SEARING
✅ Mazi Smith - he's a man in full now, his body reformed into a professional shape, and his game is blossoming. Can't see him back for a 5th year. Looking like a 3rd rounder, give or take, at this point.✅
✅ Mike Morris - up from a low simmer earlier in the season. There's a remaining question on how he'll adjust to having a hand down more often at 280+ pounds, as he doesn't fit the physical profile of a standup EDGE at the next level. Probably not a top 75 pick, but good bet he's in the next 75, and that should be plenty of incentive not to stay in college for a fifth season.✅
A BRISK BOIL
❌ Mike Sainristil - he has been an absolute revelation on the defensive side of the ball, exceeding virtually everyone's expectations. Not only have his cover skills kicked in, but he has been effective against the run and a secure tackler. At the moment, he's looking an awful lot like a prototypical NFL nickel, and it doesn't look like he'll need a second season of film on defense. Looking eminently draftable at this point. Who would have imagined that our slot receiver from last season would take Dax Hill's spot and we'd see minimal loss of quality there? Sainristil's a low-key Michigan legend in the making. ❌
A LOW SIMMER
❌ Erick All - having never redshirted, this would have been his last season of eligibility (COVID aside) and he was projected as a 3rd-5th round pick. Now... odds are better than not that he'll return. My personal opinion is that coming off back surgery, an NFL team would not use a pick on him. He wasn't prolific before; he was projected to blossom as a senior. Now he has missed his senior season because of back surgery. I think NFL teams will want to see a healthy offseason and no back issues in 2023 before investing a pick. I'm sure, with a baby to support, All wants to be making more money as soon as possible, so he'll surely investigate his NFL options. But in the end, coming back to Michigan will likely be the play. ❌
❌ Zak Zinter - His social media reaction to Corum's announcement would point towards his staying.❌
❌ Blake Corum - has been "Searing" all year, but if he's still on crutches now, it's hard to see him being able to do what he needs to in the offseason to showcase himself for the draft. Guessing it's 2:1 or better now that he's back.❌
✅ DJ Turner - bumping him down in light of Kiper's big board. If he's only a mid-round pick, he may return even though he reportedly wants to go pro if he can, after 4 years of college.✅
❌ Trevor Keegan - injuries this season could make coming back for a 5th the thing to do.❌
❌ Cornelius Johnson - Only able to come back by using his 2020 COVID exemption, and it seems to be trending that way.❌
✅ Gemon Green - also can only come back by using the 2020 write-off, but unlike Johnson would be a sixth year, not a fifth. Still, sounds like a return is possible.✅
❌ Kris Jenkins - Wasn't even on the list before, and then he announced he was returning just in case there was any confusion... only to double back and say he's now weighing his options. One thing I know: that 3T/5T position is really thin WITH Jenkins. It's scary without him.❌
✅ Mazi Smith - he's a man in full now, his body reformed into a professional shape, and his game is blossoming. Can't see him back for a 5th year. Looking like a 3rd rounder, give or take, at this point.✅
✅ Mike Morris - up from a low simmer earlier in the season. There's a remaining question on how he'll adjust to having a hand down more often at 280+ pounds, as he doesn't fit the physical profile of a standup EDGE at the next level. Probably not a top 75 pick, but good bet he's in the next 75, and that should be plenty of incentive not to stay in college for a fifth season.✅
A BRISK BOIL
❌ Mike Sainristil - he has been an absolute revelation on the defensive side of the ball, exceeding virtually everyone's expectations. Not only have his cover skills kicked in, but he has been effective against the run and a secure tackler. At the moment, he's looking an awful lot like a prototypical NFL nickel, and it doesn't look like he'll need a second season of film on defense. Looking eminently draftable at this point. Who would have imagined that our slot receiver from last season would take Dax Hill's spot and we'd see minimal loss of quality there? Sainristil's a low-key Michigan legend in the making. ❌
A LOW SIMMER
❌ Erick All - having never redshirted, this would have been his last season of eligibility (COVID aside) and he was projected as a 3rd-5th round pick. Now... odds are better than not that he'll return. My personal opinion is that coming off back surgery, an NFL team would not use a pick on him. He wasn't prolific before; he was projected to blossom as a senior. Now he has missed his senior season because of back surgery. I think NFL teams will want to see a healthy offseason and no back issues in 2023 before investing a pick. I'm sure, with a baby to support, All wants to be making more money as soon as possible, so he'll surely investigate his NFL options. But in the end, coming back to Michigan will likely be the play. ❌
❌ Zak Zinter - His social media reaction to Corum's announcement would point towards his staying.❌
❌ Blake Corum - has been "Searing" all year, but if he's still on crutches now, it's hard to see him being able to do what he needs to in the offseason to showcase himself for the draft. Guessing it's 2:1 or better now that he's back.❌
✅ DJ Turner - bumping him down in light of Kiper's big board. If he's only a mid-round pick, he may return even though he reportedly wants to go pro if he can, after 4 years of college.✅
❌ Trevor Keegan - injuries this season could make coming back for a 5th the thing to do.❌
❌ Cornelius Johnson - Only able to come back by using his 2020 COVID exemption, and it seems to be trending that way.❌
✅ Gemon Green - also can only come back by using the 2020 write-off, but unlike Johnson would be a sixth year, not a fifth. Still, sounds like a return is possible.✅
❌ Kris Jenkins - Wasn't even on the list before, and then he announced he was returning just in case there was any confusion... only to double back and say he's now weighing his options. One thing I know: that 3T/5T position is really thin WITH Jenkins. It's scary without him.❌
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