Who is the most surprising UM bust in the NFL to you?
Who are the guys you thought would be great at the next level, but busted?
I'll start the bidding with Devin Bush. I guess I knew it was possible that being undersized could be an issue for him, but his speed and tackling and football IQ were so insanely high in college that I never seriously considered that he'd spend his NFL career getting paved by 320lb guards who are also insane athletes.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
Making "the show" in two sports is a very significant achievement, yes.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:27 AM ^
His decision to choose baseball over football seemed like a logical one at the time given that baseball players have much longer careers and lower injury risk than football players. But I think Henson didn't account for the fact that he had a better shot at success in the pros playing football than he did playing baseball.
February 27th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
He had trouble with the curve. I saw him when he played against the MudHens. He played third base and went 0-4 with four strike outs.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:23 PM ^
Steinbrenner made sure of that
February 27th, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
Desmond Howard had a solid career as a punt returner but never did much as a WR.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:25 AM ^
We talking about Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard?
February 27th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
Super Bowl MVP for a kick-off return. Other than some good returns, his career as a WR was very disappointing. Seems like a great guy and a true credit to the Maize & Blue. But he was such an amazing receiver in college that it was a huge surprise that it did not transfer to the NFL.
Happily he landed on his feet as a terrific TV personality.
February 27th, 2024 at 3:02 PM ^
I think he would have been better suited in the modern era where small speedy guys have a larger role than the lengthy go get it types, but I was fairly young during his nfl days so I could be wrong
February 27th, 2024 at 3:37 PM ^
A kick off return huh? Desmond had 244 total return yards. That is a solid day for a QB back then.
He took that Super Bowl on his shoulders and was electric. Please dont minimize what he did that day to prove your point. Yes he wasnt a monster WR like we were all hoping but he did some fantastic things in the NFL.
In his 11 NFL seasons, he returned 244 punts for 2,895 yards, and gained 7,595 yards returning 359 kickoffs. Overall, Howard gained 12,155 all-purpose yards in his professional career.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
Chris Perry. I really thought his game would transition well to the NFL. Not a top tier guy but definitely a serviceable change of pace weapon.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:24 AM ^
Tom Brady
February 27th, 2024 at 10:26 AM ^
he absolutely sucked in New England
February 27th, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
Yeah.. he lucked into each of his Super Bowl appearances. And, just look at how successful Belichick was after Brady jumped ship to Tampa. And - what did Brady do in Tampa.
Over-rated.. (and repeated often by the knowledgeable contributors at 11 Warriors and RCMB)
February 27th, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
He's having a very solid NFL career so far, but I would have thought J. Peppers would have been a Pro-Bowler year in and year out...
Still a great NFL player though.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
If I recall, the concerns about Jabrill when coming into the league were that there wasn't going to be a definitive position to lock him into. Was going to be undersized if you tried making him a LB, which was where he excelled at Michigan, and then while his size and physical traits made him more of a fit at safety, he didn't have as much of an impact there.
He could overcome all of this in college because his athleticism and physical tools were off the charts and just flat out better than 99.9% of the players he lined up across from. And he showed it on a week in, week out basis.
Jabrill might be the best pure athlete I've ever seen come through Michigan. And that's saying something.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:29 AM ^
Harbaugh with the Chargers.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:30 AM ^
I'm Alex's age so my memory of bona-fide NFL guys is very limited, but I cannot believe that Jabrill didn't turn into something more than an average NFL safety. He's so explosive and has such rare acceleration and IQ and he's been a replacement-level guy. Continues to make me wish he had played slot WR or come along a bit later and been able to fill a Deebo roll in college to prep for the NFL instead of playing a dying HSP role that didn't develop him to be an LB or Nickel well enough for the league
February 27th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
Jabrill ran a 4.46. That's not rare in the NFL (although it's darn good for a strong safety). Also his coverage as a college player was "good".
He's an NFL safety. He's already had an above-average career at the highest level, and deservedly so. But he's never shown anything that screamed "generational NFL player" at any point. He's pretty much performed exactly according to expectations.
The NFL is just that brutal.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^
Jabrill's biggest problem is that he's a tweener. Seems to be overcoming that and making a nice career for himself, but at the end of the day, he's best suited for a viper role, and that just doesn't exist in the NFL. As such, he's always going to be some degree of square peg in whatever round hole you try to put him in...
