NFL Draft 2017: Top Prospects from Michigan

Heading into the college football season, the Michigan Wolverines feature several draft eligible prospects that NFL teams will be keeping an eye on.

Recently, NFL.com writer Lance Zierlein broke down the Top 10 draft eligible prospects at each position. These lists contain a who’s who in the college football world, including seven players from the Michigan Wolverines. While these lists include the elite players in the college football world, there are plenty of talented players not on the lists who will still hear their name called at the NFL draft.

Running back: DeVeon Smith and Drake Johnson

DeVeon Smith is ranked near the top of the list of senior running backs (3rd according to CBSsports.com) but this upcoming class is so loaded with underclassmen that Smith is often overlooked. There is a role in the NFL for Smith’s bruising style of running and he’ll get a chance to prove his worth as Michigan’s starting running back this fall.

Draft breakdown’s Jeremy Hyde wrote a senior running back watch list and had this to say about Smith’s NFL outlook:

"An ankle injury suffered in Week 5 caused Smith to miss the following game against Maryland, after which he was hampered by a nagging toe injury through the second half of the 2015 season, causing him to look indecisive and slow changing directions at times. His 109 yards on 25 carries in U of M’s Citrus Bowl victory over Florida were a nice reminder of what he is capable of when healthy. Smith is a little stiff in the hips, but he is a physical, downhill runner who exhibits the power to extend runs after contact. Just an average receiver out of the backfield, he shows good awareness and is very effective in pass protection. Staying healthy will be paramount for the Wolverines’ starting halfback as he looks to impress NFL teams in his final college season."

Drake Johnson has the skill set to be a quality complementary running back in the NFL, but he’ll need to show he can stay healthy. As of today, Johnson is a player who likely gets a camp invite as opposed to hearing his name called on draft day.

Be sure to click over to the next page to view the wide receiver prospects.

Next: Wide Receivers

Wide receiver: Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh

Jehu Chesson is the #2 wide receiver on Lance Zierlein’s Top 10 list, here;s why:

"Some receivers just carry themselves like a natural-born WR1 and Chesson is one of those guys. There is a level of confidence and toughness that comes through when you watch him play, and he is as fearless a wide receiver when working in traffic as any you will find, taking shot after shot while securing the catch. Stat scouts won’t fall in love with Chesson based on his production last season (50 catches for 764 yards and 9 TDs), but NFL scouts love his ability to adjust to throws and work all three levels of the field. He won’t have many “Wow!” highlights that have you jumping out of your seat, but his size, toughness and consistency put him near the top of this list."

Draft breakdown’s Jeremy Hyde is also high on Chesson:

"There is plenty to like about Chesson’s game. Not only does he have the speed to take the top off opposing defenses, but he demonstrates the ability to make plays over the middle of the field as well. He made more than his share of tough catches in traffic and athletic plays on balls thrown well outside his frame. A hard worker, Chesson has shown himself to be a willing downfield blocker, and has proven to be an asset to Michigan’s kick coverage teams. Another productive season could see him drafted among the top receivers in the 2017 class."

Jehu Chesson is starting to get some serious national attention. While analysts are impressed with his speed and agility, his best asset is his blocking. With NFL size, confidence, speed, ball skills and an elite blocker, Chesson should hear his name called in the first two days of the draft.

CBSsports.com ranks Amara Darboh as a top 15 receiver in the 2017 class. Recently, wide receiver has been a highly drafted position, with 33 drafted last year in what was considered a weak class.

Darboh is a possession receiver who is capable of making the tough catch. His Odell Beckham-like catch against BYU (in the video below) showcased his excellent body control and strong hands.

With a skill set to be a teams #4 or 5 wide receiver, and with current NFL trends, it seems likely Darboh will be drafted next spring.

Next up is one of the best tight ends in college football.

Next: Tight End

Tight end: Jake Butt

Lance Zierlein’s ranks Jake Butt as the #2 tight end in the country:

"Butt is a throwback tight end who combines size with outstanding toughness over the middle as a big, reliable target for the Wolverines. Butt might have the strongest hands in college football. He uses them to snatch throws away from his body and then secure the catch no matter how much traffic surrounds him. Butt plays to his size after the catch, breaking tackles and grinding out yardage. While 21 percent of his catches went for 20-plus yards, he’s not the athlete that Howard is and he might be a little less consistent as a run blocker as well."

Jon Ledyard of Inside the Pylon writes about Butt:

"It was a surprise when Butt shunned a weak tight end class to return to Michigan, but the Wolverine playmaker will garner plenty of attention this season as NFL scouts decide whether he deserves first round hype. Butt is a strong athlete with the ability to go up and battle for contested catches in the air, but his detailed routes are what truly set him apart. Where Butt leaves much to be desired is in his blocking, not from an effort standpoint, but from a technical perspective. I trust he’ll improve in this area, but scouts will be paying close attention to how Butt handles himself in the trenches this season."

Jim Harbaugh uses tight ends more than any other coach in college football and that will benefit Jake Butt immensely. Harbaugh will feature Butt in his offense and show NFL scouts how his skills will be valuable at the next level. If Butt can improve his blocking, as both Zierlein and Ledyard point out, he should be one of the finalists for the Mackey Award (best tight end in college football), and hear his name called in the top 100 picks of next years draft.

The offensive linemen are next up.

Next: Offensive Lineman

Offensive Tackle: Erik Magnuson

Erik Magnuson will be starting for the third straight year at right tackle this fall. While he didn’t make Lance Zierleins Top 10 list, he is ranked in the top 10 for tackles in the 2017 class by CBSsports.com. Like most members of Michigan’s offensive line, Magnuson will need to improve his consistency in order to be drafted.

