The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2024 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M i c h i ga n a t h l e t i c s saw 17 of its athletes drafted to three different professional leagues in 2023-24, highlighted by the football team setting a program record with 13 selections. While the Wol- verines didn't have any athletes taken in the NBA Draft for the first time since 2020, they did have two chosen in each of the NHL and Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) drafts. Quarterback J.J. McCar- thy, who departed Michi- gan following a stellar junior campaign, was the Maize and Blue's highest- drafted player, going No. 10 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. He became the Wolverines' first quarterback to be taken in the first round since his head coach, Jim Har- baugh, in 1987 (No. 26 overall) and third ever U-M signal-caller to land in the opening round, with Forest Evashevski being the other (No. 10 overall, 1941). Michigan's seven top-100 picks were also a program record, and Harbaugh finished his nine-year U-M tenure with an average of 7.3 selections per draft. The Wolverines have had eight or more NFL Draft picks on nine occasions, in- cluding in both 2023 and 2024 (with nine going in '23). In hockey, Michigan has the most first-round picks in his- tory, with incoming fresh- man forward Michael Hage coming off the board at No. 21 overall to the Montreal Canadiens. He's the Wol- verines' 25th first-rounder in the last five years alone. Hage was joined by fel- low forward signee Chris- tian Humphreys, who was taken by the Colorado Av- alanche with the No. 215 overall selection in the sev- enth and final round. Both players are set to suit up for the Wolverines this coming season. The PLL has only been around since 2019, and U-M has now sent four players to the draft, in- cluding two this year in defensive midfielder Beau Pederson (second round, Utah Archers) and at- tackman Michael Boehm (fourth round, Philadelphia Waterdogs). Former Wol- verine Josh Zawada, who transferred from U-M to Duke ahead of the 2024 season, was also selected in the third round. ❏ ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Seventeen Wolverines Selected In Professional Drafts In 2023-24 Incoming freshman Michael Hage was picked No. 21 overall in the NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He's U-M's 25th first-rounder in the last five years. PHOTO COURTESY CHICAGO STEEL Zavier Simpson • NBA The former Michigan point guard was picked up by the Charlotte Hornets to compete in the NBA Summer League. In four games in Las Vegas, Simpson ranked fourth in the league with 8.0 assists per game, while adding 14.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest. Franz Wagner • NBA The Orlando Magic standout, entering his fourth pro- fessional season, inked a five-year, $224 million contract extension. The deal could become worth $269 million. Moritz Wagner • NBA The Orlando Magic forward agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal to remain with the franchise. He's been in Orlando for the last four seasons. — Clayton Sayfie HEADLINERS Former Michigan athletes in the news this month ❱ Michigan Draft Selections U-M Athlete League Rd. Pick No. Team J.J. McCarthy NFL 1st 10 Minnesota Vikings Kris Jenkins NFL 2nd 49 Cincinnati Bengals Mike Sainristil NFL 2nd 50 Washington Commanders Junior Colson NFL 3rd 69 Los Angeles Chargers Blake Corum NFL 3rd 83 Los Angeles Rams Roman Wilson NFL 3rd 84 Pittsburgh Steelers Zak Zinter NFL 3rd 85 Cleveland Browns AJ Barner NFL 4th 121 Seattle Seahawks Trevor Keegan NFL 5th 172 Philadelphia Eagles Michael Barrett NFL 7th 240 Carolina Panthers LaDarius Henderson NFL 7th 249 Houston Texans Jaylen Harrell NFL 7th 252 Tennessee Titans Cornelius Johnson NFL 7th 253 Los Angeles Chargers Michael Hage* NHL 1st 21 Montreal Canadiens Christian Humphreys* NHL 7th 215 Colorado Avalanche Beau Pederson PLL 2nd 13 Utah Archers Michael Boehm PLL 4th 31 Philadelphia Waterdogs * Incoming freshmen, selected before attending Michigan