The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 35 in the middle of the line but was an up- grade and, arguably, the heartbeat of the trench attack. Oluwatimi was a player who likely could have entered the NFL Draft af- ter his senior season at Virginia, but he chose Michigan to take his game to the next level. Now that he is going through the 2023 NFL Draft process, it seems his gamble paid off. Most analysts have him as a potential mid-round selection. "I feel like I could have made the jump last year," Oluwatimi said at Michi- gan's pro day. "Probably wouldn't have known if I would have gotten drafted. That's probably the only thing. But at the end of the day, it's not where you start, it's where you finish for the NFL. "I feel like I positioned myself coming here, and I'm pretty sure I'll get drafted, hopefully. I'm happy right where I'm at." The future NFL players on Michigan's 2022 roster helped Oluwatimi unlock another step in his development, but it was ultimately the coaches that threw the kitchen sink at him. He expects to be all the better for it. "The defense that [ Jesse Minter] throws at us on a daily basis, all of that prepared me," Oluwatimi said. "I feel like going against that sharpened my tools each day and made game day easier, and then being able to go out on game day and put good things on tape, it positioned me to be in a better spot now. "[Jim Harbaugh] knows what the NFL game is like. So, him telling you and giv- ing you instant feedback and true feed- back of whether he thinks you can make the transition and be a successful starter in the NFL, it's proven. If he gives you that blessing, you still gotta go earn it, but then that gives you that confidence that you can go do it." ❏ Other Wolverines Who Could Be Selected Michigan sent nine players to the NFL Combine this year — cornerback DJ Turner, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, center Olu Oluwatimi, wide receiver Ronnie Bell, edge de- fender Mike Morris, offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, kicker Jake Moody and punter Brad Robbins. Bell will be drafted, but his range is still to be determined. The chance exists that he could sneak into the back end of the draft's second day, but most expect him to come off the board sometime on Day 3 between the fourth and seventh rounds. He tested well at the NFL Combine, running a 4.54 40-yard dash, and posted a 6.59-second cone drill at Michigan's pro day. Given his ability to operate out of the slot and his experience returning kicks and punts, teams could see him as a value pick. "He participated in position drills and looked good running routes. Bell, projected to be selected in the fourth round, met one-on-one with the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs," Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline wrote after U-M's pro day. The NFL Combine was rough on Morris from a testing perspective. The former Michigan edge had an underwhelming Thursday on the field. He ran a 4.95 time in the 40-yard dash (20th out of 21 defensive ends), with a 1.72-second 10-yard split (19th of 21). His 28.5-inch vertical jump was 28th of 31 players at his position, and his 9-foot, 2-inch broad jump slotted 29th. Morris' stock is anywhere from the mid-to-late rounds. Despite the off-day in testing, he still thinks Michigan has made him and his teammates ready for the NFL. "I feel like Michigan prepared me in the mental aspect of it," he said. "This place is run just like the NFL. I'd say we probably practice and hit more, but that's probably the difference." Oluwatimi is the headliner for Michigan on the offensive line, but there could be some mid-round value in Hayes, too. The 6-foot-6, 298-pounder posted his best season in his fifth year with the program in 2022. Despite that, there are questions about whether he is a tackle or a guard at the next level. If a team sees him as a depth piece, the answer could differ depending on the situation. "Hayes has the size, and play demeanor NFL decision-makers will value," The Draft Network wrote. "He is functional to solid in both run and pass blocking. Yet, he is not a master of either. I project him to be kicked inside to guard due to his arm length (32½ inches). Hayes is better battling in tight quarters where he can eliminate the issue of arm length/reach. I do not envision him as a long-term starting option for an offense at tackle but as a viable backup in a pinch. There is a path for him as a guard at the next level." Four additional Wolverines participated in the U-M Pro Day, with cornerback Gemon Green, tight ends Joel Honigford and Carter Selzer and kicker/punter Rhett Andersen going through workouts in front of all 32 NFL teams. Most expect Moody — who nailed a 63-yard field goal at Pro Day — and Robbins to land with a team as either late-round draft picks or priority free agents. Green's best shot at earning a tryout could be via a late-round selection, too. His path most likely comes in the form of a tryout at a rookie minicamp this spring. — Anthony Broome NFL COMBINE/PRO DAY RESULTS Height/Weight: 6-2½, 309 pounds Arms: 32¾ inches Hands: 8⅝ inches 40-Yard Dash: 5.38 Bench Press: 29 reps Vertical Jump: 30 inches Broad Jump: 9 feet, 2 inches 3-Cone Drill: DNP 20-Yard Shuttle: DNP Center Olu Oluwatimi could have entered the draft after his senior season at Virginia but opted to come to U-M for developmental reasons. He ended up winning the Rimington and Outland trophies as the nation's best offensive and overall lineman in 2022. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL