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Michigan went 9-4 in 2019, but still has the opportunity to send 11 players to the NFL Draft in 2020, tying a school high set in 2017, following a 10-3 campaign.
Yes, the Wolverines had but one more win in 2016, but the maize and blue had the look of a College Football Playoff contender, marred only by Wilton Speight’s injury sustained at Iowa, which kept him limited in the narrow double-overtime loss at Ohio State. Indifference and the lack of Jabrill Peppers — who was a gametime decision in that year’s Capital One Orange Bowl — seemed to play a key part in Michigan’s narrow loss to Florida State. The team lost three games by a combined 5 points, and it’s easy to look back and see a group, had literally just one thing went right, that could have contended for a lot more than it did.
Rivals’ Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney took a look at the Wolverines roster in 2019, given how many could be selected in the round of seven come April, and surmised that Michigan certainly isn’t lacking for talent.
The Wolverines are sending 11 players to the upcoming NFL Combine in Indianapolis, tied with Ohio State for the most by far among Big Ten teams.
For Michigan, quarterback Shea Patterson, wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, offensive linemen Mike Onwenu, Cesar Ruiz, Jon Runyan and Ben Bredeson, tight end Sean McKeon, linebackers Khaleke Hudson and Josh Uche and defensive backs Lavert Hill and Josh Metellus were extended invitations.
There is no question Michigan is pumping out players to the combine and into the NFL as the Wolverines had two of the top-12 picks in last year’s draft with linebacker Devin Bush going No. 10 overall to Pittsburgh and defensive lineman Rashan Gary No. 12 to Green Bay.
However, all those players going to the combine and the pros could also be a cause of consternation since on the field, Michigan has largely underwhelmed under Harbaugh. No conference titles. Four third-place divisional finishes or worse in five seasons. No victories over Ohio State.
Farrell comes to conclusion after all of this, noting that Michigan is getting talent, they’re just not living up to their potential on the field.
Yes, the Wolverines should be performing better with the talent they are producing, especially in big games and bowl games where they have been beaten badly here and there. Jim Harbaugh is recruiting very well and with that comes expectations and the fact that his program hasn’t broken through in its own division isn’t good.
Some of it certainly situational, like in 2016, but in 2019, when Michigan lost, it tended to lose big, or it least have to dig itself out of a hole. The Wolverines were blown out by Wisconsin and Ohio State, mounted a comeback that fell just short against Penn State after spotting the Nittany Lions 21 points to start the game, and had a halftime lead over Alabama. but couldn’t score in the second-half nor stop the Crimson Tide when it absolutely needed to.
Michigan needs to play complete games against tougher competition, something it has been capable of having shown a more complete effort against the Penn States and Wisconsins of the world at home. But in the years that it’s had those teams on the road, it’s fallen woefully short.
And, of course, there’s the Ohio State problem. which is a different story entirely.