The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1094509
48 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2019 What They're Saying • "Bush is so instinctive and a really good leader, and obviously has great speed. The workouts those two [Bush and LSU's Devin White] put up at the NFL Combine were pretty remarkable — you don't often see guys in the 230-pound range do what they did. I remember … [when] a 230-pound linebacker running in the 4.5s was something else, but now you have Bush at 5-11, 234 pounds running a 4.43, and it wasn't even the fastest time in the group. "He also had a 40.5-inch vertical jump, over a 10-foot broad jump and a 6.93 in the three-cone drill — all his numbers were ridiculous. I think that hurts the Steelers in terms of him possibly being there [at pick No. 20]. I had him going there originally, but there are so many defensive players and quarterbacks that will help bump some players down. That's the parachute pick — if you will — and as far as he's going to get. After that, there is a little bit of a drop off at linebacker. Those two guys are special and different from the rest of the group." — ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay • "Linebacker Devin Bush is one of my favorite players to watch in this draft class. He is short but had better length (32-inch arms) than expected and didn't disappoint during workouts. Bush ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, which was a tick behind LSU's Devin White (4.42) for the fastest time among line- backers. But Bush bested White in the three-cone and vertical. He cemented his status as a first- round player." — The Athletic's Dane Brugler • "Linebacker Devin Bush ran his three-cone in 6.93 seconds, and this drill is strongly tied to production at the next level, with the average Pro Bowl linebacker having completed the drill in 7.04 seconds. It is especially predictive when combined with other attributes he displayed, like a 40.5-inch vertical leap and a 4.43 40-yard dash. The idea is to select for speed and con- trol, and this Michigan man helped back up his impressive college résumé." — NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund What They're Saying • "The point of not playing in the bowl game is so you don't get injured, but then you go to the Senior Bowl where you're going to get tackled and there's a chance of injury there as well. So you're decid- ing to take a chance of getting injured at the Senior Bowl, but you're not taking a chance of getting injured with your team- mates? That's what the conversation is all about, but at the end of the day, I don't think [skipping the bowl game] will hurt him." — NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah • "Higdon ran well at the Senior Bowl, showing quickness to hit the hole and accelerate downfield. He then ran well at the combine, turning in a fast 40. Higdon does not have the size of a three-down starter, but he could be a quality backup and change-of- pace back." — WalterFootball.com's Charlie Campbell LB DEVIN BUSH JR. Combine Results (Ranks) Height 5-11 Weight 234 pounds Hand size 9 5 ⁄8 inches Arm length 32 inches Wingspan 76 1 ⁄2 inches 40-yard dash 4.43 seconds (tied for 2nd of 23) Bench press 21 reps (tied for 13th of 27) Vertical jump 40.5 inches (1st of 25) Broad jump 124 inches (tied for 3rd of 26) 3-cone drill 6.93 seconds (5th of 15) 20-yard shuttle 4.23 seconds (tied for 8th of 17) RB KARAN HIGDON Combine Results (Ranks) Height 5-9 Weight 206 pounds Hand size 9 5 ⁄8 inches Arm length 30 3 ⁄4 inches Wingspan 73 1 ⁄4 inches 40-yard dash 4.49 seconds (tied for 6th of 23) Bench press 21 reps (tied for 10th of 26) Vertical jump 34 inches (tied for 13th of 24) Broad jump 123 inches (7th of 23) 3-cone drill Did not participate 20-yard shuttle Did not participate MINNESOTA VIKINGS NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, March 5 TENNESSEE TITANS Sports Illustrated's Kalyn Kahler, March 12 PITTSBURGH STEELERS ESPN's Todd McShay, March 6; The Athletic's Dane Brugler, March 11; USA Today's Nate Davis on March 14 BALTIMORE RAVENS Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo, March 7 OAKLAND RAIDERS CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, March 13 GREEN BAY PACKERS Bleacher Report's Chris Roling, March 14 18 19 20 22 27 30 DRAFT PROJECTIONS DETROIT LIONS Drafttek.com, March 14 • Ranked No. 13 running back and projected as a third- to fifth-round pick (WalterFootball.com's Charlie Campbell, March 7) • Ranked No. 15 running back and No. 152 overall prospect (Drafttek.com, March 10) 184 NFL DRAFT PROJECTIONS & RANKINGS PHOTO BY PER KJLEDSEN PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN