5 Michigan players going into the 2024 NFL Draft ft. JJ McCarthy
Michigan football enters the 2024 NFL Draft having had to bid goodbyes to some players.
UM is biding glad tidings to some of the key players who helped win Michigan's first national championship in a quarter century. The players will enter professional football after winning a College Football Playoff title. Here are the top five Wolverines going into the Draft.
Top five Michigan players in the 2024 NFL Draft
#5 Roman Wilson, WR
Wilson turned into a potent WR1 for the Wolverines in 2023, and his loss will be felt in the UM offensive huddle. Always a solid target, Wilson caught 25 passes in 2021 and in 2022, but in 2023, he became JJ McCarthy's big play target on the offensive edge.
Wilson opened the season with touchdowns in UM's first three games. He had a nine-reception, 143-yard day against Purdue. He caught four passes for 73 yards and a TD against Alabama and three more for 54 yards against Washington.
His 16.4 yards per catch speaks to his big-play ability and top end talent. Wilson was a massive part of the 2023 season.
#4 Mike Sainristil, CB
A former receiver, the five-foot-10 Sainristil became the defensive ballhawks of the Wolverine attack. Sainristil had six interceptions in 2023, including pick-sixes against Rutgers and Michigan State. He also had a pick and 81 yard return in the national title game against Washington.
Given the proliferation of passing offenses, both in the Big 10 and nationally, Michigan couldn't have won without Sainristil. His big-play ability promises to make him a standout at the NFL level. He was a key component of the 2023 title-winning team.
#3 Blake Corum, RB
How good was Corum at UM? Well, he was nearly a three time 1,000 yard rusher and twice finished in the top-10 of Heisman Trophy voting.
Corum was, simply put, the primary load carrier for the Wolverines' punishing rushing attack. The owner of 15 100+ yard rushing games, Corum finished with 3,734 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns.
Corum ended his career in style, racking up 134 yards and two scores in UM's national title victory over Washington. He will long be remembered for his physical style of running.
Corum ended up seventh in UM history in rushing yardage and second all-time in rushing TDs, behind only early 1900s star Willie Heston. He was a once-in-a-century type player.
#2 Junior Colson, LB
Colson nearly posted back-to-back 100 tackle seasons while leading UM to the national title.
The Haitian standout had 256 tackles in three years. As a sophomore, he managed 101 tackles and followed that up with 95 stops in 2023. The six-foot-two Colson was a physical talent and a massive run-stopper. He was the heart of the Wolverine defense.
Colson posted eight double-figure tackle games in his career, with the last coming in the CFP semifinal win over Alabama. Colson added six stops in the national title game.
He's still a work in progress, but Colson made massive strides at UM and will likely continue that in the NFL.
#1 JJ McCarthy, QB
McCarthy was initially viewed as something of a system QB at Michigan. The report on McCarthy was that he was a good athlete and an adequate passer, but that UM was winning basically despite him, not because of him.
That report, needless to say, was wrong. After two excellent starting seasons, McCarthy has highlighted his skills measurably in the NFL Draft process.
McCarthy completed 68% of his college passes, throwing for 6,226 yards and 49 touchdowns. He threw just 11 interceptions in 713 passing attempts. McCarthy had an ability to avoid negative plays, but he's mobile, skilled in the pocket and regarded as a future NFL star. From being one considered a quarterback, McCarthy is now a QB that NFL teams will build a system around.
Who was the top Michigan Wolverine who'll go in the 2024 Draft? Weigh in below in the comments section.