Can Michigan break Georgia’s NFL Draft record? Plus, which freshmen can make an impact?

Did you miss yesterday’s eclipse? Here are a few great views from college football stadiums along the path of totality.

Draft Picks by School

Could Michigan break Georgia’s record?

The NFL Draft will take place from April 25-27 in Detroit. For us college fans, it marks the final farewell to some of our favorite players. As with all things in college football, it also gives us another opportunity to debate and rank our teams.

With 15 selections in the NFL Draft from a single program in 2022, Georgia set a record. There were five first-round selections in the class, led by DE Trevor Walker of the Jaguars at number one and Jordan Davis of the Eagles at number thirteen. There were also two picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds and four picks in the sixth round. Here are the remaining five top schools in picks:

Recruiting was the hot topic of conversation surrounding Georgia’s record-breaking class. According to the 247Sports Composite, twelve of the Bulldogs’ selections were four- or five-star high school recruits. Georgia appeared unbeatable after winning a national championship and having that draft class.

Let us go back to last summer, when Michigan’s coach at the time, Jim Harbaugh, declared the team’s goal to win a national championship. The main question was whether the Wolverines had enough talent to win. Michigan ranked 14th among all FBS schools in terms of roster composition with four and five-star athletes. Ultimately, the Wolverines won a national title and proved that the star power on their squad did not matter. But what about the choices that were made during the NFL Draft? In an audacious forecast last summer, Harbaugh spoke with Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

“I think we’ll have 20 guys picked (in the next NFL Draft),” Harbaugh said. “I bet we break that (draft) record. (Georgia) had 15 that year.”

It is worth reviewing Harbaugh’s claim at this point. Georgia received fourteen invites to the NFL Scouting Combine in 2022, while eighteen Wolverines players received invitations last month. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has surged up draft boards and might be selected in the top five. Based on mock drafts and prospect big boards, the following players are also very likely to be chosen:

DT Kris Jenkins
WR Roman Wilson
CB Mike Sainristil
LB Junior Colson
G Zak Zinter
RB Blake Corum

Just a handful of the most eagerly awaited choices have been made; many more former Wolverines should have been included as well. ESPN’s Matt Miller expects 16 picks from Michigan in his most recent mock draft, while The Sporting News projects 13 Wolverines. But since Bruce was the first to hear of Harbaugh’s forecast, he is the most qualified person to answer this question.

Feldman’s Files

Can the Wolverines beat the Dawgs?

Last summer, Harbaugh boldly declared to me that his Wolverines would surpass Georgia’s record of having more than 15 players taken in the NFL Draft by selecting more than 15 players in 2024.

Harbaugh went on counting them all. He listed seven great offensive linemen: Karsen Barnhart, Myles Hinton, LaDarius Henderson, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, Zinter, and Trente Jones. Players he mentioned included McCarthy, safety Sainristil, linebackers Colson and Mike Barrett, tight end AJ Barner, D-linemen Jenkins, Braiden McGregor, and Jaylen Harrell, and transfer corner Josh Wallace. He thought that a few other players might be chosen and that two players might decide not to declare for the 2024 draft.

It may have sounded crazy at the time to some, but then again I suspect he had a lot more faith than anyone outside of Ann Arbor had about the 2023 Wolverines. After all, they did go undefeated and won the national title.

As for whether they prove Harbaugh right? There does appear to be a decent chance of the Wolverines getting more than 15 picked. Twenty seems like a stretch. Edwards, a speedy tailback with good hands, didn’t enter the draft. Nor did Hinton. But don’t be surprised if UM has five players go in the first two rounds.

McCarthy might be in the top 10 and should be dismissed on the first day. Jenkins is qualified to participate in the preliminary round. After that, it is expected that by the middle of the second round, Wilson, Colson, and Sainristil will be out. Corum, the outstanding running back for UM, may advance to the third round. He is ranked 77th overall by The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert, Dane Brugler. Zinter would likely have been in the top 100 if Brugler had been in full health. During Michigan’s victory over Ohio State in November of last year, the team’s offensive line leader shattered both his tibia and fibula.

(You can read Bruce’s mock draft here.)

Impact Freshman Watch

Auburn, Clemson prospects show promise

The gang discusses which rookies could actually help their teams this season on the field in today’s Until Saturday podcast. A few competitors that impressed throughout their spring games are listed below:

Auburn WR Cam Coleman:The early enrollee was awarded the offensive MVP following four receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown in the A-Day spring game. The five-star recruit was ranked third overall in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
Clemson LB Sammy Brown: This cycle’s top recruit, Dabo Swinney, made an impressive showing in the Orange and White spring game, tallying a game-high eight tackles (six solo) and one sack.

Quick Snaps

Stewart Mandel provides us with an update from Alabama’s spring practice, where head coach Kalen DeBoer is starting from scratch while carrying on Nick Saban’s tradition. DeBoer adds that the task is not as difficult as you would believe.

Cam Newton, Deshaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence? Which quarterback is selected for the Georgia all-state team? After 29 Peach State players were named unanimous All-Americans since 2002, Manny Navarro now chooses the best of the best.

Another win for Missouri! The Tigers beat out Georgia, Penn State and Pitt when Class of 2024 QB Matt Zollers committed.

(Top photo of J.J. McCarthy: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)