Spring Game Mock Draft: Your top-10

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

So, now that is has officially been confirmed that there will be a spring game for the first time since 2001 and it includes a draft, time to over-analyze and crunch. 

2015 Spring Game Mock Draft -- my top-10

  1. Jabrill Peppers, S
  2. Desmond Morgan, LB
  3. Jourdan Lewis, CB
  4. Mason Cole, OT
  5. Derrick Green, RB
  6. Taco Charlton, DE
  7. De'Veon Smith, RB
  8. Amara Darboh, WR
  9. Blake Countess, CB
  10. Joe Bolden, LB

Cannot wait to see who drafts what QB and when. If it were me, I would go with the apparent hot hand in Malzone. 

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Double-D

March 19th, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^

I think Peppers is going to be the biggest game changer on very good veteran defense.  Its no slight to the program and a legit view.  I would not be surprised if he was All Big Ten this year.

He will be one of the best athletes on the field with smarts and a fierce competitive drive.  We will enjoy some clips this fall on Mgoblog of some vicious instinctive blitz hits from this year featuring Jabril.

Peppers

J Lewis

Henry

Mone

Taco Pants

Butt

M Cole

Kalis

Mags

Braden

Darboh

Green

Wormly

Any of Bolden-Morgan-Gedeon-Ross pending an LB run

Same wirh QB

 

 

Joined: 12/21/2013

MGoPoints: 87271

Danwillhor

March 19th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^

that a guy that is essentially a Fr (he played in a total of, what, maybe a full game last year?) is known to be overwhelmingly or best player. At Michigan. Our best player is a RS Fr that has about a full game of experience. Michigan. You ask any coach to be honest & any fan in the know & they say "Peppers". I live having him but it's crazy for that at Michigan. Not even Woodson was DEFINITELY the best player in everyone's mind until maybe late Sophomore year, definitely Junior year. Time to change that. Time to start being Michigan again.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

alum96

March 19th, 2015 at 4:01 PM ^

It says a lot about the state of the program.  The fact we dont have many star JR SR types if an issue. 

Also not sure why you got negged for saying the truth.  I wouldnt have him #1 myself - he has played basically 1.5 games with the 1 being vs a MAC team, and probably the worse MAC team.  And one of the other top 10 is a RB who essentially had 300 yards as 4th string for USC.  Outside of Butt there is not really a lot of star power out there on the offense - a lot of plugger types and guys you hope are plus players but don't know.  Probably Darboh, Green, and Johnson (before injury) are the only skill guys of known quantity who are plus players.

My top 5 players (not necessarily how I'd draft as if there were a QB who separated himself he would go #1) would probably be something more like Lewis, Butt, Henry, Peppers and TBD.  The first 3 at least I've seen on the field vs real competition not from the MAC and are more than hope. Peppers just by going off how top 25 players usually do has a 50/50 chance to be a star and early entry to the NFL so you hope he is on the right side of the 50.  But after those 4 there are probably 15 players you can throw in a bowl and have a similar outcome.  I hope Cole (OL) and Mone (DT) go early as it would indicate they are ready to take off where they left off last year.

15 guys in a bowl - more or less the same type of talent adjusted for their position:

  1. Mone
  2. Cole (OL)
  3. Isaac
  4. Bolden
  5. Morgan
  6. Wilson
  7. Wormley
  8. Charlton
  9. Magnuson
  10. Glasgow
  11. Braden
  12. Countess
  13. Ross III
  14. Glasgow (DT)
  15. Kerridge

Young guys who will get a lot of hype but we either have nothing or little in ways of evidence so far:

  1. Cole (WR)
  2. Canteen
  3. Bunting
  4. Ways
  5. LTT

Last chance express:

