UM gets 14 Combine Invites

Submitted by SteamboatWolverine on

The NFL has updated their list of invites to the 2017 Combine and published again.  Fourteen UM players are on the list:

Ben Braden (OG)
Jake Butt (TE)
Taco Charlton (DE)
Jehu Chesson (WR)
Jeremy Clark (CB)
Amara Darboh (WR)
Ben Gedeon (LB)
Ryan Glasgow (DT)
Delano Hill (SS)
Jourdan Lewis (CB)
Jabrill Peppers (SS)
De'Veon Smith (RB)
Channing Stribling (CB)
Chris Wormley (DT)

Notable Wolverines who were left off the ivite list include Matt Godin, Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnusen, and Dymonte Thomas.

Schools with the most invites:

Rank School # of Players
1 Michigan 14
2 Alabama 10
3 LSU 10
4 Clemson 9
5 Miami 9
6 Texas A&M 9
7 Arkansas 8
8 Florida 8
9 Florida St. 8
10 Ohio St. 8

Conferences with the most invites:

Rank Conference   # of Players
1 SEC 66
2 ACC 60
3 Big Ten 51
4 Pac-12 46
5 Big 12 19

 

dragonchild

February 16th, 2017 at 6:55 AM ^

Of the three, for all his warts, Braden has the best chance of cutting it in the NFL, IF someone can work out his kinks.  Kalis struggled with the mental aspects of the college game; he's not expected to grok an NFL offense.  Magnuson was a fine college OL and our season would've been very different if we had five of him, but he projects to be consistently overmatched in the NFL where every DE was a college monster.  That said, a lot of high-upside prospects bust because they can't handle the complexity or work demands, so if he works his tail off Mags might squeak into a roster as a depth guy via UDFA contract, practice squad and a little luck.

Back to Braden, he has the sort of physical trappings that an NFL team might spend a day 3 pick on to see if he pans out.  None of this is weird or new.  It's not really fair and Mags may prove his doubters wrong, but the NFL doesn't give two shits about being fair.  It's not about being stupid as it is ruthless.  Pretty much beyond the 3rd round, if someone doesn't pan out you just cut him, which isn't much more of a distinction than someone who wasn't drafted at all.

GoBlueInNYC

February 15th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^

Bummer for Dymonte, because his athleticism would have wowed some, probably.

Happy for Clark and Chesson, who can hopefully bump their stock after this season's injury woes.

wbpbrian

February 15th, 2017 at 3:14 PM ^

will be even better like a 4.7 40yard and 30 rep 225 bench at 280lbs. Which I hope it pushes him into the top 10. The difference between the 20th and 10th pick is around 9million dollars last year. So that is why I said he can make the money at the combine.

dragonchild

February 16th, 2017 at 7:03 AM ^

Here's where NFL scouts can get stupid; it's hard to get attention as a DB unless you break records or get a gazillion interceptions.  Jourdan Lewis probably improved his draft stock more with his flying pick vs. Wiscy than he did by shutting down #1 receivers for half the season.

Some of it is even cyclical, which is indeed a cycle of dumb, but that's life.  A team could be high on Thomas but if no other NFL team is going to draft him in the first 3 rounds, or even every other team is just convinced no other team is going to draft him early because Safeties Are Boring, why not just invite him to a team workout and keep your cards close?

Blarvey

February 15th, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^

Tough to hear for Thomas, Magnuson, Kalis, and Godin and pretty surprising.

At least Clark got his redshirt denied before the draft so he can participate in the combine instead of having to go in a supplemental draft.

TIMMMAAY

February 15th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^

I'm a little surprised about Magnuson and Thomas, but not so much by Kalis and Godin. Kalis never lived up to the hype, and Godin was mostly a role player (a good one, but not sure of NFL potential). They'll all get a look at pro day. Hopefully at least two of them make a squad somewhere. I think Kalis will make a practice squad, with opportunity to move up with improvement. 

Still, this is poised to be the best draft class from Michigan in a long time. May there be many more to come. 

Michigan4Life

February 15th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^

making all conference speak more about how bad B1G OL has been this year. Dan Feeney is the only elite OL on the list. Pat Eflien struggled at C but showed out at OG the year before.

For comparsion sake, Taylor Mouton from WMU is projected to be a 2nd round pick and can start for both Michigan and MSU.  How he fell through the crack, I don't know. Mouton has the NFL size at 6'5" 330 lbs and athleticism to stick at OG and OT. Mouton would've easily made all-B1G this season.

Reader71

February 15th, 2017 at 12:53 PM ^

That Braden was invited instead of Magnuson and Kalis shows the lunacy of the combine. He has been invited based on his frame only. I wish him well and am glad he was able to improve as much as he did, but both of those guys outperformed him in college.

Alumnus93

February 15th, 2017 at 1:19 PM ^

There was silly talk that Braden wouldn't get drafted. Lewan, who may be the best Lt in the game, admitted that Braden was a physical freak, which always has a place in the NFL.
I recall reading Magnuson was the most well regarded OL we have and am surprised he wasn't invited.

Alumnus93

February 15th, 2017 at 1:12 PM ^

Thumbs up to coach Hoke... these all were his recruits. It appears he will have a well above average amount of his recruits that play on Sundays. When Mattison retires I'd really like to see him return as DL coach.