Watch the 2024 NFL Draft: Michigan vs. Washington – National….
Watch the 2024 NFL Draft: Michigan vs. Washington – National Championship in College Football
The final game of the 2023 college football season is here, as the Michigan Wolverines take on the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. There weren’t any truly dominant teams in college football this year, but there isn’t much argument that these are the best two teams in the country.
These are also two of the most talented teams in the country and there will be a bevy of NFL prospects on the field. The New York Giants currently have the sixth overall pick and have five of the first 110 picks. It’s entirely possible that a future Giant (or several future Giants) will be playing in this game.
J.J. McCarthy (QB)
McCarthy has yet to officially declare for the 2024 NFL draft, and he might even be best served by staying in college for another year — if only because next year’s draft might not be as stacked at the QB position. That said, McCarthy got a boost when head coach Jim Harbaugh declared him (McCarthy) the best QB in Michigan football history. There have also been rumors that if Harbaugh leaves Michigan for the NFL, he would want to select McCarthy in the upcoming draft.
The Michigan QB reportedly has a sky-high football IQ to go with a strong arm and quick-twitch athleticism. Michigan’s offensive scheme depends heavily on the run, and evaluators will need to reconcile McCarthy’s physical traits with his stats. It’s possible that Michigan’s scheme is obscuring his upside.
Blake Corum (RB)
Corum has emerged as the engine that powers the Michigan offense. He’s compact, powerful back at 5-foot-8, 215 pounds, and has fantastic competitive toughness. He also has uncommon quickness, agility, and speed given his frame.
Corum won’t be a homerun threat at the NFL level, and he isn’t the kind of natural pass catcher that are most highly valued in the modern NFL. However, his traits suggest that he can be a major piece for a pro offense.
Donovan Edwards (RB)
Edwards is the other half of Michigan’s backfield duo, and while he pairs nicely with Corum. Where Corum is the more dynamic runner, Edwards is a better receiver who relies on great vision and contact balance as a runner. He’s a taller running back at 6-foot-1, but isn’t quite as dense at 210 pounds.
Edwards could be the preferred option for a more pass-centric offense and he should fit as a third down back for most offenses.
Roman Wilson (WR)
Wilson provides the explosive element to balance the rushing attack in Michigan’s offense. He has a similar athletic profile to Jalin Hyatt at 6-foot, 190 pounds with 4.3 speed and explosive leaping ability. Wilson has a well-developed route tree and is a smooth technician as well as a reliable catcher of the ball.
Giants fans are focused on adding a bigger receiver to pair with Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson. However, they could also take a page from the Miami Dolphins’ book and double down on explosively athletic receivers to stress defenses with speed.
A.J. Barner (TE)
Barner started his college career at Indiana, where he was a teammate of Washington QB Michael Penix QB, before transferring to Michigan prior to he 2023 season. Barner has the look of a “Michigan” tight end at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds and the skill set to be a true “Y” tight end in a Pro Style offense.
He’s a reliable run blocker and pass protector, as well as a solid pass catcher. Barner doesn’t quite have the athleticism or play strength to be dominant as either, but he can be a weapon in a variety of situations. He’ll be overshadowed by the more dynamic tight ends like Brock Bowers, but Barner could be a good value pick for an offense that wants a traditional Y tight end.
Kris Jenkins (iDL)
Jenkins is an explosively athletic interior defender who holds the sixth spot on the 2023 edition of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List”. He reportedly has a 7.16s 3-coon and 34-inch vertical leap, which is impressive for a 305 pound defensive tackle. Jenkins is still learning how to use his physical tools, but he could be a disruptive one-gap defender once he becomes a true technician.
Rod Moore (S)
Moore is an undersized DB who weighs in at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, and that could hurt him in the eyes of NFL evaluators. However, he’s a great athlete with a high football IQ who can man the slot or safety positions. Moore’s athleticism, football IQ, and instincts make him a threat in space with impressive ball skills. The Giants’ defense has thrived on turnovers, and adding another ballhawk could be worthwhile.
Moore’s versatility to play both man and zone coverage can also make him useful for disguising coverages and enabling blitz packages.
The Giants have decisions to make with Xavier McKinney and Adoree Jackson which could put them in need of a versatile DB who can provide depth at safety or corner.
Mike Sainristil (CB)
Speaking of Adoree Jackson, the Wolverines have their own version of the former USC standout in Mike Sainristil. Sainristil is a fifth year senior who came to Michigan as an athletic three-star recruit with experience at both corner and wide receiver. Michigan used him at receiver for his first three years there, using his speed to create sparks on offense.
In 2022, however, they transitioned him back to the defensive side of the ball, and were rewarded with a truly dynamic playmaker. Over the last two year’s he’s amassed 94 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 13 passes defensed, and 6 interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns this year).
Sainristil is undersized at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, but his upside as a playmaking ballhawk is undeniable — and he might only get better with continued development.
Washington
Michael Penix Jr. (QB)
Penix might be THE player to watch in this game, at least from a draft perspective. He’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the country all season long and generated quite a bit of draft buzz for himself with his play down the stretch.
Penix’s ability to throw the ball is unquestionable. He’s accurate, has a strong arm, is a good decision maker, and has a microscopic sack rate. Penix might not have the athleticism boasted by some of the other prospects in this draft, but the lefty is one of the very best pure passers in the nation. The question with him will always come down to his injury history. Penix has had four season-ending injuries since 2018, including a dislocated throwing shoulder and two torn ACLs on the same knee. He doesn’t currently appear to be impacted by the injuries, but his medical reports and future prognosis will be vital to his draft stock. Teams could fear a higher chance for re-injury or an early onset of arthritis — though it’s important to note that those of us on the outside just don’t know one way or the other…