Michigan
Michigan looks to set new NFL draft record: Players, preview, prediction
Jim Harbaugh was thinking about this weekend’s NFL draft nearly a year ago, when he told a group of reporters last summer that Michigan had a chance to beat Georgia.
Not just on the football field (it never happened, with UGA unable to reach a third straight College Football Playoff), but when it come to the draft itself.
You see, not only were the Bulldogs the big dog in college football having won back-to-back national titles, but the program set the seven-round draft record in 2022 with 15 players taken.
Michigan hopes to top that number this year and set a new draft record. A total of 18 players were invited to the annual NFL Scouting Combine this spring (list below), making the feat a real possibility.
“Excited for their futures and what they’re going to do,” first-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, who took over for the departed Harbaugh, said this week. “We still got guys working. Saw Blake (Corum) this morning; I see Roman (Wilson) out here working. The guys aren’t satisfied with potentially being drafted.”
Draft weekend schedule:
■ Thursday — Round 1, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/NFL Network)
■ Friday — Rounds 2-3, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/NFL Network)
■ Saturday — Rounds 4-7, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/NFL Network)
Looking to head downtown to take in the draft live? Read MLive’s A-to-Z guide.
Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil (0) celebrates a play during the Rose Bowl against Alabama in Pasadena, California on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
A complete list Michigan’s 22 draft-eligible players:
• QB J.J. McCarthy
• RB Blake Corum
• WR Cornelius Johnson
• WR Roman Wilson
• WR Zach Peterson
• TE AJ Barner
• OL Karsen Barnhart
• OL LaDarius Henderson
• OL Trente Jones
• OL Trevor Keegan
• OL Drake Nugent
• OL Zak Zinter
• DL Jaylen Harrell
• DL Kris Jenkins
• DL Braiden McGregor
• DL Cam Goode
• LB Michael Barrett
• LB Junior Colson
• DB Mike Sainristil
• DB Josh Wallace
• DB German Green
• K James Turner
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy throws during the first quarter on Nov. 11, 2023.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
HOW SOON WILL J.J. MCCARTHY GO?
That’s the No. 1 question facing the Michigan contingent, and one of the overriding storylines of Thursday’s first round. While Caleb Williams is the consensus top pick to the Chicago Bears, and Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are expected to follow in some order with the second and third picks, J.J. McCarthy has steadily risen up draft boards in recent months. He went from a fringe first-round prospect when he declared back in January to a top-15 pick quickly. And recent mock drafts all believe McCarthy remains a priority target for the Minnesota Vikings (No. 11) to trade up and take him inside the top 10, maybe even at No. 4.
At 6-foot-2 and 219 pounds, McCarthy possesses the skillset and athletic traits of a franchise quarterback. He can make every throw, fit the football into tight windows and win, evident by his 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan. But critics say he hasn’t shown enough to warrant a high pick, with the Wolverines electing to run the football nearly 60 percent of the time. His passing volume (2,991 yards, 22 TDs) was nowhere near the top in college football, making him an unknown when it comes to having to carry an offense.
More: There’s a consensus landing spot for J.J. McCarthy in this year’s NFL draft
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with Michigan offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson (73) after beating Alabama 27-20 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
JIM HARBAUGH’S IMPACT ON THE DRAFT
Before, Jim Harbaugh could call up an NFL team and vouch for a player who once played on his roster. Now he’s the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, who possess the No. 5 pick, and has an opportunity to help influence where his former players wind up going. There’s plenty of speculation out there that the Chargers could look to trade out of their pick to acquire additional draft capital, potentially paving the way for a team to slide up and take McCarthy, the former Michigan quarterback.
And then there’s the real possibility that Harbaugh’s Chargers wind up drafting a Michigan player in later rounds. With a staff comprised of several former Michigan assistants, no one in the NFL has more intimate knowledge of the Wolverines. The Chargers even went out and signed former Michigan fullback Ben Mason, a reminder that if Harbaugh likes you and thinks you can help him win, he’ll go out of his way to bring you aboard.
Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) tries to outrun Michigan linebacker Junior Colson (25) in the national championship at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
UNDER-THE-RADAR SURPRISES
While McCarthy is the only sure-fire first-round pick of the bunch, Michigan has several players being talked about as under-the-radar surprises. Junior Colson ranks as one of the best inside linebackers available in this draft, making him an early-Day 2 prospect, while defensive back Mike Sainristil reportedly won over NFL teams during the draft lead-up. Expect both players to hear their name called on Friday.
Day 2 could wind up being a busy one for the Michigan crew, with offensive lineman Zak Zinter, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, receiver Roman Wilson and running back Blake Corum all live to be drafted. Zinter saw his stock drop after the season-ending leg injury, Jenkins remains an intriguing case, and Wilson had a strong Senior Bowl and combine.
Corum’s large draft window (Rounds 3-5) is the product of his position, injury history and 5-foot-8, 205-pound frame. We expect him to hear his name called (perhaps by the Chargers?), but running backs remain an unfortunate afterthought in the draft process.
CAN ALL SIX O-LINEMEN GET DRAFTED?
In a rare feat, Michigan has six offensive linemen eligible for this year’s draft. Four every-down starters in guards Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, tackle Karsen Barnhart and center Drake Nugent, and two others who rotated in as starters — LaDarius Henderson and Trente Jones.
Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to offensive line play in the NFL, and that should help boost the stock of Barnhart, Henderson and Jones. Four seem like a slam dunk. Five is a real possibility. Six seems like a stretch.
Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett (23) celebrates as he walks to the bus after debating Washington 34-13 in the national championship at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
FINALLY, A PREDICTION …
Will Michigan break Georgia’s draft record?
Yes, but barely. I project many of the top names — J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Roman Wilson, Junior Colson, Mike Sainrisitl, Kris Jenkins — and five offensive linemen, tight end AJ Barner, receiver Cornelius Johnson, edge rushers Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor, and linebacker Michael Barrett. In fact, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say Barrett — the program recordholder in games played (64) and wins (52) — is the final Michigan player taken in the seventh round, breaking the Georgia record.
Look for several others to sign undrafted free-agent deals as soon as the draft concludes Saturday evening, putting a bow on what should be an historic weekend for the city of Detroit and Michigan football program.
Michigan
Urban Meyer reacts to Sherrone Moore scandal after coach’s shock Michigan firing
One of the best college football coaches of all time, Urban Meyer, lent some sympathy to Sherrone Moore — or at least his family — in the wake of the former Michigan head coach’s shocking firing last week.
“Last night, I said a prayer for that family,’’ Meyer said on “The Triple Option Podcast,” speaking of Moore’s wife and daughters.
“I mean, you’ve got three little girls,’’ said Meyer, who won a national title at Ohio State a little over a decade ago. “You’ve got a guy that was on top of the road a week ago.”
That changed in stunning fashion, as Moore, a married father of three, went from leading the Wolverines to out of a job, fired in Ann Arbor for cause after the university confirmed he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
The situation only worsened when Moore was later arrested after he allegedly broke into the home of the staff member, and during an argument, grabbed butter knives and threatened to kill himself.
On Friday, he was charged with third-degree home invasion, a felony, as well as a pair of misdemeanors — stalking and breaking and entering.
Here’s the latest on former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore
Even Meyer, who created some controversy of his own during a brief, ill-fated tenure as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars — when he was seen on video in 2021 that showed him dancing suggestively with a woman who was not his wife and was later fired before finishing his lone season in Jacksonville — was stunned by Moore’s downfall.
“They’re up 6-0 on the Buckeyes at home,” Meyer said of Michigan’s early lead against rival Ohio State on Nov. 29. “And then, also, you wake up, and they’re in this situation. Rivalries aside, this is all human element. Now, this is something that, from what you read, that’s some serious stuff that went on. And just, all of a sudden, you start seeing the impact. Forget football. Who cares about football?’’
Michigan
Yaxel Lendeborg scores 29 points and No. 2 Michigan stays unbeaten with 101-83 win over Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg had 29 points, a career-best nine assists and eight rebounds, and No. 2 Michigan rallied from a nine-point deficit Saturday night to defeat Maryland 101-83.
Aday Mara scored 18 points for the Wolverines (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten), who overcame a halftime deficit for the second time this season and the first since they beat TCU on Nov. 14.