February 27th, 2024 at 10:35 AM ^
I'm going to go in the opposite direction and say one of the biggest surprises to me is Mike Danna. He was only at M for a brief period, but I definitely didn't see him being the impact player he is at the next level.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:43 AM ^
David Terrell
February 27th, 2024 at 10:44 AM ^
In Bush's defense he seemed to be doing okay until he got hurt; he wasn't necessarily trending to star territory but he was an all-rookie selection and led a really good Steelers defense in tackles. But then he tore his ACL and it all sort of went downhill from there.
For me, I was really surprised Marquise Walker couldn't even work into the rotation as a receiver in the NFL, and AFAIK never even recorded a catch. Same with Tim Biakabutuka, who was a top-8 pick but couldn't stay healthy and had a mediocre NFL career. And more recently, Taco Charlton has been a big disappointment as a pass rusher considering where he got drafted.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:47 AM ^
braylon edwards. he had a handful of decent seasons but not even close to reaching sky high expectations
February 27th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
Braylon Edwards, and it's not even close. Getting drafted by Cleveland certainly didn't help him but dude had all the talent in the world.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:52 AM ^
David Terrell. Sky high expectations only to be overshadowed by his college teammate Anthony Thomas and then never do anything of note.
I would have said Braylon Edwards, but he had his moments at both Cleveland and New York.
As for Devin, I think injuries have hurt his career. He was playing well for the Seahawks late in the season
February 27th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
Tshimanga Biakabutuka. Dude was so prolific in college. Didn't live up to expectations. I'll never forget his 313 yards against OSU.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:17 AM ^
Got hurt
February 27th, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
Wasn't Tim the one who would lay there after the whistle for about 2-3 seconds, like he was out of gas, almost dead, and then proceed to do it again, rinse and repeat?
February 27th, 2024 at 10:57 AM ^
I thought Mike Martin would do more. He had little help (remember how atrocious those RichRod defenses were) which meant he got doubled frequently, but still lived in the backfield. Was one of those guys who just would not stay blocked, even if you put NFL prospects in front of him. . . which generally translates to the NFL. Did well at the Combine, to boot.
He was out of the league in three years. Four career sacks.
February 27th, 2024 at 10:57 AM ^
Anthony Carter. He wasn’t a bust in the pros, but because he went to the USFL ( the surprising part) we didn’t get to see him set records in the NFL. I understand this isn’t what the OP was looking for, but AC was the most disappointing Wolverine as far as not getting to see him tear up the NFL in his first few years.
February 27th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
1987 San Francisco 49ers would disagree with you on AC being a disappointment.
February 27th, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^
He definitely made up for lost time
February 27th, 2024 at 11:03 AM ^
David Terrell
February 27th, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
Tom Brady.
Dude threw 40 picks in the playoffs, then went out a loser in his final game -- not to mention 13 playoff losses throughout his career. Can't ignore his success here and there but was inconsistent and mistake-prone. For all the expectations, gotta consider him a major Tony Mandarich-level bust.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:21 AM ^
Tom Brady. I really thought that guy would win more..
February 27th, 2024 at 11:23 AM ^
Hahaha. You beat me to this joke by a minute. Great minds.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:22 AM ^
Tom Brady.
-Lost three Super Bowls
-8 seasons he didn't make the Pro Bowl
-Two divorces
Just an abject disappointment.
February 27th, 2024 at 12:12 PM ^
I thought only one divorce. He never married Brigid Moynahan, did he?
February 27th, 2024 at 4:11 PM ^
Even worse!!
February 27th, 2024 at 3:28 PM ^
Two baby momas.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
Am I correct that only two Michigan grads have been NFL head coaches? Jim Harbaugh and George Allen?
February 27th, 2024 at 11:42 AM ^
I didn't realize Devin Bush was that much of a bust. I thought he was playing pretty well, at least at first.
February 27th, 2024 at 2:59 PM ^
He was then he tore his ACL and was never the same.
February 27th, 2024 at 4:42 PM ^
Okay, to me that doesn't make him a bust, He's an injury casualty
February 27th, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
Not sure I'd put Bush in the bust category. He got off to a solid start is rookie season, then he suffered a major knee injury. As you stated, undersize with speed. Losing the speed hurt his ability to do what he did.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
Bush is my pick too. He was so unfathomably good in college and then went to a place with a great defensive culture. I do think injuries played an outsized role, but still sucks.
February 27th, 2024 at 11:54 AM ^
Ted Kaczynski. Had such potential while a student at U of M, but completely bombed after he graduated.
February 27th, 2024 at 12:19 PM ^
Sorry but I don't find this amusing. He murdered three people and injured numerous other people. Fortunately he was stopped before he could kill more.