Interior offensive line: Mason Cole (Center), Kyle Kalis and Ben Braden

Mason Cole is Lance Zierlein’s #6 interior offensive lineman:

"Cole has the talent to man the left-tackle spot for Jim Harbaugh, but he’ll be moving inside to center, where he still figures to shine. Cole enters his junior season as a two-year starter at left tackle for the Wolverines. He has the athleticism to get to linebackers at difficult angles and he should be a factor in space as a combination blocker. He can be bull-rushed when he doesn’t maintain a wide base, but he has power as a run blocker and should be a scheme fit with all offenses in the pros"

Junior center Mason Cole is easily the best offensive lineman on Michigan’s roster. He started day one as a freshman at left tackle because of his talent level. That being said, Cole’s game is best suited on the interior of the offensive line. Center is an incredibly valuable position and there has been a recent trend by college teams to move their best lineman into that role.  As a junior, Cole may not declare for the NFL after this season, but with such a priority at the position he could make the choice to declare early.

Michigan guards Kyle Kalis (right) and Ben Braden (left), are both returning starters for the third straight year. Like Magnuson, they have experience and NFL size, yet have been too inconsistent and will need to show improvement as seniors if they hope to be drafted.

Next are the players that make up the best defensive line in college football.

Next: Defensive Line

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

Linebacker: Jabrill Peppers (Redshirt Sophomore)

Jabrill Pepper lands at #7 Lance Zierlein Top 10 list of college linebackers:

"Peppers will be making the move from safety to strong-side linebacker this year, which should help his stock. Peppers is well-built and should be able to carry more mass on his frame. We already know he can run and cover. Peppers will be considered a third-down factor with coverage versatility, which is what NFL teams look for from linebackers in today’s game. While Peppers plays with good instincts and should be in position for 80-plus tackles this season, he has a tendency to duck his head into his tackles and will need to improve his form now that he’ll be called on to be more of a finisher around the line of scrimmage."

Michigan defensive coordinator, Don Brown, moved Peppers to the Sam linebacker in order to get his highlight reel player closer to the ball. The Sam linebacker is a featured role in Brown’s defense and they hope to unleash Peppers on opposing skill players. Peppers natural instincts are to attack and he will be allowed to do that in 2016.

While Peppers primary role will be as a Sam linebacker, don’t expect that to be his only role. Teams will scheme to try to expose his size, but Peppers versatility will allow him to line up at both safety and nickel corner. Harbaugh has previously referred to Peppers as the “Willie Mays of football” because of his skill set.

His highlight video backs up Harbaugh’s claim of Peppers being a five-tool player:

Over the next nine months, you’re going to hear and read plenty of people hyping Peppers for his skills. This, of course, includes himself as you can see in the tweet below:

Did he really run a 4.34? It’s defiantly possible. He did make the NFL’s “Fastest 16 player in 2016” list. If he did run that fast, at his listed weight of 208 pounds, that would be impressive. But, the rumors out of the Michigan camp is that he’s closer to 225 pounds right now.

So if you believe the rumors, he has linebacker size with corner back speed. If true, watch him fly up draft boards, maybe even into the top half of round one.

So what position does Peppers best fit in the NFL? Linebacker? Safety? Money Linebacker? Honestly, it doesn’t matter what his position title will be, he’s a play maker and one lucky defensive coordinator will get to use him wherever they want.

Next up: Michigan’s defensive back unit is one of the strongest in college football.

Next: Defensive Backs

Defensive back: Jourdan Lewis, Jeremy Clark, Channing Stribling, Delano Hill, Dymonte Thomas

Here’s Lance Zierlein’s comments on Lewis, whom he ranks at #8 on his Top 10 corner back list:

"Lewis belongs on this list, but keep in mind that with his smallish frame (listed at 5-10, 175), the senior’s draft stock will likely face a firm ceiling. Lewis might be too small to play outside in the NFL, but his ball skills won’t be in question after pulling off a whopping 20 passes defensed and two interceptions last season. Lewis’ quick-twitch athleticism and kick-return ability could help counter worries about his size."

Jourdan Lewis, corner back, is another favorite of PFF who rank him as the 7th best player in college football, Sports Illustrated ranks him 14th. Thrown at 90 times last season, opposing quarterbacks didn’t seem to learn their lesson as Lewis went on break Michigan’s record for passes defended with 20. Lewis is a pure cover corner in college but some NFL teams will want him to push inside to a nickel role because of his size.

The NFL is a passing league and quality corner back’s hold incredible value. Lewis has an opportunity to be near the top of most draft boards. A team willing to bet on skill over size could find themselves a tremendous defensive weapon this April.

Tall and long corner backs are in vogue in today’s NFL since teams like Seattle have successfully featured them in their defense. Jeremy Clark, is a former safety that Jim Harbaugh converted to corner back in 2015. At 6’3 1/4″ Clark fits the Seattle mold. As does Channing Stribling, who measures in at 6’1″. Fitting the profile won’t be enough to make it in the NFL, but another year of experience in a press corner system should defiantly help their cause.

Who gets that experience has not yet been decided. Both will be fighting for the starting position opposite Lewis this season. With intense competition at their position, Clark and Stribling will have to raise their game to find playing time.

Next: Michigan Football ranked No. 5 by PFF

Strong safety Delano Hill and free safety Dymonte Thomas have flashed in rotational roles in previous years but as starters in 2016 they will need to improve their consistency.  On a defense that features several NFL caliber players, they will have to step up their game in order to draw the attention of NFL scouts.