Michigan NFL Players Midseason Update

It might not seem like it, but Michigan is still sending Pro Bowl caliber players to the NFL. Sometimes, as fans, we tend to forget what that player has meant to our school, both on and off the field. Some players who have had great college careers don't transition well into the NFL, and others do better than we thought. Rather than do a "power rankings" of Michigan NFL players, here is an alphabetical list. Current teams are listed in parentheses, and besides-- a power ranking list is just too fluid and objectionable.

Hot Topics: Should Michigan Schedule Neutral Site Games?

Each week, our writers break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and allow them to express their  opinions. Topics cover everything from rivalry games to team and fan apparel. Writers have their own opinion and readers are welcome to comment or contact them via Twitter with their thoughts.


Tyler Desy - Representing Those For Michigan Scheduling Neutral Site Games

1) Michigan....Alabama...Cowboy Stadium. Tell me you don't love it.  I think this is a great thing for the fans, getting to see two powerhouses square off in a brand new stadium in Dallas. While I would love to see this game in Ann Arbor, Cowboy Stadium is pretty good too. Gives the fans a change of atmosphere, I think it gives us a bowl feel right out the gate. You gotta win the big games in a neutral setting at the end of the year, so why not go up against the defending national champions early on. It allows each school to be showcased in front of the whole country, see whose fans travel best and support their teams better. It also lets you measure where you are at talent wise. If you are getting scheduled these types of big games at the start of the season you are no slouch which means your program is going in the right direction and on the path to where they want to be. These are two of the most storied traditions in football and it's going to be some sight to play them in Cowboy Stadium. Michigan fans travel very well so I am anticipating one for the ages. Games like this give you a true measure of where your team is at and it also changes things up for the fans. This is definitely a strengh of schedule booster and if Michigan can win this game, it will automatically jump them up into the top 5 (in my eyes).  I'm going to this game and I am crazy excited to see it. I've never been to Cowboy Stadium and it's something new that all of us fans get to experience. There's lots of places that Michigan hasn't played and it's going to be pretty cool to see them in different venues.

2) Recruiting. Playing in big time neutral site games is going to do wonders for recruiting. Having a top 10 class in 2012, and the #1 ranked class (as of now) for 2013 will surely be helped by these games. Recruits are going to love the idea of playing in the big stage right away. Playing a team like Alabama on neutral site like Cowboy Stadium is not only going to be an amazing experience for them, but will also get them and Michigan a lot more recognition then they would already get. With the level of talent coming in and this amazing coaching staff, Michigan looks to return to the upper echelant of college football and remain there for many years to come.  With this recent success and what I believe will be continued success Michigan will be a attraction for these neutral site games more often. Beating big time programs in settings like this will only do more to real in more top notch recruits which will only help out the program. Fans like to see big time matchups and myself being a fan, am excited to see Michigan vs Alabama.


Thomas Beindit - Representing Those Against Michigan Scheduling Neutral Site Games

1)  The role of neutral site games has changed dramatically from its earliest days.  However, the constants still remain.  First, how often are they actually neutral?  Most neutral site games are located at a venue that gives one team a significant advantage not only for ticket sales, but also for team and fan convenience.  This seems pretty unfair to me.  Along with this, neutral site games were primarily devised to avoid having to schedule a "home and home" with opponents and to bring in some extra cash from a normal game.  However, once again, this has not been in the case.  Not only is it very difficult to sell tickets for games hundreds or thousands of miles away from the campus, but the games often don't bring in even as close to as much money as many assume.  In fact, there has been an argument that Michigan could have made more money in scheduling a MAC team than in its game against Alabama.  I'm not completely convinced, but the fact that it's even debatable shows the basic problems of neutral site games.  They not only cut quality home games, but replace them with games that are difficult to attend.  For instance, another neutral site game that most don't know about, Michigan vs. West Virginia will be happening in Brooklyn next December.  Michigan basketball's home schedule has been pretty weak as of late, especially in non-conference play.  West Virginia is a quality opponent and John Beilein's former team.  There would have been a lot of hype for this game, but because of its neutral site location, I fear that most fans are going to forget it's even happening, which is going to be a big loss for the fans and potential home ticket sales.

