By The Numbers: Jim Harbaugh With Yet Another Loaded Michigan Draft Class
Michigan saw 8 players come off the board this year, making it one of the biggest draft classes in school history.
3rd Straight year Michigan had at least one first-round pick, a feat the school had not achieved since 1994-96. Paye was U-M's lone first-round selection this year, center Cesar Ruiz was the only one in 2020, and linebacker Devin Bush and defensive end Rashan Gary each came off the board in the first round in 2019. U-M impressively registered at least one first rounder in six straight drafts from 1991-96, spanning the Gary Moeller and early Lloyd Carr eras. Running back Tim Biakabutuka was the only one in 1996 and wideout Derrick Alexander the lone choice in 1994, while a trio of Wolverines went in the opening frame in 1995 — running back Tyrone Wheatley, cornerback Ty Law and offensive tackle Trezelle Jenkins.
7th Time Michigan has had at least eight players chosen in a single draft, tying this year's haul with Fritz Crisler's 1948 draft class as the sixth biggest in school history. The only five that were bigger occurred in 2017 (11), 1972 (10), 1974 (10), 2020 (10) and 1975 (nine).
12-Year drought of not having a running back drafted that finally came to an end when the Cincinnati Bengals took Chris Evans in the sixth round. Prior to Evans, the last time a Wolverine running back was chosen was Mike Hart back in 2008. Notable rushers such as Fitzgerald Toussaint (2014), De'Veon Smith (2017) and Karan Higdon (2019) all went undrafted during that span.
