Where 18 Michigan players rank in PFF’s big board ahead of NFL Scouting Combine

Wilson has arguably been among the biggest “risers” over the last few weeks, as more scouts and NFL teams have grown familiar with his game and multitude of strengths. Everyone has been familiar with Wilson’s speed for years, but the senior showed growth in a lot of areas last fall. He improved using physicality to his advantage, creating separation over the middle of the field and in the red zone and catching passes throughout the route tree in stride.

While age will slightly work against him during the pre-draft process, Wilson’s progress from a year ago in the nuances of the position complement his preexisting big-play ability and versatility as a slot or outside receiver.

No. 53 — Mike Sainristil

Scouts are increasingly high on Sainristil as they dig deeper into his film. Though undersized for a boundary cornerback, Sainristil has high-level athleticism, elite maturity and football IQ and proven leadership as a two-time captain for Michigan’s best two-year stretch in generations. Whether it was in coverage, the pass-rush or run defense, Sainristil made big plays in big games, and rarely was beat out by NFL-caliber wide receivers.

NFL teams will also like how quickly Sainristil became a high-level defensive player, and the coach ability, IQ and dedication that progress took. Sainristil played and shined in all three phases with the Wolverines, checks the intangible boxes and projects to be a winner in the combine drills.

No. 58 — Kris Jenkins

Jenkins earned the nickname “Mutant” at Michigan and appeared in the top-10 of The Athletic’s freaks list ahead of the 2023 season after reportedly running a 7.16 3-cone drill, a 4.33 shuttle run, broad-jumping 9-foot-8 and vertical-jumping 34 inches. That athleticism would rank among the best defensive linemen to ever perform at the Combine if he could replicate it in Indianapolis.

That athleticism translated to the football field, particularly in the ground game. According to PFF, Jenkins led all defensive linemen in the country in run stops in 2022. Though he battled through an ankle injury for much of 2023, he was again elite at stopping the run, logging an 82.3 grade from PFF. The service also logged him at 18 QB hurries last fall, a career high despite playing in 118 fewer snaps than 2022.

Finally, Jenkins comes from a football family and possesses the pedigree that NFL scouts love. He’s the son of former second-round draft pick and four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. He has a magnetic personality and was voted captain by his Michigan peers.

No. 65 — Junior Colson

Seen by some as the top linebacker in this year’s NFL Draft class, Colson enjoyed immense production in his two seasons as a full-time starter at Michigan. He led the Wolverines in tackles both years — by a wide margin — and had just five missed tackles in 662 defensive snaps in 2023.

Colson also showed versatility with 120 snaps on the defensive line or in the slot last year, per PFF, and was a leader on a Michigan defense that was arguably the nation’s best. He has the high-level athleticism and frame that projects well to the NFL.

When he diagnoses plays correctly, Colson has the requisite speed to get to the point of attack, he has the blend of size and toughness to make the tackle. Even when he was called upon as a freshman, Colson demonstrated how he can get to his spot in a hurry — even though it was clear he needed more time to learn the nuances of the defense.

No. 88 — Blake Corum

With 3,997 scrimmage yards and 59 touchdowns the last three seasons, there won’t be a much more proven player in the draft process than Corum. He has shown quick feet, elite strength, sincere toughness (he even won the team’s blue-collar award last fall), good vision and shiftiness and a determination that persists in all of his runs. As he added weight and strength to his frame, Corum became a short-yardage machine, delivering in goal-line situations where the defense even planned for him to get the ball. He runs low to the ground, pushes through contact and is unafraid of initiating contact.

Off the field, Corum has won awards for his charity efforts, draws rave reviews from Michigan coaches and teammates for his work ethic and was named academic All-Big Ten every year he was eligible. A veteran at wide-ranging interviews and a leader for the Wolverines, Corum figures to be a hit in team and media interviews.

No. 128 — Cornelius Johnson

Though his 2023 season was somewhat overshadowed statistically by Roman Wilson, Johnson had a career high in receptions (47), added 40 rushing yards and improved as a blocker to help U-M on its path to an undefeated season. Measuring in at 6-foot-3, Johnson is a bigger receiver who has an NFL frame. As best evidenced by the 2022 Ohio State game, he pairs that size with speed, good route-running and the ability to stay on his feet through contact.

Johnson silenced doubters in 2023 by leading college football in contested catch rate (82%), per Pro Football Focus. Though his stats were rarely flashy, he made difficult and important catches when Michigan needed them, and he also flashed throughout his career on special teams.