2)  Although the lack of true "neutral" venues and financial issues are pretty significant, the real problems are with the atmosphere.  Not only do neutral site games not feel like a college football game because of their typical pro atmosphere (Cowboy Stadium is a perfect example), but fan energy is dwarfed by the existence of multiple fan bases.  Instead of listening to the band or starting Go Blue chants, fans are forced to listen to constant stadium advertisements (must have been 50 All State ads at the Sugar Bowl) and the other team's fans and band.  Sure, it's kind of cool to experience another fan base and their traditions, but wouldn't it be a lot cooler to actually go to their stadium and get the real experience?  No matter how many fans make the trip down to Dallas, it's not going to be a real representation of Michigan or Alabama.  Why?  Because it's only a small portion of their true fan base, they have to split time with the opponent, and you don't get to experience the campus or stadium.  If I wanted to experience Alabama football (I really don't want to experience it), I would go down to Tuscaloosa and watch a game.  Believe me, I love Michigan football and would gladly go to the game if given the chance, but I prefer that experience how it's meant to be, in the Big House.  I also am realistic enough to conclude that other fans probably feel the same way.  Neutral games remove all of the originality of teams and the atmosphere of college football, while making it tougher on fans to actually attend the game and making less money for the university.  It just doesn't make sense.

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Final Points


Tyler - Hard to argue with Tom, there are downfalls of scheduling a neutral site game in a pro stadium. Sure, you have the ads, possible unfair advantage if its closer to one fanbase or another. But to me the pros outweigh the cons. Sure, it's difficult to travel there, I understand that, especially with today's economy. But think about this, pretty soon the Big Ten will be scheduling a home and home with the Pac 12. So regardless we will have to travel all the way across the country to the west coast if we want to go to a game against say Oregon or USC.  I think this neutral site game is better compared because the ticket sales as far as numbers go will be more favorable for each team, rather than a small section in the upper deck in a true away game.  A game in Tuscaloosa would be great to attend and I would be more than happy to do that. Love getting to experience other schools traditions, it's what makes college football. So why not bring two storied traditions together in a neutral site and not in a bowl game where there is much argument over which school is deserving or one of them shouldn't be there. This can just be talk about Michigan vs Alabama. It doesn't matter what the team is, if the fans aren't Michigan fans, even in the Big House they annoy me, so it won't be any different in Dallas. Alabama in the Big House would be awesome and I love that Penn State scheduled a home at home against The Crimson Tide, I think it's great for that program.  Michigan should defintely do this with a top tier school in the spirit of strengthening schedule, but beating them on a neutral site will certainly give the team a great experience and definitely prepare them for the upcoming season which will certainly be tough.  I'm not a fan of only 6 home games at the Big House considering we were spoiled with 8 a season ago, but Michigan is up to the task. I'm going to the game in Dallas and I want to be one of the fortunate to say I saw Michigan play Alabama in Cowboy Stadium. Going to be an amazing experience and something that will no doubt in my mind help Michigan out in the future.

