a huge showing this summer.


2018 Prospects

  1. Maurice Hurst Jr., Defensive Tackle Rd 1-2
  2. Mason Cole, Offensive Line Rd 1-2
  3. Bryan Mone, Defensive Tackle Rd 2-3*
  4. Tyree Kinnel, Safety Rd 3-4*
  5. Bryan McCray II, Linebacker Rd 3-4
  6. Kahlid Hill, Fullback Rd 4-5
  7. Ty Isaac, Running Back Rd 5-6
  8. Ian Bunting, Tight End Rd 6-7*
  9. Tyrone Wheatley Jr, Tight End Rd 6-7*
  10. Karan Higdon, Running Back FA*
  11. Patrick Kugler, Center FA
  12. Brandon Watson, Cornerback FA*
  13. Wilton Speight, Quarterback FA*
*Asterisk denotes players with college eligibility remaining. beyond 2018.


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