The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520409
JUNE/JULY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 19 drafts with a Wolverine being picked in the opening round, and he became the 53rd first-rounder in program history. The six others to be taken in the first two days (rounds two and three) were defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (No. 49 to the Cincinnati Bengals), defensive back Mike Sainristil (No. 50 to the Washington Commanders), linebacker Junior Colson (No. 69 to the Los Angeles Chargers), running back Blake Corum (No. 83 to the Los Angeles Rams), wide receiver Roman Wilson (No. 84 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers) and offensive lineman Zak Zinter (No. 85 overall to the Cleveland Browns). Harbaugh, watching from the Char- gers' headquarters, was proud to see his U-M players come off the board. "It got emotional for me," Harbaugh said. "It really did. The little hairs on the arm were standing up. I'm a Charger, but those are my guys." Michigan now has had at least one player drafted in an NCAA-record 86 consecutive drafts dating back to 1938. The Wolverines have 414 total draft picks in history. Detroit was a fitting host for this year's event, given that Michigan won the na- tional title and had so many selections and the Lions made the NFC champion- ship game for the first time since 1991. The event set the NFL Draft attendance record with 775,000 fans, which included the Michigan football team. The Wol- verines made an appearance to begin the second night, parading the CFP national championship trophy onto the stage and singing a rousing chorus of "The Victors" with the thousands of U-M fans at Cam- pus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. Draft Pick Capsules QB J.J. McCARTHY First Round, No. 10 Overall Minnesota Vikings A record six quarterbacks were taken in the first 12 picks, McCarthy being the fifth to the Vikings, behind USC's Ca- leb Williams (No. 1 to Chicago), LSU's Jayden Daniels (No. 2 to Washington), North Carolina's Drake Maye (No. 3 to New England) and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8 to Atlanta). McCarthy is in the position he wanted to end up in, with a former NFL quarterback as his head coach in Kevin O'Connell and a slew of offensive weapons, including fifth-year wideout Justin Jefferson, the league's all- time leader in career receiving yards per game (98.3). "It's funny, if I could choose, if this was the college recruiting process, these would be the guys that I would be going to," McCarthy said of the Vikings. "But every QB in the class that I interacted with wanted to go to Minnesota. So, it's just an amazing honor to be able to be selected to this great organization and this great culture that I'm excited to be a part of." O'Connell said the Vikings were happy when the Falcons went with a non-Mc- Carthy quarterback at No. 8, giving them confidence they'd be able to draft the sig- nal-caller they had circled. "The confidence came from a process of really going through film study and the opportunity to get on campus with him for a full day in Ann Arbor and really try to dive into who he is as a player and where he's at in his development," O'Connell said on ESPN of why he believes in him. DT KRIS JENKINS Second Round, No. 49 Overall Cincinnati Bengals After a four-year lull without a defen- sive tackle drafted from 2019-22, Michi- gan has now had one picked in each of the last two drafts — Mazi Smith at No. 26 overall to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 and Kris Jenkins at No. 49 overall to the Cin- cinnati Bengals in 2024. Smith, Jenkins and Alan Branch (No. 33 in 2007) are the only three U-M defensive tackles selected in the top 50 this century. Jenkins was the seventh D-tackle chosen in 2024, and he joins four other Wolverines in Cincinnati — running back Chris Evans, defensive backs Dax Hill and DJ Turner, and punter Brad Robbins. "I'm excited to get to know more guys and be a part of this culture from the inside," Jenkins said. "I'm just really ex- cited." Jenkins' father, Kris Sr., attended Maryland and was a second-round de- fensive tackle picked by the Carolina Pan- thers in 2001. His uncle Cullen Jenkins played defensive end at Central Michigan and went undrafted in 2003 before play- ing in the league until 2016. DB MIKE SAINRISTIL Second Round, No. 50 Overall Washington Commanders Two-time Michigan captain Mike Sainristil became the program's first top- 50 pick at defensive back since Jabrill Pep- pers in 2017 (No. 25). The pick drew praise from analysts, including former Alabama coach Nick Saban, who said on ABC that Sainristil "may be the best football player, pound for pound, in the draft." Sainristil expects to play nickel back as opposed to outside cornerback in the NFL, which is what he did most of the time the last two seasons after transition- ing from wide receiver. "I want to play inside. That's where I make my money," Sainristil said. "That's where I'm very comfortable. I have the flexibility to play anywhere on the field, [including] outside corner, and I have the knowledge to play safety, as well. What- ever the coaches need me to do, I'm going to do. But, put me in that slot, put me in that slot corner, let me go cause havoc." LB JUNIOR COLSON Third Round, No. 69 Overall Los Angeles Chargers General manager Joe Hortiz, Harbaugh and the Chargers weren't sure if Colson would be available at No. 69, but they didn't hesitate to take him once he was. He reunites with not only his college head coach but also defensive coordinator in Jesse Minter, who spent the last two sea- sons in Ann Arbor before following Har- baugh to Los Angeles. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was the first of two Wolverines selected in the second round of the draft. He is headed to the Cincinnati Bengals, while defensive back Mike Sainristil was taken by the Washington Commanders. GRAPHIC COURTESY CINCINNATI BENGALS