Thomas - I agree with Tyler that many neutral games will be against top competition in front of a national spotlight.  However, it still glosses over the fact that the game is going to be pretty difficult for most to attend and is raising far less money for the university than originally anticipated.  Sure, it's going to be an exciting game for fans with two top teams competing, but isn't a venue supposed to add to the experience?  If Michigan and Alabama played each other in a run-down high school field it would still be exciting, but that doesn't mean it's a good venue.  Cowboy Stadium is supposed to be extremely nice and impressive, but the bottom-line is that it's still a pro stadium.  Fans are going to travel half the country in order to hear endless ads that really aren't benefiting the university.  Along with this, fans will have to endure the thousands of Alabama fans in attendance and their game day traditions.  Certainly, it will be cool to experience, but consider this for a second.  Have you ever watched something like the Michigan vs. MSU game with some Spartans in the room?  Overall, it's just not that fun of an experience.  Now, imagine having thousands cheering everything that goes against Michigan during the game.  Frankly, it takes a lot of energy out of the fans.  It's great if you win, but isn't it a lot more fun celebrating with the thousands in a place like the Big House than with only half of a NFL stadium?  Let's think about this.  Who benefits from these neutral site games?  The owners of the stadiums that host them and that's about it.  The schools and teams really don't benefit that much and the fans certainly don't benefit.  Here's quick comparison.  Look at how Penn State scheduled Alabama.  Instead of a one-off neutral site game, they schedule a home and home.  They got to face Alabama in a home game.  Yes, they had to play Alabama in a road game, but think about the excitement leading up to a home game against a team like Alabama.  Imagine opening the season in Ann Arbor against the Crimson Tide.  Now, that would be a season opener, not forcing fans to travel to Dallas in a sham of a college football game.  Neutral site games benefit almost nobody in the college football world and especially not the fans.

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All writers are entitled to their own opinion and those may or may not represent the held beliefs of Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity. Readers are welcome to comment below or contact the writers via Twitter with  their thoughts

The Role Of Concussions In College Football

Photo Credit: US Magazine

I'm going to take this opportunity to touch on a subject that I think will only loom larger in upcoming years. The controversy surrounding concussions in football. Sure, this isn't a Michigan specific area, as concussions can happen in any sport, any person, high school level, college or pro, but I still want to address it.


I'm sure you're all aware of the latest tragedy involving Junior Seau. The former Patriots and Chargers All-Pro is suspected to have committed suicide last week when it was determined he died due to a self inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Seau's family later gave permission to science to see if he suffered from repeated concussions, or possibly Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is sustained brain damage and can only be diagnosed after death.  Seau's death marks the 12th NFL player known to have committed suicide in the past 25 years. Dave Duerson of the Bears and Andre Waters of the Chiefs are other notable players. Alex Karra,s who suffers from dementia and is a former Detroit Lion, is just one of the more prominent names leading a lawsuit against the NFL. 


I know stories that involve concussions seem to grab the media's attention more often than not. Roger Goodell and the NFL will probably be investing new rules, possibly new equipment. What I wonder, is what Jim Delany, other conference presidents, and Mark Emmert (president of the NCAA) will do now. For example, Kenny Demens was recovering from a concussion and still played in the spring game. A couple years ago, Tate Forcier sustained a concussion in the game against Iowa. 


The law requires that a player who shows signs of a concussion be removed from a game or practice, and bars the player from competing again until being cleared by a licensed health care professional trained in concussion evaluation and management.  As of now, 31 states have such laws to try to curb further damage to younger players. Last year, Emmert and Goodell sent letters to other states, such as Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin to urge the passing of such laws.


Now I will say this. The volume of concussions sustained is more prevalent on the high school level than perhaps any other. That only makes sense when you think of the number of high school players who don't go on to college playing sports. That number lessens even more when you consider the tiny fraction of those players that do go on to play in college, and that college is Michigan. I don't know what all is done when a scholarship is offered to a player. Do they look at that players medical histories and records? It's impossible to look at game tape of one player, from pee wees to high school to determine whether or not they might have sustained some form of concussion or brain damage.


The parental argument can also come into play. Say you're a parent of a high school running back, and your son complains of dizziness after a game. That parent might not be aware of how most concussions occur, so they might not think anything of it and let their son go on doing normal activities. Or, you can go to the other end of the spectrum and you are one of those parents who stay on top of every possibly detail, so that when your son does indeed get his head clocked around, and he complains of certain symptoms; how do you let him continue on when you're in constant fear something worse could happen to him?


When we watch football, we cheer when we see the bone crunching hits. As rabid, bloodthirsty fans who yearn for the punishing days that were played years ago, we look forward to the gladiator style wreckage that can be seen in a football stadium. That is one thing that will never change. I admit that I cheer for our defense to deliver such hits. I don't want to see anyone get hurt on purpose, or accident, but we still want big hits. I want a good, clean match-up between Michigan and the losing team (haha). Yet, as a parent and a fan, I remain constantly fearful for the health of the players on the field. If I had to choose between a concussion, brain damage, dementia, or or another medical hardship and a win over a rival team, I would choose the latter every time.  For most of these players, they will still be trying to become productive citizens after college and these injuries could destroy their entire lives.


The pundits who are basically forecasting the death of football in a few decades? They can say what they want, and use statistics to back up their opinions. I believe the laws and equipment will be in place to prevent that. Football is a multi-billion dollar sport that won't lose steam for a long time. With such a potent fan base that we have here at Michigan, our thoughts and prayers should be the Seau family and we need to make sure that we're advocating the safety measures that will make sure the players are safe and we can enjoy football for a long time.

Michigan's Undrafted Free Agents - Find Out Where They Ended Up

Photo Credit: AnnArbor.com

The 2012 NFL Draft is over. Luck and Griffin III have been drafted to their predicted teams. There have been good picks, and head scratchers. It has already been written about the Michigan Men (Martin, Molk, Hemingway) who were drafted onto an NFL team, so here's one about the guys who weren't.

Let it be known that when a player goes undrafted, that doesn't mean he doesn't receive a shot. Every player who enters the draft hires an agent, and when they are drafted by a team, that agent then works out the contract particulars for that player. However, when a guy goes undrafted, that player gets to choose between a limited number of teams who have expressed interest.

Most undrafted playres rarely get a starting job. Of course, the same can be said for players from the 4th round to the 7th round. These are your backup players, your practice squad guys. They're not granted the starting job right away, but have to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Now, just because I've said this, doesn't mean it's the bottom of the barrel. There are many players who go undrafted who go on to be stars in the NFL. Jeff Saturday, Wes Welker, Rod Smith, Antonio Pierce, and Bart Scott are just some of the guys who went undrafted, busted their tails, and went on to star careers in the NFL. Can our guys do the same? It is possible, and here's my guess as to how it might work out:

Troy Woolfolk

1. Troy Woolfolk, CB--Cowboys. Woolfolk has a good shot here. Cowboys were weak in the secondary before the draft, which is why they traded up to the 6th overall spot to grab Claiborne from LSU. It wasn't until they drafted a safety, Matt Johnson, out of Eastern Washington in the 4th round, that Dallas even drafted another secondary player. We all know Woolfolk has a rocky history at Michigan, when you include injuries and being on one of the worst defenses ever during the RR era, but I think he has the potential to grab a solid backup spot behind Claiborne. I still think the weak side of the Cowboys secondary is going to be a sore spot, especially with the heavy passing league the NFL has become. And typically, you'll find more teams adding secondary players to their teams and practice squads in case there's a major injury. Only Woolfolk's injury prone history might stop him for now.

Michael Shaw

2. Michael Shaw, RB--Redskins. This is very intriguing. Most fans are very well aware of Shanahan's penchant for picking different starting running backs. Last year, it was a mix of Hightower, Torain, and Royster. This year will have an even bigger change. Hightower left via free agency, and Torain was released. What did the Skins do this year in the draft? They took Griffin III of course. Then, against all common sense, they drafted Cousins out of MSU in the 4th round. The only running back they drafted? Alfred Morris our of Florida Atlantic in the 6th round. So, bottom line--Morris has just as much of a chance as Shaw does. Shaw, at 6'1" and 195 lbs, might seem sort of tall for a prototype running back in Shanahan's zone blocking offense. Shaw ran for just over 1,000 yards and 14 TDs in his career at Michigan; a respectable number but a low one compared to others who were drafted. Bottom line--the future is bright for Shaw, and would be for any running back for Mike Shanahan.

