Denard Only Michigan Alum Invited to NFL Combine
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.
- 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.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
no invite for bwc?
February 7th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^
that guy tore it up last year, he completed dozens of passes... spread over the entire season... between 1-3 YPA
February 7th, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
Roundtree is a camp fodder player. I suspect he'll have to go north to play ball.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
I guess Michigan's pro day is now that much more important for the borderline/late round guys. BWC, Roundtree, etc. will have a chance to impress scouts in AA, just hope they make the trip.
Also, Denard will probably participate in Michigan's pro day too, to show improvement as many times as possible. That'll draw more scouts to AA to see the other guys too.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Scouts will show up to Michigan's Pro Day. BWC will be the major draw because he's certainly a sure-fire draftable prospect in my opinion. If he impresses one team enough, he could go higher than projected. Roh and Demens have a chance to get drafted or make a roster. Roundtree and Floyd have played good football and I think teams will want to see if they're worth prioritizing as free-agents for camp bodies.
But my #1 guarantee is that BWC will draw attention. Plus, you never know what EMU or localish guys participate as well. The next TJ Lang could be at Michigan's pro day.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
I'm suprised that Campbell wasn't invited. The NFL is always desperate for D Linemen.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^
ton of talent at DL. At DE, there's Barkevious Mingo, Dion Jordan, Bjoern Werner, Damontre Moore, Ziggy Anasah, etc. At DT, there's Star Loutelelei, Jesse Williams, Sharrif Floyd, Sheldon Richardson, etc.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
He apparently got an invite despite being undersized for a DE and posting a grand total of 2 sacks this season. I can see certain guys not being high picks, but this combine invite process seems random.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:35 PM ^
I thought you were making those names up. Thanks, Google.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^
lol. I've been a NFL draft follower and know a couple of scouts.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
Because the names are straight out of a Key & Peele skit.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^
From the University of Souf Flurrrida?
February 7th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
I'm going to catch flak for this but this tells you a lot about the lack of talent we were pulling in at the end of the Carr years and through the Rodriquez years.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^
It doesn't really have much to do with Carr. He never coached any of these kids, and he only recruited Demens, Mealer, and Moore from the current roster.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:31 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:35 PM ^
Eh. Campbell de-committed at one point and then re-committed to Rodriguez.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^
Campbell was a class of '09 recruit. Carr retired in November of 2007.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
All Denard to do is run a sizzling 40 and he'll be off the board by Round 3
February 7th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:38 PM ^
I wouldn't call him below average considering he was second team All-Big Ten for 2012.
February 7th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
Quit being so negative, Nancy.
February 7th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^
I don't really think you know what you're talking about. My guess is you look at box scores and simply the numbers to determine a players worth. There is more to look at and obviously people saw him play at least alright.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:32 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^
Al Davis
February 7th, 2013 at 1:20 PM ^
February 7th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
I heard a rumor that one of the Companies that makes Oxycontin is trying to clone Denard for use as a new painkiller.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
It's amazing that Hoke has won 19 games with these players in only two seasons. Not only was RR a terrible coach ( Rodriguez has the lowest winning percentage (.405) of any coach in Michigan football's history and never beat Michigan's two chief rivals, Ohio State University and Michigan State University) he couldn't evaluate talent either.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
Roh was 2nd team all-conference (coaches) and AM (media). Omameh was 1st team (coaches) and AM (media). Kenny Demens is a guy I'd expect to get an invite just on size/athletic ability. BWC as well.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
Is the NFL is pigeonholing Denard into WRdom? Will he not be able to get in on RB drills?
February 7th, 2013 at 1:29 PM ^
I am one of those nerds who watches the combine live so I was hoping to see more Michigan guys there but at least I'll be seeing the most fascinating one.
If I was Denard, even though it would probably sacrifice time he really needs learning to be a WR, I would focus on the 40 time. Logical or not, you can become the story of the combine and improve your draft stock with a ridiculous 40 time and Denard is one of the people who can produce it.
They will give him a pass if he doesn't finish top 10 in any of the receiver drills if he pulls off a blazing 40.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
He needs to focus on being a WR. If Denard can get that down he ought to have a long and productive career in the NFL.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:32 PM ^
This is about right. Some of the other guys might be worth a late draft pick (Roh, Kovacs, etc.), but the senior class just wasn't that talented. There was a lot of attrition during the Rodriguez years that wiped out a good deal of those 2008/2009 classes. Over those two recruiting periods, a quick glance shows 18 out of 46 who transferred or quit.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^
I was thinking Kovacs might get the invite because teams would want to quantify just how deficient his athleticism was before considering him with a later round pick.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
There's always the Pro Day. I think the guys who get invited to the draft are typically guys who teams might be considering for the higher rounds. If you know a guy is a 6th or 7th rounder at best, then it's kind of a waste of time to make all 32 teams watch him. There are always guys outside of that number (333 this year) who get drafted, and there are people within that group that sign as UFA's.
With a guy like Kovacs, there will be a handful of teams interested because he fits what they want in a strong safety.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Ha ha ha..... Will...... BWAAAAHHHAHAHAHAHHAA
February 7th, 2013 at 1:35 PM ^
I find it oddly amusing that Zach Boren gets an invite but not Campbell, Demens, Roh, etc. How many teams even use FBs anymore at the NFL level?
February 7th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^
Well, he did play linebacker as a senior, so he's got that flexibility... But I hope he goes undrafted and enters the family business.
February 7th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
and from the logo on his shirt, I see that Zach can start right away as they've also got a lawncare division.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
He also played linebacker for a few games. Not sure if that has anything to do with it but it may help explain his invite.
Edit - beaten to the punch by Magnus.
February 7th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^