  • Pipkins
  • RJS

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82378

Danwillhor

March 19th, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^

I can agree with both sentiments. We can't really know & I don't know if I'd call him our best player. Yet, insiders that watch practices, etc all flat out say or allude to it. That alone is in fact a very telling state of the UM Football program. Well, said, Alum96. I agree with the other assessments, too. Some players are in "about to blow" status, others coming along & a few at risk of being lost in the mix. I refuse to give up on Pipkins but it's so late in his career that I can't help but think about Campbell. RJS seems like he's always been a tweener they couldn't find room for after they needlessly burned his RS. I genuinely wish the staff could talk about 10 guys into taking a late RS as they had theirs wasted. Talented kids almost out the door with no real coaching or playing time that should be a year lower in eligibility. Finally, I agree that in the grand scheme of things that "best player" is subjective. Butt, Cole, etc would likely have made a bigger impact last year had JP been healthy (Butt, too). So, it's relative but the overall inside consensus from ex-players & those with induce access is that JP is the best player on the team regardless of role. That's not Michigan. Again, Woodson didn't get that distinction until late Sophomore year at the earliest. Woodson (!).

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

buckeyejonross

March 19th, 2015 at 8:46 PM ^

It really goes to show how impressive Harbaugh's reputation is that everyone (myself included) expects a floor of 8 wins, and yet, apparently the consensus best player on the team is a redshirt freshman with five quarters of D1 football experience who is also changing natural positions on the fly. Harbaugh.

Joined: 07/27/2010

MGoPoints: 13808

Danwillhor

March 20th, 2015 at 1:17 AM ^

I'm concerned that people have that floor! As a UM fan that is not in any way a homer but an honest fan, for better or worse, I think we win 9 tops. I love the hire so much I've been hoping for it since 07 but I also realize this is a team that I don't think is ready for anything above 9 wins. My floor is genuinely around 6 this first year. My accurate guess is 8 TOTAL wins. I think we go 8-4. Injuries, QB play, schedule could see that change but I'm predicting an early 8-4.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Danwillhor

March 19th, 2015 at 6:43 PM ^

I didn't know it got negged! I use the app and in all my time here have created maybe 5 threads (tops). As long as I can post I don't care about pos/negs as I can't see them. I would venture a guess that it's because I (gasp!) disagreed with the herd yesterday in the Bert Beilema thread. I funny like the spread offense but I'm honest in that I don't like it because I grew up watching everyone run pro style. I was being silly & roughly 5 folk took serious offense. Beyond snark! Flat out calling me stupid, insults, etc. Funny thing is that I've never insulted anyone here. Not once. Ever. So, I actually feel pity for them. ANYWAY, it's the truth! JP is by far or best player by anyone in the know & he's played a total of a single game or so. That's insane at a school like Michigan so my point is that it's time to fix that. Get back to when JP would be a crazy up & comer (maybe even start) at his age but not obviously & overwhelmingly our best player at this stage in his CFB career. Yet, he is.....at MICHIGAN.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

MJ14

March 19th, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^

To expand on my point, FSU won a national championship with Jameis and they've been much better recently compared to Michigan. I understand that you want the old Michigan ways back, but you can even look at Michigan with Henson. Michigan wasn't far removed from a championship and Henson was played early and heavily hyped. I truly think in most years even back in the day, Peppers would have been heavily hyped and looked at as potentially one of the best players on the team. I believe he is truly a once in a generation type of player. I think other people see that too and they just see the potential. Either way players are coming into college a lot more college ready now as well, which definitely plays into it.