Brandon Herron

3. Brandon Herron, LB--Buccaneers. Herron, a 4 yr letterman might have the longest road to making an NFL team. Herron starred in some games last season, even making 1 start. His 2 defensive TDs in 1 game against WMU is a highlight no fans will be soon to forget. However, his play was never steady and he only seemed to show up big in non-conference games. The Bucs have a young defense on their team, which shows when they were blown out in their last 5 regular season games, and their head coach was fired. Now, they bring in Greg Schiano from Rutgers, who had a good head coaching career there, but keep in mind that for years he coached in different defensive positions at Miami, Penn St, and even the Chicago Bears for some time. The Bucs went mostly defense during the recent draft, and with Herron's playing history, the whole situation could be iffy. Bottom line--I think Herron will be cut before training camps start in July, or at least in the first couple weeks of camp.

Ryan Van Bergen

4. Ryan Van Bergen, DE--Panthers. I have to say, Van Bergen going undrafted surprised me. At 6'6 and 288 lbs, I thought he'd be the ideal pick for any team. He's had the experience on the line, and his motor was just closely mirroring that of Mike Martin. The Panthers defense was absolutely porous last year. Keep in mind that, before Cam Newton showed up, the Panthers scored 17 TDs and went 1-15. Last season with Cam, they scored 48 TDs as a team and went 6-10. Now yes, that is a significant upgrade from the previous season, but if their defense had been better, they might have contended for a playoff spot. The Panthers love their linebackers and defensive ends to be solid, and rush the passer consistently. Van Bergen shows these traits in spades. Bottom line--it will only be a matter of time till Van Bergen is able to grab an occasional starting nod, maybe due to injury or otherwise.

The next few months will prove to be interesting. Rookie mini-camps will start, and full team training camps begin towards the end of July. The NFL draft gave me just a little reprieve from the monotony of the NBA and NHL seasons. I will continue monitoring any news coming up on our new guys in the NFL, drafted or undrafted.

Junior Hemingway To The Kansas City Chiefs

Photo Credit: Big Ten Network

With the 238th Pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Junior Hemingway, WR from the University of Michigan. Yes!! Another pick from Michigan, thank goodness. This pick made a lot of sense because the Chiefs needed another weapon on offense, some quarterback that just signed with Denver (haha) is known for gun slinging and putting up a lot of points. Junior will join Michigan alum Steve Breaston, as well as Dwayne Bowe in Kansas City.

He should definitely go a long way in improving the receiving numbers for the Chiefs. The Chiefs ranked 27th in the NFL in total offense and 25th in the league in passing. At the combine, Hemingway put up 21 reps at 225 which was among tops among all receivers. Also, he ran a 4.53 in the 40, which is decent and had a 35.5" jump. Not crazy impressive numbers, but still pretty good for a wide receiver. He's 6'0 tall and weighs 225 lbs, but has some great hands.  The biggest thing that probably hurt his draft stock is his height.

In his career at Michigan, Hemingway started 31 games at WR and appeared in 48 games overall. He ranks 17th in Michigan history with 1,638 yards receiving, he also amassed six 100-yard receiving games placing him 9th in school history.  Let's not forget about his 2 touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl this past year, which earned him Sugar Bowl MVP. Along with this, he earned All Big-Ten team honorable mention.

In 2011, he led the team in receiving with 34 catches for 699 yards averaging 20.6 yards per catch, and tied for the team lead with 4 touchdowns. His biggest game was against the Irish, where he grabbed 3 balls for 165 yards and 1 touchdown. In 2010, he caught 32 balls for 593 yards averaging 18.5 yards a catch and also had 4 touchdowns. 2009 he had 16 catches for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2007 and 2008, he didn't play much, but he did have 6 catches for 30.5 yards and 1 touchdown. Now, Hemingway wasn't just a receiver, he also did some work in the return game early on in his career.  He had 11 career returns for 120 yards, averaged 10.9 yards a return and a career long of 34 yards.  

