Michigan is one of the most powerful college sports programs in the country but has taken a bit of a step back in the past couple years thanks to poor coaching and recruiting. Some argue that recruiting doesn\’t matter, and that can be very true when it comes to the NFL Draft. For every Jadaveon Clowney (5* recruit), there is one or two Khalil Mack\’s (2* recruit).
With the 2014 NFL Draft in the near future, we wanted to take a look at where Michigan\’s NFL draft picks were rated (via Rivals) when they were coming into Ann Arbor.
Michigan football\’s draft picks from 2006-2013:
2013 NFL Draft (2)
QB Denard Robinson
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #14 ATH, #188 Overall
– Draft: 5th Round, #135 Overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars
OG William Campbell
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #5 DT, #26 Overall
– Draft: 6th Round, #178 Overall to the New York Jets
2012 NFL Draft (3)
DT Mike Martin
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #16 DT, #193 Overall
– Draft: 3rd Round, #82 Overall to the Tennessee Titans
C David Molk
– Recruiting: 3 Star, #5 OC
– Draft: 7th Round, #226 Overall to the San Diego Chargers
WR Junior Hemingway
– Recruiting: 3 Star, #38 WR
– Draft: 7th Round, #238 Overall to the Kansas City Chiefs
2011 NFL Draft (2)
LB Jonas Mouton
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #3 S, #45 Overall
– Draft: 2nd Round, #61 Overall to the San Diego Chargers
OG Stephen Schilling
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #2 OG, #26 Overall
– Draft: 6th Round, #201 Overall to the San Diego Chargers
2010 NFL Draft (3)
DE Brandon Graham
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #2 ILB, #15 Overall
– Draft: 1st Round, #13 Overall to the Philadelphia Eagles
P Zoltan Mesko
– Recruiting: 3 Star, #2 K
– Draft: 5th Round, #150 Overall to the New England Patriots
S Stevie Brown
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #7 S
– Draft: 7th Round, #251 Overall to the Oakland Raiders
2009 NFL Draft (2)
DT Terrance Taylor
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #8 DT, #96 Overall
– Draft: 4th Round, #136 Overall to the Indianapolis Colts
CB Morgan Trent
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #24 WR
– Draft: 6th Round, #179 Overall to the Cincinnati Bengals
2008 NFL Draft (6)
OT Jake Long
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #21 OT
– Draft: 1st Round, #1 Overall to the Miami Dolphins
QB Chad Henne
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #3 QB, #13 Overall
– Draft: 2nd Round, #57 Overall to the Miami Dolphins
OLB Shawn Crable
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #2 DE, #39 Overall
– Draft: 3rd Round, #78 Overall to the New England Patriots
WR Mario Manningham
– Recruiting: 4th Star, #5 WR, #45 Overall
– Draft: 3rd Round, #95 Overall to the New York Giants
RB Mike Hart
– Recruiting: 3 Star, #6 AP RB
– Draft: 6th Round, #202 Overall to the Indianapolis Colts
WR Adrian Arrington
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #17 WR
– Draft: 7th Round, #237 Overall to the New Orleans Saints
2007 NFL Draft (7)
CB Leon Hall
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #10 CB
– Draft: 1st Round, #18 Overall to the Cincinnati Bengals
DT Alan Branch
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #20 OT
– Draft: 2nd Round, #33 Overall to the Arizona Cardinals
DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #3 ILB, #14 Overall
– Draft: 2nd Round, #46 Overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers
LB David Harris
– Recruiting: 3 Star, #23 ILB
– Draft: 2nd Round, #47 Overall to the New York Jets
WR Steve Breaston
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #8 ATH
– Draft: 5th Round, #142 Overall to the Arizona Cardinals
LB Prescott Burgess
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #1 S, #6 Overall
– Draft: 6th Round, #207 Overall to the Baltimore Ravens
TE Tyler Ecker
– Recruiting: 3 Star, #32 TE
– Draft: 7th Round, #216 Overall to the Washington Redskins
2006 NFL Draft (3)
DT Gabe Watson
– Recruiting: 5 Star, #3 DT, #33 Overall
– Draft: 4th Round, #107 Overall to the Arizona Cardinals
WR Jason Avant
– Recruiting: 4 Star, #13 WR
– Draft: 4th Round, #109 Overall to the Philadelphia Eagles
TE Tim Massaquoi
– Not Ranked
– Draft: 7th Round, #244 Overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As you can see, recruiting rankings weren\’t around until 2002, so the latest a member of the class could be drafted was the 2006 Draft.
