[jwplayer uA4zLdI7-XNcErKyb]
The fifth and sixth rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft have seen a big run on Wolverines.
Michigan just had its ninth player drafted: the Minnesota Vikings selected safety Josh Metellus with the No. 205 pick in the sixth round.
His selection reunites him with a former teammate, linebacker Ben Gedeon.
Formerly a three-star out of Miami (FL) Flanagan, Metellus outplayed his ranking to a large degree, but the safety drew the ire of Michigan football fans with two plays: a dropped interception against Ohio State in 2017 and being burnt in coverage against Penn State in 2019. Still, he’s a player with a lot of upside and could challenge for a role with the Vikings.
He joins former high school and college teammate Devin Bush Jr. in the NFL. Bush Jr. was a first-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers a year ago.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down Metellus’ game here:
Overview
Plays downhill in run support. Technical tackler with high finishing rate. Fits gap with quick gather-and-strike talent. May offer positional versatility on the next level. Possesses balance and hips for short-area coverage duties. Foot twitch for transitions from coverage to close-out. Aggressive clawing at catch-point. Strike to jar football loose from receivers. Early recognition and response to play-action. Gets head around to find football downfield.
Strengths
- Plays downhill in run support
- Technical tackler with high finishing rate
- Fits gap with quick gather-and-strike talent
- May offer positional versatility on the next level
- Possesses balance and hips for short-area coverage duties
- Foot twitch for transitions from coverage to close-out
- Aggressive clawing at catch-point
- Strike to jar football loose from receivers
- Early recognition and response to play-action
- Gets head around to find football downfield
Weaknesses
- Much more consistent coverage in 2018
- Had issues digesting route combinations this year
- Sluggish acceleration and lack of length limits recovery ability
- Range takes a deep hit beyond short-area throws
- Can be mismatched against speed downfield
- Would like him to feel it rather than have to see it
- Smallish to negotiate blockers near the box
Metellus is a player who doesn’t get a lot of credit for being a technically proficient player who showed off strong ability over the course of his career. However, his hard work paid off as he finally gets his chance in the NFL.