No. 146 — Michael Barrett

Barrett will be seen as a plus in every intangible department. The linebacker has proven positional flexibility, documented leadership and a work ethic that will garner strong recommendations from everyone who coached him. His motor on the field and work ethic in the weight room matched anyone on Michigan’s team, and he showed he will take on any role offered at Michigan. He has logged 634 special teams snaps in his career as well as 1,875 defensive snaps, so he’s as experienced as they come.

As a defender, Barrett’s pass-rushing ability as well as above-average coverage ability as a linebacker will make him an intriguing, versatile option for defenses, similar to predecessor Khaleke Hudson. He didn’t commit a defensive penalty in more than 1,800 defensive snaps, largely had a strong tackle rate and rarely made a truly major mistake in Michigan’s defense.

No. 152 — Zak Zinter

An All-American, team captain and four-year starter at Michigan, Zinter may have the highest floor of all of Michigan’s NFL Draft prospects, and possibly one of the highest floors of the draft. With no shortage of power in the run game and plenty of sturdiness in pass-protection, Zinter spent more than three seasons as a snap-to-snap asset on Michigan’s highly successful offensive line. He carved out paths, played tough and got better as games went on and was one of the team’s smarter players both on and off the field.

He is not expected to participate in drills at the Combine — he told reporters in late-December he hoped to be jogging by this week after enduring a broken fibia and tibia in November — but should be a hit in interviews with NFL teams, particularly those that enjoy consistent, old-school offensive linemen.

No. 160 — Drake Nugent

Nugent arrived at Michigan and, despite missing spring practice with an injury, earned the starting job on one of the nation’s best offensive lines. He finished the year with an overall grade of 78.0 from Pro Football Focus, including a run-blocking grade of 76.6 and a pass-blocking grade of 78.8. While there was some similarity in line calls between Stanford in Michigan (due to Jim Harbaugh’s influence at both programs), Nugent’s ability to quickly learn a complex new offense bodes well for the next level.

Nugent always planned on Michigan being a one-year stop. He brings 2,400 snaps worth of college experience, all of them at center, to the NFL Combine. He’s an intelligent player who rarely makes mistakes. PFF logged him as surrendering four sacks in 533 pass block snaps in 2022, and one sack across 386 pass block snaps in 2023.

Though Nugent is somewhat undersized for a center, you’d be hard-pressed to find a player who will outwork him. He’s tough, as best exemplified by him starting the Big Ten Championship Game days after suffering a significant ankle sprain. He packs good strength into his 6-foot-2, 301-pound frame and will pick up NFL concepts comfortably.

No. 172 — Braiden McGregor

Scouts are going to like McGregor’s size, as he carries 267 pounds well with a 6-foot-6 frame that includes a solid wingspan and doesn’t look fudged. McGregor plays with an attitude, is often in position to make a play and did seem to shine on the big stage multiple times at Michigan. Though his overall snap count on Michigan’s defense was low — 697 defensive snaps over four seasons in Ann Arbor — he had 45 pressures and 6.5 sacks in less than 400 pass-rushing snaps. Coaches rave about his motor, and reporters and fans rave about his unabashed competitive fire that’s evident in interviews.

McGregor has some true takeover moments this past fall: The first half against Alabama, a six-pressure game at Maryland, 1.5 TFLs at Michigan State. Concerns about a lack of production can be quieted by Michigan’s recent history of success at churning out starter-caliber NFL edges.

No. 174 — AJ Barner

During his lone season in Ann Arbor, Barner earned more snaps than Colston Loveland, who is almost universally seen as a high-end NFL Draft prospect in 2025. His prowess as a blocker made him indispensable in Michigan’s offense, and he ended the season with the team’s best run-blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus. That success is particularly impressive given Barner achieved it within months of joining U-M’s complex run offense. He was well-respected as a leader by his Michigan teammates and was a captain at Indiana.

Barner has upside as a receiver, as evidenced by his lack of drops and his five multi-catch outings in 2023 (in addition to what he showcased at Indiana). Barner appeared in 270 pass snaps with U-M in 2023, with the majority (162) coming from an in-line position rather than the slot. While he may have a future as a flex tight end, his immediate talent is as a run blocker, where his strength and stickiness make him an asset.