Michigan scored 100 points for the fourth time in five games.
Diggy Coit made eight 3-pointers and scored 31 points for the Terrapins (6-5, 0-2), who lost center Pharrel Payne to a right leg injury late in the first half and forward Solomon Washington to ejection after he picked up his second technical foul early in the second half.
Coit scored nine of Maryland’s first 10 points and 22 before the break, helping to prevent Michigan from opening a lead larger than six in the first half.
The Terps lost Payne, their leading scorer at 18.7 points a game, with 4:36 remaining before halftime. Yet Maryland stretched its lead from one to 50-45 at the midpoint, then expanded it to 56-47 on Elijah Saunders’ 3.
Washington, who had a first-half technical for celebrating a 3 in front of the Michigan bench, was called for a delay-of-game technical just after Saunders’ basket. His departure left the Terps without their two most experienced and imposing interior players.
Lendeborg took advantage, scoring the next eight points. Mara’s dunk with 14 minutes left made it 64-63 and gave the Wolverines the lead for good.
Elliot Cadeau’s layup with 21.2 seconds remaining got the Wolverines to 100 points for the fifth time this season.
Up next
Michigan hosts La Salle on Dec. 21.
Maryland visits No. 24 Virginia on Dec. 20.
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Michigan
Aquinas College expands automatic acceptance to 2 more West Michigan high schools
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After beginning a direct admittance program at one West Michigan high school in November, Aquinas College has now expanded the program to cover more classrooms.
The guaranteed admission program, first implemented for graduates of West Catholic High School with a 2.0 GPA or above, has now been expanded to Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids and Muskegon Catholic Central High School.
The partnership will apply to students from all three schools entering college in the fall of 2026.
The direct admission program was described by Aquinas College leaders as offering high school students a “clear path to college success” while also continuing to develop partnerships.
Aquinas College, a private Catholic liberal arts institution located at 1700 Fulton St. E, was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids in 1886.
The college has enrolled 1,262 students during the 2025-26 academic year, and its new student numbers are up, with 419 new students on campus this fall, up from 311 in 2024-25.
The college’s overall enrollment total is just slightly under the approximately 1,300 students Aquinas recorded across its campus in 2023-24, according to a press release sent out in January 2025.
This year’s partnership announcements do not mark Aquinas’ first direct admittance deal.
The college also has a direct admit bachelor’s in nursing partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy, which allows students to take core curriculum courses at Aquinas and nursing classes from Detroit Mercy faculty.
On Nov. 14, Aquinas announced its direct admittance deal with West Catholic High School.
The school, located at 1801 Bristol Ave. NW, enrolled just over 500 students as of the 2024-25 school year, according to an online school profile.
West Catholic President and CEO Jill Wierzbicki said the initiative simplifies the college application process and offers students a straightforward path to higher education.
On Nov. 20, Aquinas then announced it had also partnered with Grand Rapids’ Catholic Central High School, 319 Sheldon Blvd SE, which enrolls 567 students and is the oldest co-educational diocesan Catholic high school in the nation.
Brian Matzke, vice president for enrollment management, said there’s “no doubt that Aquinas here has had more graduates from Catholic Central than any other school in our history.”
On Dec. 10, the college announced another partnership deal with Muskegon Catholic Central High School, 1145 W Laketon Ave., which enrolled just under 300 students in 2023-24, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Jerry McDowell, Muskegon Catholic Central president, said both the high school and Aquinas share a “deep commitment to developing the whole student — academically, spiritually, and individually.
“This direct-admit program provides our graduates with an exceptional opportunity to transition confidently into higher education while maintaining the Catholic values that guide their formation,” McDowell said.
Aquinas’ listed price for traditional undergraduate tuition is $41,192, according to senior director of strategic communications Dave DeJonge.
Students are eligible for annual merit scholarships between $15,000-$25,000, depending on their GPA and housing status. Additional scholarships may be available. This applies to all students who are admitted to Aquinas.
Matzke highlighted the direct admittance program’s easy transition from one West Michigan school to another, with those accepted to Aquinas able to live on campus or commute from home depending on what best fits their needs.
He also said a growing Grand Rapids job market, combined with support from the college’s career center, contributes to a 97% placement rate for graduates.
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