Michigan Wolverines 2018 NFL Draft Prospect Preview

Michigan was an overtime loss to Ohio State away from a playoff berth last season, and saw a school-record 11 players selected in the 2017 NFL draft. This year’s Wolverines are stocked with highly-touted Jim Harbaugh recruits, but many are not yet eligible for entry into the pros. Michigan still has a couple of early round prospects returning, and a handful of others who could find their way onto NFL rosters. Here’s a look at the top, draft-eligible prospects coming out of Ann Arbor this season.

Mason Cole C 6'5" 305 SR ↑

• DOB: 3/28/96
• 4-star recruit in 2014

Career: 38 starts (25 starts at left tackle and 13 starts at center) $

Note: Cole will leave school as a four-year starter who has shown off his versatility by lining up inside and outside. This is a similar situation to that of Graham Glasgow, who was drafted in the third round in 2016, and Cole is considered a superior prospect as he enters his senior season.

Khalid Hill FB 6'2" 263 SR

• DOB: 6/4/95
• 3-star recruit in 2013
• Moved from tight end to fullback for the 2016 season
• VJ: 27.5"
• 40: 5.11⚠️
• SS: 4.84⚠️

Career: 31 games 24 REC 226 YDS 9.4 AVG 3 TD receiving, 39 YDS 1.6 AVG 10 TD rushing

2016: 16 REC 118 YDS 7.4 AVG 3 TD receiving, 39 YDS 1.6 AVG 10 TD rushing

Maurice Hurst Jr. DT 6'2" 282 rSR

• DOB: 5/9/95
• 3-star recruit in 2013
• His father, Maurice Sr., played cornerback for the New England Patriots for seven seasons, and logged 27 career interceptions

Career: 33 games 39 solo TKL 19 TFL 7.5 SCK 1 FF 1 PBU 1 kick BLK

2016: 33 TKL (19 solo) 11.5 TFL 4.5 SCK 7 QBH 1 FF 1 PBU

Note: Hurst has seen former defensive linemates Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley, Ryan Glasgow and Willie Henry all drafted in the first four rounds over the last two years, and is poised to follow in their footsteps. Hurst had a career year last season, and this year he assumes the role of veteran leader. The obvious question about Hurst is his size. At 282 pounds, Junior more closely resembles the linemen of his father’s era than his own.

Ty Isaac RB 6'3" 230 rSR

• DOB: 10/16/94
• 5-star recruit in 2013
• Transferred from USC after the 2013 season and sat out the following year in accordance with NCAA rules

Career: 33 games 858 YDS 6.0 AVG 8 TD rushing, 8 REC 111 YDS 13.9 AVG

2016: 417 YDS 5.6 AVG 5 TD rushing, 2 REC 42 YDS 21.0 AVG receiving

Mike McCray II LB 6'4" 248 rSR +

• DOB: 8/3/94⚠️
• 4-star recruit in 2013
• His father, Mike McCray Sr., was a team captain at Ohio State in the 1980s
• Missed the 2015 season with a shoulder injury⚠️

Career: 24 games 44 solo TKL 14 TFL 4.5 SCK 1 FF 2 INT 6 PBU 1 TD 1 kick BLK

2016: 75 TKL (42 solo) 13 TFL 4.5 SCK 1 FF 2 INT 6 PBU 1 TD

John O'Korn QB 6'4" 215 rSR

• DOB: 11/22/94⚠️
• 3-star recruit in 2013
• American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in 2013
• Transferred from Houston after the 2014 season and sat out the following year in accordance with NCAA rules

Career: 17 starts 56.5% COMP% 6.5 YPA 36 TD 18 INT 2 rush TD

2016: 20/34 (58.8%) 173 YDS 5.1 YPA 2 TD 0 INT passing, 31 YDS 2.6 AVG rushing

Note: O’Korn probably envisioned seizing the starting job when he decided to head to Ann Arbor, but he’s only made one start as a Wolverine, and is no more than a dark horse to see significant action this season.

Wilton Speight III QB 6'6" 243 rJR

• DOB: 12/6/94⚠️
• 3-star recruit in 2014
• Played high school lacrosse and reportedly ran a 4.73 second 40-yard dash

Career: 12 starts 59.8% COMP% 7.3 YPA 19 TD 8 INT 1 rush TD

2016: 204/331 (61.6%) 2538 YDS 7.7 YPA 18 TD 7 INT 1 rush TD

Note: As of today, it appears Speight will hold off Brandon Peters and O’Korn for the staring job, but the fourth-year junior’s hold on the job is tenuous. Speight has earned a "game manager” label with his play thus far, and has been criticized for his showings against Michigan’s top competition. I don’t expect him to shake out as more than a mid-Day Three pick when he decides to declare. Still, considering his age, and with Peters breathing down his neck, I could see Speight leaving a year of eligibility on the table and entering the ring in 2018.