Just an observation...

[tarun262]

Michigan in the hay days used to send tons of players into the NFL and it was always Michigan or Miami up top with OSU doing relatively well. During our 7-year decline though, not only have we not sent a lot of players but those players have not really amounted to much. In the meantime, the 3 schools Michigan fans can't stand - Notre Dame, OSU, and MSU are all doing really well. Here's what is interesting as start to look at mock drafts for 2016:

• Notre Dame - 5 players that are projected 1st rounders
• Ohio State - 5 players that are projected 1st rounders
• Michigan State - 3 players that are projected 1st rounders

Pretty incredible to think that these 3 schools have 40% of the supposed 1st round NFL talent playing for them! Michigan State and Ohio State also have a couple players that are right on the cusp on barely missing becoming first rounders (Vonn Bell, Jack Allen, etc) Right now based on performance we probably only have 1 potential 1st rounder in the next 3 years and that is Peppers (who I think will leave after 2016). While I expect Wormley, Lewis, Ty Isaac, Suoma, Mone, Cole, and maybe Kalis to all play in the Pros - they will all likely be late round picks. We need to recruit and develop some 1st rounders like we used to in the past. The saddest thing that is that we have virtually no skilled position players (RB, WR, QB) that are NFL talent (Isaac can get there if he gets his head straight) but I have no doubt in the mind that JH will turn this around, especially at QB which is where I expect we will have a huge upgrade next year with a lot of stability by 2017.

 

[wolverines74]

Michigan in the hay days used to send tons of players into the NFL and it was always Michigan or Miami up top with OSU doing relatively well. During our 7-year decline though, not only have we not sent a lot of players but those players have not really amounted to much. In the meantime, the 3 schools Michigan fans can't stand - Notre Dame, OSU, and MSU are all doing really well. Here's what is interesting as start to look at mock drafts for 2016:

• Notre Dame - 5 players that are projected 1st rounders
• Ohio State - 5 players that are projected 1st rounders
• Michigan State - 3 players that are projected 1st rounders

Pretty incredible to think that these 3 schools have 40% of the supposed 1st round NFL talent playing for them! Michigan State and Ohio State also have a couple players that are right on the cusp on barely missing becoming first rounders (Vonn Bell, Jack Allen, etc) Right now based on performance we probably only have 1 potential 1st rounder in the next 3 years and that is Peppers (who I think will leave after 2016). While I expect Wormley, Lewis, Ty Isaac, Suoma, Mone, Cole, and maybe Kalis to all play in the Pros - they will all likely be late round picks. We need to recruit and develop some 1st rounders like we used to in the past. The saddest thing that is that we have virtually no skilled position players (RB, WR, QB) that are NFL talent (Isaac can get there if he gets his head straight) but I have no doubt in the mind that JH will turn this around, especially at QB which is where I expect we will have a huge upgrade next year with a lot of stability by 2017.

Tarun262 The points you made are why I believed Michigan was not a power these past 7 years. Yes we had a player or 2 but when you go back to Carr and beyond we had a dozen players go each year. Many that were drafted and a few that went as free agents. If U don't have NFL brand players playing for you in college you are going to be fair at best, never great at a Power 5 level. Jim is going to fix that and in fixing that we are going to be great. GBGB"74

 

[tarun262]

It also effects recruiting over time. Kids want to come where they can be developed to play in the Pros - just getting there is a big deal. Hoke was terrible at that. Ironically Rich Rod's teams actually had NFL talent and a few went there but under Hoke we just fell flat on our face. I look at someone like Gardner - playing for anyone else other then Hoke, he would have been drafted in the Top 5 rounds - likely not as a QB but purely based on his skills and we did him no justice.

On paper, players like Kalis, Peppers, Ty, etc should all be now be put in positions to succeed and realize their talent. I think next year we get nobody in the Top 2 but I would love to see us have 5-6 players head to the NFL by 2017. Peppers is the only sure 1st rounder right now.

 

[michnittlion]

Michigan's on their way to "very good team", but as you said the jump to "elite, MNC level team" almost universally requires "elite" players.

Numbers for some select B1G teams in recent history that were at "elite, MNC level (all these numbers are for the next two NFL drafts following that season):

1994 Penn State -- 5 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder, 2 3rd rounders, 15 total draft picks.

1997 Michigan -- 1 1st rounder, 1 2nd rounder, 2 3rd rounders, 9 total draft picks.

2002 Ohio State --- 3 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder, 6 3rd rounders, 19 total draft picks.

2006 Ohio State --- 3 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder, 1 3rd rounder, 11 total draft picks.

2006 Michigan --- 2 1st rounders, 4 2nd rounders, 2 3rd rounders, 13 total draft picks.

That's arguably the numbers you need to be able to see/project before U-M becomes a true MNC contender.

 

[tarun262]

Michigan's on their way to "very good team", but as you said the jump to "elite, MNC level team" almost universally requires "elite" players.

Numbers for some select B1G teams in recent history that were at "elite, MNC level (all these numbers are for the next two NFL drafts following that season):

1994 Penn State -- 5 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder, 2 3rd rounders, 15 total draft picks.

1997 Michigan -- 1 1st rounder, 1 2nd rounder, 2 3rd rounders, 9 total draft picks.

2002 Ohio State --- 3 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder, 6 3rd rounders, 19 total draft picks.

2006 Ohio State --- 3 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder, 1 3rd rounder, 11 total draft picks.

2006 Michigan --- 2 1st rounders, 4 2nd rounders, 2 3rd rounders, 13 total draft picks.

That's arguably the numbers you need to be able to see/project before U-M becomes a true MNC contender.

Sorry man, you are looking at it the wrong way. Look at the entire roster top to bottom. The 1997 Michigan squad had 32 (yes 32) players that went on to be drafted and play in the NFL. I believe that is one of the highest in history, certainly the best in school history. I think a 2-year horizon does you no good because of injuries, redshirting, etc. OSU is the only team right now that I think can say over the next 3 years they will boat load of players heading to the NFL.

 

[wolverines74]

Sorry man, you are looking at it the wrong way. Look at the entire roster top to bottom. The 1997 Michigan squad had 32 (yes 32) players that went on to be drafted and play in the NFL. I believe that is one of the highest in history, certainly the best in school history. I think a 2-year horizon does you no good because of injuries, redshirting, etc. OSU is the only team right now that I think can say over the next 3 years they will boat load of players heading to the NFL.

Bingo. That's my point look at the entire roster and what became of the players as they move on. Good Jib Taron262. GBGB"74

 

[michnittlion]

Sorry man, you are looking at it the wrong way. Look at the entire roster top to bottom. The 1997 Michigan squad had 32 (yes 32) players that went on to be drafted and play in the NFL. I believe that is one of the highest in history, certainly the best in school history. I think a 2-year horizon does you no good because of injuries, redshirting, etc. OSU is the only team right now that I think can say over the next 3 years they will boat load of players heading to the NFL.

I only used 2-years vs. the entire roster because I figure that those drafted within 2 years are more likely to have had a significant impact on that particular team. (plus, it's easier than looking at a whole roster and figuring it out ).

There are exceptions, of course. 5 Michigan players went in the first 2 rounds of the April 2001 NFL Draft. Backus and Hutchinson both started on the 1997 team as red-shirt freshmen. A-Train was a contributor in 1997. But neither David Terrell and Maurice Williams didn't play at all in 1997, so aside from "depth" it's hard to argue those two contributed at all in '97.

1994 Penn State, to a choose a team I am more familiar with: none of the April 1998 NFL draft-ees (3 of them) contributed at all to the '94 MNC-contending team.