This by no means is a Rich Rod bashing, but I definitely think that playing in his era hurt Hemingway. We all know it was a run heavy offense due to the spread. In a more traditional offense, or even the one that they ran this year, he would have had better numbers. If he had been in this offense, who knows how high he would have been taken in the draft.  Regardless, Hemingway should do some solid things in Kansas City in the future.

David Molk To The San Diego Chargers

Photo Credit: ESPN

With the 226th Pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers selected David Molk, Center from the University of Michigan. Finally when we all thought there was no hope, another Michigan man comes off the board. Better late than never I guess. Molk is just under 6'1" and that's what many pro scouts said was the knock on him. To me, that's ridiculous, he is after all, the Rimington Award Winner for Best Center in the country, so that should say enough about him. He was a four year starter, a First Team AP All-American, and earned consensus All-American honors. He's not the only former Wolverine in San Diego, as he joins Stephen Schilling and Jonas Mouton.

Molk was a team captain, as well as the anchor and signal caller of an offensive line that provided two 1,000 yard rushers in Denard Robinson and Fitz Toussaint. As we all know, offensive linemen don't get credit in the stats category, but he sure did deserves some. Michigan ranked 2nd in the Big Ten in rushing yards at 221.8 yards per game. He started 41 games at Michigan, proving that he has great durability. He also put up 41 reps at the combine showing great upper body strength. I was surprised to see him fall to the 7th round of the draft, but I guess the scouts put a lot of focus on his height.

I think he's going to be a great addition to the Chargers and enjoy playing alongside his former teammate, Stephen Schilling, which may help him make the adjustment into the NFL. He will have some competition if he wants to be a starter, as the Chargers just signed Center Nick Hardwick to a 3 year contract. The Chargers have a pretty good stable of running backs including Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert, and let's not forget about their quarterback Phillip Rivers. The Chargers and Molk will have a tough time in the new AFC West created by the addition of Peyton Manning to the Broncos.  Molk is a great pickup and he's adding to one of the NFL's better offensive lines.

I hope Molk gets right in there, competes and sooner than later, snags the starting job. I wish him the best of luck in the NFL and hope he has a long, injury free career. Go Blue we will miss you in Ann Arbor.

Mike Martin To The Tennessee Titans

Photo Credit: nepatriotsdraft.com

With the 82nd Pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Tennesse Titans select from the University of Michigan, DT Mike Martin! Finally, what all of us have been waiting for. One of our own has come off the board. Mike ran a 4.88 in the 40 at the combine, as well as putting up 36 reps at 225 lbs and had a 33.5" vertical jump.

To give you all an idea of what the Titans are getting production wise from Mike Martin, I'll throw some numbers at you. Freshman yea,r he had 20 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 2 sacks. So not that big of production but he wasn't the main guy on the DL, so that's somewhat to be expected. As a Sophomore, his numbers improved. 51 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. So already, in just one season his numbers pretty much doubled. Junior year he had 37 total tackles, 6 of which were for loss and 2.5 sacks. Let's face it this was in the RR era, where the defense was atrocious. He was the best player on that side of the ball, but its no surprise that his numbers were down. Senior year under Coach Hoke and Great Mattison, his numbers jumped. He had 64 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. So for his career at Michigan he ended up with 172 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and a forced fumble. Mike was constantly double teamed by the opposition and he still found ways to impact the game. Always penetrating the backfield and disrupting run plays or getting after the quarterback. One thing for sure is that the Titans are getting a freak athlete and a guy that is going to work extremely hard day in and day out. The battles he had in practice against Rimington Award Winner David Molk certainly helped. Maybe not right away, but with some work and developing, he will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both praised Mike Martin. With his great wrestling background, he's great at getting leverage and penetrating into the backfield. In my opinion, Martin is going to be great for the Titans. They aren't very strong on the defensive line in the middle. They were 24th in the league last year allowing just over 128 yards per game on the ground. Total yardage they were 18th in the league, but let's face it they do have a great backfield. Mike Martin will go along way towards solidifying the defensive line and thus making that defense that much better.

