2010 NFL Draft: Michigan Wolverines

How the Michigan football team will do this year is anyone’s guess. After an abysmal 3-9 season in 2008, the Wolverines started hot in 2009, going 5-2 before hitting the bulk of the Big Ten season and sputtering to a 5-7 finish.

Two years under Rich Rodriguez and the results have been less than stellar. An 8-16 record, no bowl berths, no rivalry wins and an awful lot of questions.

There were a lot of holes in last year’s team, but a few players were bright spots all season and kept the team in games as best they could. Since the end of the season, a few players have earned good reviews from scouts and analysts as the NFL Draft approaches in April.

While there aren’t as many big names as in years past, here’s a look at six Michigan prospects that NFL teams might consider taking in this year’s draft.

Brandon Graham: OLB, SR

2009 Stats:
1.) 12 games played; 64 tackles, including 42 solo; 26 tackles for loss; 10.5 sacks; two FF
2.) Scored one touchdown on a punt return against Western Michigan

Awards/Honors:
1.) Chosen as MVP of the 2010 Senior Bowl
2.) Earned the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award for the second straight year
3.) Named an AP Second Team All-American

Draft Rating:
1.) Rated the 15th best overall prospect in the draft by scouts
2.) Rated the best OLB prospect by scouts

Analysis:
Graham is Michigan’s best bet to be drafted. In another down year for the Wolverines, Graham was consistent and played hard even late in games when Michigan was behind. He earned good reviews at the Senior Bowl and earned MVP honors with five tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.

ESPN’s Todd McShay has Graham going to New England with the 22nd overall pick. Considering how the Patriots seem to shuffle through linebackers during a given season, this is a good choice. If not taken in the first round, Graham will be chosen somewhere in the second round.

Zoltan Mesko: P, SR

2009 Stats:
1.) 52 punts for 2312 yards; 44.5 yards per punt; 15 punts inside the 20-yard line.
2.) Led the Big Ten in punting in 2009

Awards/Honors:
1.) Served as a team captain in 2009
2.) Named an ESPN the Magazine First Team All-American
3.) Named an AP Second Team All-American
4.) Finalist for the Ray Guy Award

Draft Rating:
1.) Rated the third-best punter in the draft by scouts

Analysis:
Mesko got some good reviews at the Senior Bowl practices, but where he’ll end up in the draft is anyone’s guess. In the last five drafts there have only been 11 punters taken, and the highest one was in the third round in 2005. Mesko’s rated high among punters, though, and he’ll likely fall somewhere in the middle of the draft.

Donovan Warren: CB, JR

2009 Stats:
1.) 12 games played; 66 total tackles, including 43 solo; four INTs

Awards/Honors:
1.) Named to All-Big Ten first team (media)
2.) Named to all-Big Ten second team (coaches)

Draft Rating:
1.) Rated the ninth-best cornerback in the draft by scouts

Analysis:
Like Graham, Warren was one of the few bright spots on defense last year for the Wolverines. He’s a great tackler and was excellent in the secondary in 2009. Tennessee’s Eric Berry seems to be the best defensive back in this year’s draft, but Warren could definitely make an impact.

Michigan defensive backs of the past, like Marlin Jackson, Leon Hall and Morgan Trent, have been successful in the pros, and Warren could be the next one. Look for Warren to go anywhere from round three to round five.

Stevie Brown: S, SR

2009 Stats:
1.) 12 games played; 80 total tackles, including 45 solo; one INT, one FF, one sack
2.) Led the team in tackles
3.) Big contributor on special teams

Awards/Honors
1.) Served as a team captain in 2009
2.) Earned the Roger Zatkoff award as Michigan's top linebacker

Draft Rating:
1.) Rated the 35th best safety in the draft by scouts

Analysis:
Unlike Graham and Warren, Brown is rated near the bottom in his position’s draft class. He made an impact on the Michigan defense in 2009, but it’s tough to say where he might be selected in the draft (if he is selected at all).

Greg Mathews: WR, SR

2009 Stats:
1.) 12 games played; 29 catches for 352 yards; 12.1 yards per catch; one TD
2.) Michigan's second leading receiver in 2009
3.) Scored the game-winning touchdown against Notre Dame with 11 seconds remaining

Draft Rating:
1.) Rated the 48th best wide receiver in the draft by scouts

Analysis:
Mathews was a good target for Tate Forcier at times last season, but he’s rated near the bottom of this year’s class of receivers. If he’s drafted at all, it will probably be in the later rounds.

Brandon Minor: RB, SR

2009 Stats
1.) Nine games played; 523 yards on 96 attempts; 5.2 yards per carry; eight TDs

Draft Rating:
1.) Rated the 27th best running back in the draft by scouts

Analysis:
In a draft featuring the likes of C.J. Spiller, Jahvid Best, Toby Gerhart and LeGarrette Blount, among others, Minor’s chances of getting drafted seem very slim at best. Michigan is known for producing NFL-caliber running backs, but it doesn't look like Minor will be one of them.