Where will the starters on the 2012 Michigan football team end up being drafted in the future? In preparing for the 2012 NFL Draft, I wanted to get an idea of where to expect current Michigan players will land in future drafts. So, I went right to the source and spoke to a friend of a friend who is a scout for an AFC team.
***Originally published on 4/19/12***
I gave him a week to look into Michigan's players, specifically underclassmen that are not as known, and get back to me with comments and VER early projections. Here is what he had to say.
QB
Denard Robinson: "This is a tricky one. Unless he throws for over 3,000 yards this season with less that 8 INT's, he won't get a look at QB. If he can achieve those numbers, you might see a team take a flyer on him at QB. If he does that, it might actually HURT his draft prospects.
If he enters the draft as an athlete, with 5,000 or so college rushing yards, he WILL be taken in the 1st round. That I can guarantee you. I foresee him as a Percy Harvin or maybe Josh Cribbs type player, and that is very valuable."
Draft Grade: Late 1st round
NFL Comparison: Josh Cribbs
RB
On Fitz Toussaint: "A little undersized, but makes up for it with shiftiness and elusiveness. He has so become more versatile and block and catch better to move his stock up. I read he has a goal of 1600 yards. If he gets that and Michigan is winning like last year, he will likely leave early next season."
Draft Grade: 2nd round
NFL Comparison: LeSean McCoy
WR
Only focusing on starters that have performed on the field, so that is Roy Roundtree and Jeremy Gallon.
On Roundtree: "This is a guy who has as many positive highlights as negative highlights. I
will never forget him getting chased behind a few years back by an Illinois DB when he had a 5 yard head start over 70 yards. I think it ended up costing Michigan the game. But he has made plenty of plays too, including vs. Notre Dame. Too slow, too many drops and too small. Isn't a guy who will ever take snap in the NFL."
Draft Grade: None
NFL Comparison: None
On Gallon: "He is a guys who is more intriguing to me that Roundtree. He is quick, elusive and seems to catch everything. He was a #3 guy last year. If he can grow into a #1 WR in college over the next 2 seasons and catch 60+ balls, he will get drafted late."
Draft Grade: 6-7th round
NFL Comparison: Poor man's Dexter McCluster
VOTE: Which current Michigan player will be drafted highest in NFL Draft in future?
TE
Very blunt: "Not a single guy on the roster worth mentioning."
OL
"2 guys on the roster that will play next year will get a look at the draft. This is a group that is very well coached because they play great with fairly mediocre talent.
Taylor Lewan is a guy that has caught a lot of scouts attentions. He is huge and can move. With the great coaching that you guys have in Michigan, I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave early after this season with a 1st round grade.
The other guy that we like is Patrick Omameh. Technically he is sound and has decent size and can move. He won't be an NFL star, but will most likely get drafted and have a chance to start from day 1 for whatever team takes him."
Lewan:
Draft Grade: 1st round
NFL Comparison: Michael Roos
Omameh:
Draft Grade: 6-7th round
NFL Comparison: None
DL
"There is only one guy that will see the NFL in this group and its the big boy in the middle Will Campbell. He reminds me a lot of every Michigan d-tackle we have looked at in the past decade: good size but takes plays off and can never get to the QB. Gabe Watson was a guy I thought would be the #1 overall pick in the draft at one point but seemed to be too lazy and goofy to make the plays needed. Is Campbell committed to football? Tough to say. Shouldn't take a guy with his talent 4 years to see the field. He will be taken in the middle rounds on talent alone.
I saw Frank Clark make a helluva play in the Sugar Bowl, but its too early to project what he can do. Lets see if he is a starter this year first."
Draft Grade: 4-5th round
NFL Comparison: Gabe Watson
LB
"Demens is a guy who will most likely end up on a scout team after being an undrafted free agent. I am not even sold he is going to start for Michigan all year, we have been told that Mattison isn't sold on him as a leader and recruited the hell out of the position to find someone to replace him.
"The one guys on Michigan who I absolutely love is Jake Ryan. I watched tape on Mike Martin, full game stuff, and I have never seen a LB or lineman make so many stops on 3rd
and 4th and 1 in one season as I saw from Ryan. He reminds me of all those white linebackers from the Buckeyes with Tressel, great knack for being in position and taking the ball carrier down. He is a special talent, trust me. He is eligible for the 2013 draft. I don't remember any RS sophomore LB's entering the draft so you have him for at least a couple more years. If he keeps making plays and improving, he will be a commodity come draft time. His play and that hair remind me of Clay Matthews Jr.
"The other kid, Desmond Morgan, doesn't have the raw talent to make the league. Too slow and undersized. No chance of getting drafted. Would be surprised if he is still starting as a senior."
Demens:
Draft Grade: Undrafted
NFL Comparison: None
Ryan:
Draft Grade: Late 1st/Early 2nd round
NFL Comparison: Clay Matthews
Morgan
Draft Grade: Undrafted
NFL Comparison: None
Secondary
"Blake Countess reminds me of some really nice Michigan corners coming out of there in recent years. Fundamentally sound, good size, knack for finding the ball. Played great for a freshman. He is a 3 and done guy for sure. He was the best freshman DB in America last year, NFL talent-wise. He might not get a 1st round grade because he isn't a burner, but early second round is about right
"J.T. Floyd is a nice talent. He could be in this year's draft, actually. He would have been taken in 6-7th round but didn't come out. Kind of reminds me of Morgan Trent that has turned into a nice player. If he has a strong year, he will jump into the 4th round.
"Your safety Tom Gordon is too limited and has bad instincts.
"Jordan Kovacs is a hell of a ball player. I'll tell you what, I want him on our team. Talk about a football player. Where did you guys find this guy. He'll get drafted late, but I would count on him surprising folks and starting in the NFL in a couple years."
Countess:
Draft Grade: 2nd round
NFL Comparison: Leon Hall
Floyd:
Draft Grade: 4th round
NFL Comparison: Morgan Trent
Gordon
Draft Grade: Undrafted
NFL Comparison: None
Kovacs
Draft Grade: 5th round
NFL Comparison: Rudy.
To summarize: Lewan, Denard, Ryan, Toussaint and Countess potential 1st round guys in future.
Where do YOU think these players will get drafted?
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