Denard Only Michigan Alum Invited to NFL Combine

Submitted by MGoShoe on

Not too much of a surprise, but someting of a disappointment that more Wolverines were not invited. As expected, Denard was invited as a WR.

From BTN.com's Tom Dienhart:

  • Illinois (4): DE Michael Buchanan; CB Terry Hawthorne; DT Akeem Spence; OT Hugh Thornton
  • Iowa (2): CB Micah Hyde; QB James Vandenberg
  • Michigan: WR Denard Robinson
  • Michigan State (4): CB Johnny Adams; RB Le’Veon Bell; DE William Gholston; TE Dion Sims
  • Minnesota: QB MarQueis Gray
  • Nebraska (3): RB Rex Burkhead; P Brett Maher; S Daimion Stafford
  • Ohio State (7): FB Zach Boren; OT Reid Fragel; DT Johnathan Hankins; LB Etienne Sabino; DE John Simon; TE Jake Stoneburner; DE Nathan Williams
  • Penn State (4): DT Jordan Hill; LB Gerald Hodges; LB Michael Mauti; C Matt Stankiewitch
  • Purdue (2): CB Josh Johnson; DT Kawann Short
  • Wisconsin (4): RB Montee Ball; C Travis Frederick; LB Mike Taylor; OT Ricky Wagner

Indiana and Northwestern had zero invitees. So there's that.

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CaliUMfan

February 7th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^

It apears I am the only one but I was suprised that JT Floyd did not get an invite. I guess I underestimte my own homerism. 

Was suprised that Roh and Demens didn't get invites as well.

Joined: 03/15/2010

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Magnus

February 7th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

Production-wise, Floyd was one of our worst starting cornerbacks in the last 10-15 years or so.  In three years as a starter, he had 3 interceptions.

As a one-year starter, career journeyman James Rogers had 3 picks.

That's not to mention the fact that Foyd is slow-ish, isn't very physical, and got suspended for his senior year bowl game for (allegedly) smoking weed.  If you invite a guy like Kovacs, you've basically got to invite anyone who starts at a major program (so toss in Barnum, Omameh, Campbell, Kovacs, Roundtree, etc.).

Joined: 07/17/2008

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Magnus

February 7th, 2013 at 2:12 PM ^

Over.

I have a feeling that some people 'round here are going to be disappointed in Denard's 40 time.  I don't think he'll go out and run a 4.7, but I doubt he's going to set the world on fire.  I hope I'm wrong.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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B1G_Fan

February 7th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^

 He'll run under a 4.4 probabaly a mid to upper 4.3. I don't think that disappointing but i get the feeling some folks where thinking combine record. Denard sophmore year, he seemed a lot faster tho than his junior/ senior year

Joined: 10/11/2012

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Blazefire

February 7th, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^

I think it will be a big deal, with a lot of scouts there. We had a number of guys that started so poorly that bad first impressions have carried. (BWC, Roh at LB, etc). Scouts are still gonna want to see these guys for themselves, though. We'll probably end up with several 6th-7th Rounders this year. Nobody likely above 3rd, though.

Does anyone know what Denard is planning to do at Senior Day? I'm sure scouts want to see him run and catch, do some blocking. But I wonder if he'll throw as well. I know he's not getting drafted as QB, but he DOES have an arm. I'm sure some scouts would want to consider the trick play / RB/WR Pass in their evaluations.

Joined: 04/17/2009

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Danwillhor

February 7th, 2013 at 3:14 PM ^

This doesn't surprise me one bit. Look at the classes that start with Carr's last year (RR's first, technically) and RR's last (Hoke's first, technically). They average about 12 kids per class after you factor in attrition and those 12 were not that great in ANOTHER system, let alone Borges. As for defensive guys, they got Redshirts wasted and/or exactly zero coaching for half their college career. Doesn't shock me that the most valued (and likely physically gifted) player of the RR era is the only invite. That said, others will make NFL teams by late draft or UFA.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Jmilan

February 7th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^

Players aren't that high of a level and that's the harsh honest truth. I know we as a fanbase love some of these guys but playing football at the professional level is no joke and some of these guys aren't at that level. Kovacs, Roh, and some of these other guys didn't set the world on fire during their college careers. It's not the end of the world, look at guys like Martavius Odoms. He started his own charity and is contributing to society in a much bigger way than pro football.

Joined: 10/13/2011

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Magnus

February 7th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^

The Big Ten did not have a very good passing attack in 2012.  James Vandenberg was supposed to be the best passing QB in the conference this past year, and Iowa totally sucked.  Michigan under Gardner was probably the best passing attack anyone saw this year.

Joined: 07/17/2008

MGoPoints: 166007

cigol

February 7th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^

This is was bound to be the byproduct of recruiting "shifty" RBs,  "shifty" WRs, "lean and mobile" OLs, and a bunch of hybrid defensive players far too small for the bigger position and far too slow for the smaller one.  Obviously we would have 2 if Lewan decided to leave, but this is what happens when 2/3 of our recruiting classes from 2008-2010 had no shot of the NFL based purely on as Hoke likes to call it...."genetics."

I think by the time the 2015 combine rolls around, we'll perennially see 5-7 Michigan guys.

Joined: 11/21/2010

MGoPoints: 1374

bronxblue

February 7th, 2013 at 7:56 PM ^

As a minor point, had Lewan come out UM would have had a sure-fire 1st rounder as well in this group, which would have been a bit more on line with the past couple of years.

This class was decimated by Carr/RR/Hoke transitions, poor player development/retention, and just life. 

Still excited for Denard, and I expect Campbell will get drafted.  Guys like Tree, Roh, and Demens, though, were always going to be long shots, with Demens the only guy who seemed like he had a ceiling in the NFL.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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