I wish Mike the best of luck in the NFL playing for the Titans we all know that he is going to be a force to reckon with. With his tireless work ethic and tenacity on the field to get after the quarterback he will do big things in years to come.

For Michigan's Seniors, The Future Is Now

The NFL draft is coming up, but before that happens, there is a lot of work to do for the coaches and GMs. College pro days are in full swing, giving more athletes an opportunity to show their skills whether or not they were invited to the Scouting Combine back in February. Michigan's pro day has come and gone and I'm going to throw some ideas out there about our seniors. Michigan will not have an underclassmen that has declared for the draft, which I think that is more of a testament to the type of program Hoke is building.

First, I'm not a draft expert. Picking the draft correctly is like being perfect on your NCAA Tournament bracket. It's just not going to happen. However, I've tried not to attach myself to player stats. Everyone knows by know that Jerry Rice was criticized at college for being too slow. Are we going to argue about that now? I can tell you where I believe each player would be best suited to go. Then of course, this is all subject to opinion and any views expressed forthwith are just mine.

Mike Martin, DT--Martin was an absolute stud this past season. Martin has always been a talented player on the defensive line. It took Mattison's arrival to show just how special he can be. Some scouts believe his height is a detriment, but with his motor, there's nothing that can prevent him from being an important cog on the D-line. My guess: Vikings. Kevin and Pat Williams no longer anchor their stout line, and the entire defense has holes. I could see him going in the early to mid 3rd round area.

David Molk, C--This is a tricky one for NFL scouts. He repeated his numbers at the pro day from the Combine, but also had his right foot in a cast. Molk communicates wonderfully at the line of scrimmage, rarely gets called for penalties, and knows how to audible. When he came out due to an injury at the Sugar Bowl, the drop-off was considerable. Centers can come at a premium at the NFL level, but with time Molk could easily be a Pro Bowler. My guess: Packers. The Packers just lost their sturdy Pro Bowl center Scott Wells to free agency. I believe Molk would be an asset hiking the ball to Aaron Rodgers, and he should be gone in the late 2nd round.

Junior Hemingway, WR--The NFL is a quarterback driven league. This past season had a bounty of passing records broken. Every team looks for the next big thing, and Hemingway could be it. He surprised scouts at both the Combine and the pro day with his speed. Considering he's always able to run that long post route, or go over the middle, he is an ideal fit for any team. My guess: Broncos. With losing Eddie Royal to free agency, that leaves Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker at receiver. That wouldn't be too bad with Tebow at the helm, but now that Peyton Manning has signed on as starting quarterback, they're going to need at least one more receiver to catch his passes. Middle of 4th round.

Kevin Koger, TE-- Team captain Koger seemed to disappear at times last season, yet he always makes that spectacular catch or block on just the right play. Snubbed by not getting an invite to the combine, that might make him work harder for a roster spot. My guess: Cardinals. Tight ends are becoming the sexy position of the league. Koger could be one of the top 10 TEs taken, but I don't think that'll happen till the 5th or 6th rounds.

Martavious Odoms, WR--Always efficient and elusive. In the NFL, probably better suited as a return man and special teams player. My guess: Chargers. San Diego's special teams suffered last year by losing Darren Sproles to free agency. Odoms could be that guy to step in. I wouldn't go after him til the 6th to 7th rounds however.

Ryan Van Bergen, DL--Alongside Martin, they were a formidable team to try to run against. Some pro teams stockpile players on the D-line, and Van Bergen fits any defensive system. My guess: Browns. Cleveland seems to be perpetually bad on defense, and Van Bergen could end up as a starter. I'm guessing 6th round.

