The defending national champion Michigan Wolverines set an NFL Scouting Combine record with 18 participants, setting the stage for history to be made Thursday through Saturday at the NFL Draft in Detroit.
The Wolverines could easily top Georgia’s 2022 record for most players taken in a draft (15).
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will almost certainly be the first Wolverine drafted, with strong odds of becoming a top-five pick.
With so much hype surrounding the Wolverines’ draft candidates, it’s time to rank Michigan’s draft-eligible players:
1. J.J. McCarthy | Quarterback
The La Grange Park, Ill., native came to Michigan as a five-star prospect and finished with a 27-1 record as a starter.
He is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in recent NFL Draft history because his passing stats do not compare to fellow top-five candidates Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU) and Drake Maye (North Carolina).
2. Kris Jenkins | Defensive tackle
A team leader and athletic marvel, Jenkins is just scratching the surface of his football talents. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, he has the size to become an immediate impact player.
Jenkins is a dominant run-stopper with the raw tools to become a Pro Bowl pass-rusher. He is Pro Football Focus’ fourth-ranked interior lineman.
3. Mike Sainristil | Nickelback
Another former wide receiver, Sainristil is a confident player with a knack for making big plays.
The big question for Sainristil – who was clocked at 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine – is his size at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds. He plays much bigger and with aggressiveness reminiscent of Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. (and Antoine Winfield Sr.).
4. Junior Colson | Middle linebacker
Colson hasn’t received the same level of hype as recent Michigan linebacker prospects Devin Bush (Browns) and David Ojabo (Ravens), perhaps because of his quiet demeanor.
The former wide receiver comes equipped with ideal size (6-foot-3, 247 pounds) for the position. He makes few mistakes on the field.
5. Roman Wilson | Wide receiver
Wilson caught the game-tying touchdown against Alabama in the Rose Bowl and was a clutch player throughout his final three seasons in Ann Arbor.
Wilson ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Last season’s 12 touchdown catches suggest he could blossom into a star.
6. Trevor Keegan | Guard
Keegan is another Wolverine whose lights-out 2023 season has been underestimated.
Keegan allowed zero sacks and one QB hit in nearly 400 snaps last season. He figures to be a multiple-year starter who could excel at any offensive line position.