No. 189 — Trevor Keegan

A three-year starter and team captain last fall, Keegan has put plenty of physical, dominant play on film over the years. Though it wasn’t as well-documented as it was for a player like Roman Wilson, Keegan improved his draft stock by sticking around for another year. That allowed the guard to improve his pass-protection; among FBS guards, he climbed from 163rd in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency in 2022 to 62nd in 2023, and from 152nd in PFF’s pass-blocking grade to 39th. He also was able to showcase more vocal leadership both on and off the field, and continue to establish himself as a tough, durable and physical run-blocking guard.

Athletic limitations may keep him from emerging as a top-100 draft prospect, but Keegan’s floor definitely feels higher this year, and more strong tape in big games is going to catch a number of NFL teams’ attention.

No. 191 — LaDarius Henderson

A graduate transfer from Arizona State, Henderson started 10 games at left tackle this past fall. Having just turned 22 in December, scouts will like that Henderson remains on the younger side compared to other offensive linemen who have played as much as he has. Henderson is also viewed as a plus athlete, especially if he moves in to guard at the next level, and a 7-foot-1 wingspan will compensate for concerns over his 6-foot-4 frame. Henderson brings positional versatility, having started games at guard and tackle in his career, and proved capable of learning Michigan’s playbook and blocking scheme fairly quickly, as he started Big Ten games less than four months after arriving on campus. 

No. 204 — Jaylen Harrell

Harrell played three seasons on some of the best defenses in college football, and he quietly had his most productive season in 2023. His 40 games played and 1,156 defensive snaps from 2021-23 give scouts a lot of film to evaluate as he makes the jump to the NFL. What they’ll see is an edge rusher who developed into a well-rounded player in 2023. Most notably, he became a more effective pass rusher, which he paired with his previous strength of being disciplined against the run. Pro Football Focus logged him at 21 QB hurries in 2023, five more than the previous season, with four QB hits in addition to the sacks.

Harrell has a good first step, played in a defense that asked him to drop into zones, and is a high-effort player who will impact every play. He’s excellent at setting the edge as a run defender. And he arrives in Indianapolis following a nice showing at the Senior Bowl with a QB pressure and a fumble recovery, which followed great showings in drills.

No. 218 — Josh Wallace

In translating his game from one of the worst teams in the FBS (UMass) to the best (Michigan) as a graduate transfer, Wallace showed strong football IQ and coverage instincts. He played in all 15 games, making 11 starts, and finished with 33 tackles, two tackles for loss, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. In coverage, he allowed 21 receptions and 211 yards in 41 targets. He finished 19th out of 226 cornerbacks in PFF’s coverage grade, 22nd in snaps per target, 25th in snaps per reception, 53rd in passer rating allowed, 62nd in completion percentage allowed.

He rarely seemed out of place athletically, and even held his own against top passing teams like Washington, Ohio State and Alabama. A three-year captain for the Minutemen, Wallace offered another mature, veteran presence in the secondary. He showed an ability to learn a new playbook quickly, stick with NFL-caliber receivers with efficient technique, and play largely mistake-free football with one penalty and two missed tackles.

No. 224 — Trente Jones

A former four-star recruit, Jones is tall, athletic and muscular, possessing good footwork and technique. Though his role as a sixth OL means he played in relatively few snaps in 2023 for an offensive lineman (395, or 26 per game), he’s been a favorite among coaches for much of his career. Because he was so often used in heavy sets, Jones was utilized significantly more in run blocking (245 snaps) versus pass blocking (148) in 2023. Still, he surrendered no sacks and only one QB hurry in those opportunities, per PFF.

Michigan’s offensive line did not suffer a dramatic setback following Zak Zinter’s injury in 2023, a testament to what Jones and Karsen Barnhart both were able to accomplish on the right side of the OL. Jones in particular shined over the final four games of the 2023 season in both run blocking and pass protection. It was an unquestionable luxury that the Wolverines had a starter-caliber lineman on its bench.

No. 282 — Karsen Barnhart

Karsen Barnhart will say, “Starter,” when you ask him which offensive line position he favors. With his versatility, he has played on various strong offensive lines, besides center, and will make an impression on NFL teams.Michigan shifted Barnhart inside from right when Zach Zinter was hurt against Ohio State. tackle to guard, and that’s most likely where his next big opportunity lies. However, Barnhart’s greatest strength as a lineman is his versatility, which is what made him so important at Michigan.

Over the previous three seasons, he played 1,742 offensive snaps, 219 at right guard, 1,067 at right tackle, 275 at left tackle, and 174 at left guard. He is leaving Ann Arbor. As evidenced by his ability to pull and get upfield for a second-level block on Blake Corum’s game-winning score in the Rose Bowl, his athleticism is best suited for the inside of the offensive line.