Troy Woolfolk, CB--Woolfolk is a true mystery. Will he be a shutdown corner that we've seen flashes of, or the oft-injured guy we pined for? One thing that might be going for him is his dad, Butch, was drafted by the Giants in 1982. My guess: Buccaneers. The defense is aging for the Bucs, a la Ronde Barber, and Woolfolk could be a stopgap measure to replace him. I'm figuring on 7th round.

Steve Watson, Mark Huyge, Brandon Herron, Kelvin Grady, Tony Anderson, Michael Shaw, J.B. Fitzgerald, Marell Evans, Jared Van Slyke, John McColgan, Zac Johnson, amd Will Heininger are all probably going to be undrafted, or undrafted free-agents.

The 7 listed players above, however, do signal a shift in players drafted out of Michigan. In recent years the numbers have dwindled to 3 or 4. Hopefully our outgoing seniors will show we're still here to contend with, because we're "Michigan for God's sake".

Photo Credit: Miami New Times

Merry Christmas From Hoke's Mad Magicians

We don't typically post on non-Michigan related topics, but we just want to take the time to wish everybody a Merry Christmas.  We hope everybody takes the time to say thanks for what they have and spend some quality time with the family or close friends.  Have a great day enjoying the festivities and hopefully everybody got some great new Michigan gear for the coming year and Sugar Bowl (plus there are a few great NFL and NBA games that should be coming your way as well).

Once again, Merry Christmas and be sure to post in the comments what Michigan gear Santa brought you this year!

Virginia Tech's Story

Before Michigan's Sugar Bowl selection, most probably would have thought the term "Hokie" was some sort of joke about Michigan coach Brady Hoke. However, now that Michigan has been scheduled to play Virginia Tech for the first time in its 132 year history, many have been eager to learn about this school rich in tradition and athletic prominence. So here's a summary of Virginia Tech's Story:


Virginia Tech Basics

• Virginia Tech or VT is located in Blacksburg, Virginia
• Officially named "Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University" (Yeah, I like Virginia Tech better too)
• Founded in 1872
• 30,739 Students (Michigan has about 41,000 students overall)
• Ranked #71 in the nation by US News

Fun Facts

• A student coined the term "Hokie" in 1896
• The "Hokie Stone" is the image of the campus (imagine the Spartan statute at MSU)
• Before the Homecoming game, the Army ROTC group on campus runs the game ball over 100 miles on campus
• Virginia Tech is one of the few colleges that still has a "class ring" system
• VT's mascot started out as a "Gobbler" and became a "Hokie Bird"

Game Day Traditions

• Team walks to the stadium 2 hours before the game with cheerleaders, etc.
• Fans shake keys on 3rd down (Hey we do this too!)
• A Huge "Let's Go Hokies!" Cheer
• Fire off a huge cannon after scoring
• Turkey legs at their stadium
• They do the hokey pokey after the 3rd quarter

Famous Alumni

• Kylene Barker - Miss America 1979
• Michael Vick - NFL QB
• DeAngelo Hall - NFL DB
• Roger Craig - Winner of 2011 Jeopardy Tournament of Champions
• Chris Kraft - First NASA flight director

Obviously, the school not only has a rich athletic history, but also has a lot of history surrounding campus and academics. Unfortunately, because of Virginia Tech's inability to sell tickets, there is probably not going to be a huge Hokie presence in New Orleans. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech head football coach, remains confident in the team's ability to travel, but I'm still skeptical. There have been reports showing that they are significantly behind their goals in ticket sales and even added an option to purchase tickets that will be donated to charities for fans and alumni that cannot attend the game.

Regardless of how many Virginia Tech fans are there, it will still be a great game with a lot of excitement. It's been quite a while since Michigan has been in a BCS game, and it's great to have interesting opponents.

On a side-note, I did not mention the two shootings that have occurred on Virginia Tech's campus since 2007. These are extremely unfortunate events, but not something this blog is designed to report or analyze. However, we encourage all readers to learn from these horrible events and pray for the victims and their families. If you wish to read more look here and here.

Photo Credit: Hokie Sports