Here are our findings:
- Since the 2002 recruiting class, Michigan has sent 8 out of their 10 five star recruits (including Ryan Mallett) to the NFL Draft.
- Since Lloyd Carr retired in 2008, Michigan has yet to have more than 3 players drafted in a single year.
- San Diego and Arizona have drafted more Wolverines (3) than any other team since 2006.
- 6 Wolverines who changed positions in college, were drafted.
- More Wolverines were drafted in 2007 and 2008 than were drafted between 2009 and 2013
- More wide receivers and defensive tackles have been drafted than any other position.
- Kicker was the only position not drafted since 2006.
- The average draft position for the 1st Wolverine off the board was #69 Overall (3rd Round).
- The average draft position for all of the Wolverines drafted was #132 Overall (4th Round).
- 28 Wolverines were drafted since the 2006 Draft. (average of 3.5 per draft)
- The rounds with the most Wolverines drafted (5) includes the 2nd, 6th, and 7th rounds.
- The 2007 NFL draft saw the most Wolverines drafted (7) since 1991.
- 15% of the Michigan commitments from 2002-2010 (29 of 193) were drafted.
- Both first round draft picks were 4 star recruits.
- The 8 five star recruits were, on average, drafted in the 3rd round; Graham the highest in the 1st (13th) and Schilling the lowest in the 6th (201st overall).
- David Harris was the lowest rated recruit that was drafted the highest (3* recruit to 2nd Rd pick).
- Prescott Burgess was the highest rated recruit that was drafted the lowest (5* recruit to 6th Rd pick).
- Jake Long was the 1st offensive tackle drafted #1 overall since Orlando Pace in 1997.
- On this new scale we made up (5 star = 1st-2nd Rd, 4 star = 3rd-5th Rd, 3 star = 6th-Undrafted), 21out of 28 of the drafted Wolverines achieved or exceeded expectations.
With the recruiting and coaching staff improving, expect the Wolverines to get back to the high draft classes in the pre-Rich Rod era.
Some of the likely draft picks in the next couple years include:
- OT Taylor Lewan, 1st Round Pick (2014)
- WR Jeremy Gallon, Mid-Late Round Pick (2014)
- OT Michael Schofield, Mid-Late Round Pick (2014)
- LB Jake Ryan, Early-Mid Round Pick (2015)
- QB Devin Gardner, Mid Round Pick (2015)
- DE Frank Clark, Mid Round Pick (2015)
- CB Raymon Taylor, Late Round Pick (2015)
- TE/WR Devin Funchess, 1st Round Pick (2015/16)
- CB Blake Countess, Early-Mid Round Pick (2016)
- LB James Ross III, Mid Round Pick (2016)
- DE Mario Ojemudia, Mid-Late Round Pick (2016)
- OL Graham Glasgow, Late Round Pick (2016)
- LB Joe Bolden, Late Round Pick (2016)
- KR Dennis Norfleet, Late Round Pick (2016)
Michigan football is not where it is supposed to be on the field and at the NFL Draft, and the main culprit is the Rich Rod era. The old school, pro-style, power football that the Wolverines are known for, was lost, but I believe Brady Hoke and his recruiting are bringing it back.
Go Blue.
Marketing Manager and Communications Director by day, Owner and Managing Editor of MGoFish.com by night. Detroit resident. Played soccer and graduated from Seton Hill University.
Latest posts by Garrett Fishaw (see all)
- The First 2025 Best Guess Recruiting Class - Jun 28, 2024
- The First 2024 Best Guess Recruiting Class - Mar 24, 2023
- 2023 Best Guess Recruiting Class: Early Signing Day - Dec 20, 2022