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 16323

Danwillhor

March 20th, 2015 at 1:12 AM ^

negbombed me? Or did I miss a convo about "best players that are crazy young/inexperienced" elsewhere? Not that I care but, if so, I find it odd that we're not in disagreement. No offense taken, if so. Either way I'll reply: A once in a generation player can step on campus and be that teams immediate & obvious best player. Rare but it happens. However, I wouldn't compare the likelihood/instances of it happening in an historical program sense between UM & South Carolina. To compare SC & UM is not really a fair comparison as one school has largely been average over its history while Michigan is Michigan. To have a kid come in and be the best player at SC right away is far more likely historically than Michigan. The better comparison would be, say, Walker & Georgia or Jackson & Auburn. I get the Clowney point but their conference doesn't mean anything on top of the history of SC WRT it. Some schools have such a history that a kid stepping on campus & immediately being the best player is, as you said, TRULY a once in a generation thing. In a lifetime you may see one! Michigan is one those schools but I'm not sure JP is one of those players. He could be! My point (as Alum96 & others noted despite my apparently being negged to death lol) is that it's even more rare for a school like Michigan to have a kid that's played a total of a game be it's unquestioned best/most talented player than your example of Clowney & SC. Ole Miss had Treadwell & half their class a couple years ago fit that bill but it's Ole Miss so it's not that rare lol. Michigan should QUITE LITERALLY only have a player that sticks out so much & so early once in a generation. I know JP is good (!) but I think it's more to do with where we are than JP until he shows otherwise. That's my point - a kid that has played a total of less then a single game healthy is our crown jewel....at MICHIGAN. I think that's something we need to fix unless he goes out & damn near wins the Heisman next year. As far as Henson, he's my favourite UM QB of all time! I argue that he's the most talented to ever wear the winged helmet under center to this day. Yet, he wasn't EVER viewed as the best player on the team until (maybe, likely) his Junior year. The point is we had so much other talent that it wasn't so cut & dry. Everyone could admit he was great but in a draft/list scenario there'd be a ton of debate. Today? I'd guess anyone in the know has JP, a kid that basically hasn't played at all, the clear #1. At Michigan. To me, that blows my mind lol. That's all.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

MJ14

March 20th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^

I am at work and on my phone, so I will reply with more late but I am almost always on my phone. So I promise it definitely was not me who negbombed you and I understood where you were coming from. I just wanted to give you a different point of view. I meant expanding, because I commented just below on my phone and then replied again. 

Edit: I just quickly read through your reply and it makes total sense. I do understand where you are coming from and hopefully it gets back to the point where Michigan has a lot of really good players that have experience.

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 16323

Danwillhor

March 21st, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^

even if you had I wouldn't mind. I understood your point, too! I just wanted to stress that it's really a state of the program to have ab kid so inexperienced be our best player. No offense given our taken & I both respect & appreciate the replies! Go Blue!

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

MJ14

March 19th, 2015 at 9:19 PM ^

Jadaveon Clowney was looked at as the best player on his team early on, and he was on a very solid SEC team in the middle of the SEC being the best conference. That's just one of the most recent examples I can think of. It's not crazy to think that Peppers, who is considered a once in a generation player, could be one of Michigan's best players. He is a dynamic player that can play ball sides of the ball extremely well. A lot of teams have a freshman running come in and automatically become one of their biggest impact players. Also Jameis Winston was considered one of the best on his team in his redshirt freshman year with almost no experience and he won the heisman. It's honestly not that big of deal for Peppers to be so hyped.

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 16323

Big_H

March 19th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

I think I would try to get the best offensive lineman first. Even if I had to get less talented backs.

 

Reasoning: Defense usually has the upper hand in the spring time. So better start up front if you want the best chance of winning.

1. Mason Cole (Best lineman, most likely)

2. Erik Magnuson (can play guard or tackle)

3. Kyle Kalis (would have gotten Glasgow, because he can play all 3 positions, but nvm)

4. Peppers

 5. Screw this. Way to hard to decide lol

Joined: 02/12/2012

MGoPoints: 2595

Yostbound and Down

March 19th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

Think with the center attrition you'd have to put Kugler up there. I'd also put probably Magnuson or Braden, just because they are tackles. I think the RBs that are healthy will probably be interchangeable.

The rest of your picks look pretty good to me.

Joined: 07/27/2011

MGoPoints: -86513

UM Fan in Nashville

March 19th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^

Do we know who will be the 'captains' making the picks?   Are the 'captains' going to be players, coaches, former players?
 

Another fun idea would be to have an Alumni game afterwards where the current captains pick the teams and coach the game.   It would be a fun way to get former players back involved with the program and for the fans to see some of their favorite/former favorite players on the field again.  

Joined: 01/22/2011

MGoPoints: 1325

Wolverine Devotee

March 19th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^

At Stanford, the OC and DC were the head coaches of both teams and did the drafting for their teams. There is a video on youtube of Durkin drafting his team. 
 

Ugh, MGoBlue needs to broadcast this. Would be 500x more interesting to me than any draft that's on TV.

Harbaugh does the announcing for the picks.

