NFL Draft 2017: Top Prospects from Michigan

Guess who boasts the best defensive line in college football?

Interior defensive lineman: Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley, Ryan Glasgow and Maurice Hurst

Lance Zierlein’s ranks Charlton as the #3 interior defensive lineman in college:

"There might not be much mention of Charlton in the preseason considering he has started just four games headed into his senior season, but film doesn’t lie, and NFL scouts have Charlton pegged squarely on their radar. At 6-6, 285 with long arms and a muscular build, Charlton has the perfect frame to play as a 3-4 defensive end. However, he could also serve as a 4-3 base end with the ability to bump inside on rushing downs in the NFL. Charlton had 33 pressures and 5.5 sacks despite playing just 43 percent of the Wolverines’ defense snaps and those numbers are getting ready to make another jump. Charlton has freaky athletic traits and functional power to go with them."

Taco Charlton’s high ranking may be a bit of a surprise to some fans, as he hasn’t impacted games the way others have in this article, but he fits the mold of what NFL coaches want in a defensive lineman. A shift from strong side defensive end to weak side defensive end should allow Charlton to play a more natural position where he can use his athleticism to attack the ball. Experience at multiple spots and several traits NFL defensive coordinators crave, Charlton will be very appealing to NFL coaches regardless of their scheme.

Lance Zierlein’s ranks Chris Wormley as #6 on this Top 10 list:

"Wormley Has the frame and athleticism to be considered as either an interior lineman or defensive end in a 4-3 or at defensive end for an odd front. Wormley is powerful and can plow through the edges of blockers. While some rushers are content to try and whip the man in front of them, Wormley is able to dart left and right to create doubt and uncertainty for blockers. He combines his strength and foot quickness to generate a pass rush that is very translatable on the next level. Wormley is generating a good deal of buzz in the scouting community and that buzz will get much louder this year."

Chris Wormley’s versatility to play both defensive end and defensive tackle will make him a very valuable commodity in the NFL. If Wormley had declared for last years draft, he was considered a likely day two (rounds two and three) pick by ESPN’s Todd Mcshay. Wormley has a chance to solidify that prediction if not improve on it in 2016.

Ryan Glasgow, at 300 pounds, is undersized for a nose tackle but his strength is undeniable. When the former walk-on was injured late last season, Michigan’s defensive line struggled against the run. Glasgow is far from flashy but he is the type of player coaches love because he’s willing to do the dirty work in the trenches. Expect him to hear his name called on day three of the draft.

Maurice Hurst, a redshirt Junior, is not on most national sites radars yet, with the exception of Pro Football Focus (PFF). PFF ranks Hurst as the 27th best player in college football and has put him on their early list of players with a 1st round grade. Hurst was a rotational player at the three-technique last year and he showed excellent explosion in gap penetration. When he took snaps at nose tackle, he showed a power rush that was capable of collapsing the pocket. With more snaps to be had in 2016, Hurst could climb up draft boards if he can replicate his success in a more prominent role.

EDGE rusher: No Michigan player made Zierlein’s Top 10 list , but you could make the argument that Taco Charlton should be in this section instead of the interior defensive lineman section because of his role in the Michigan defense. Remember, these lists are about how a player projects to the NFL and not based on their role in college.

Next up is arguably the most athletic player in college football.

Next: Linebacker