 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

MainStreetMagic

March 19th, 2015 at 2:34 PM ^

1.  Peppers

2.  Jourdan Lewis

3.  Mason Cole

4.  Jake Butt

5.  Desmond Morgan

6.  Taco Charlton

7.  Willie Henry

8.  Ty Isaac

9.  Joe Bolden

10.  Alex Malzone

This list is right and good. 

Joined: 09/08/2013

MGoPoints: 1524

Perkis-Size Me

March 19th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^

1. Jabrill Peppers

2. Jabrill Peppers

3. Jabrill Peppers

4. Jabrill Peppers

5. Jabrill Peppers

6. Jabrill Peppers

7. Jabrill Peppers

8. Jabrill Peppers

9. Jabrill Peppers

10. Jabrill Peppers

 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105482

DrMantisToboggan

March 19th, 2015 at 2:42 PM ^

Assuming all are healthy:

1. Jabrill Peppers

2. Jourdan Lewis

3. Ty Isaac

4. Mason Cole

5. Brian Mone

6. Chris Wormley

7. Desmond Morgan

8. Amarah Darboh

9. Taco Charlton

10. Brian Cole

 

I wish we knew more about the nature of Taco's injury. Isaac is 1st Team B1G running and pop warner blocking right now, Jimmy will see that that changes

Joined: 11/26/2014

MGoPoints: 74183

ken725

March 19th, 2015 at 2:44 PM ^

http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/04/11/stanford-football-drafts-spring…

Just to give an example, this is what 2010 Stanford draft looked like.

Team Pick Player Position
Cardinal 1 Andrew Luck Quarterback
White 2 Jonathan Martin Offensive Tackle
White 3 Chase Thomas Outside Linebacker
White 4 Sione Fua Nose Tackle
Cardinal 5 Shayne Skov Linebacker
Cardinal 6 Chase Beeler Center
White 7 Ryan Whalen Wide Receiver
White 8 Matthew Masifilo Defensive End
Cardinal 9 Alex Loukas Quarterback/Safety
Cardinal 10 James McGillicuddy Offensive Tackle
White 11 David DeCastro Offensive Guard
White 12 Chris Owusu Wide Receiver
Cardinal 13 Owen Marecic Linebacker/Fullback
Cardinal 14 Andrew Phillips Offensive Guard
White 15 Thomas Keiser Outside Linebacker
White 16 Levine Toilolo Tight End
Cardinal 17 Alex Debniak Outside Linebacker
Cardinal 18 Khalil Wilkes Center
White 19 Sam Schwartzstein Offensive Guard/Center
White 20 Brian Bulcke Defensive End

 

Joined: 10/26/2008

MGoPoints: 32866

AC1997

March 19th, 2015 at 3:13 PM ^

I would always pick a lockdown corner high in a draft and thats what Lewis is. He is also proven. He would be at the top of my list along with OL and Jake Butt because those are positions without much depth. You can wait on LB, RB, and DL because of depth.

Joined: 09/19/2008

MGoPoints: 13787

Avon Barksdale

March 19th, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^

I never realized how many unproven players U-M had until trying to come up with a list of ten good players.............

The only ones who have produced at their expected rate thus far: Butt, Cole, Morgan, maybe Willie Henry, Bolden, and JD Lewis. It's sad how far this team has to go when you look at the recruiting classes Hoke brought in.

 

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 12859

alum96

March 19th, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^

Put another way - how many guys will get drafted in rounds 1-4 who are upperclassmen?  A program such as ours should have quite a few names.  Right now I see Lewis Butt and Henry as the only real chances as a 1st or 2nd day draft pick out of our entire upperclassmen classes.  That's the issue.  Contrast that with MSU which could have had Conklin, Cook, Calhoun (all 3 could have left but decided to come back and ould have been 1st or 2nd rounders) + Waynes (1st).  That arguably four 1st rounders who could have left (Qbs are often drafted far too high due to need).  Throw in Langford mocking around 4th round and Drummond mocking 3rd.  That's 5 guys who were eligible this year alone if they had chosen to leave.  And Taiwan Jones is a borderline 2nd day guy as well for the 6th.

We are not translating our high recruiting classes to NFL draft picks very well at all.  One of the most troubled guys (Funchess) is our one sure thing for a 1st thru 3rd rounder this year.   Says a lot.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82378