The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M ichigan saw 18 football players, including 13 NFL Draft picks, head to the professional ranks for the 2024 season, and several are standing out. Los Angeles Rams cornerback Josh Wallace, who went undrafted, has made two starts, and Cleveland Browns of- fensive lineman Zak Zinter has opened three games. Los Angeles Chargers line- backer Junior Colson has been banged up but is getting rotational snaps, and Rams running back Blake Corum has gotten some backup carries (23 rushes for 80 yards through nine games). There are others making bigger con- tributions, though, including Cincin- nati Bengals defensive tackle Kris Jen- kins Jr. He's started two of eight games and been productive with 16 tackles, 1 stop for loss and a sack. He broke out Nov. 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, posting a career-high 5 tackles and the first sack of his career. Two tight ends, meanwhile, have re- ally stood out. Erick All — who spent 2019-21 at Michigan before finishing his career at Iowa — had become a fea- tured receiver and blocker for the Ben- gals, before going down with a season- ending ACL injury Nov. 3. All (21) and Seattle Seahawks rookie AJ Barner (17) are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in targets among NFL rookie tight ends. Both former Michigan tight ends have been impressive, with All making 20 catches for 158 yards and Barner totaling 14 grabs for 132 yards and a touchdown. And then there's Washington Com- manders nickel back Mike Sainristil, who's getting better and better. He's opened nine of 10 outings and registered 49 tackles and 6 pass breakups. After allowing more than 50 yards in coverage in two of the first three games, he's done so only once since. "That's what I'm starting to see — a guy that's not as anxious, a guy that's not really playing with his hair on fire, uncontrolled chaos. It's controlled chaos," former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot said of Sainristil, serving as an analyst on "The John Keim Report" podcast. "And I think this is happening to him as the game is slowing down, his view of the game is [improving]. He makes that play in Baltimore, being Johnny on the spot. That's what I expected him to be, but I also expected a learning curve." FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through Nov. 11 • Erick All (played at U-M from 2019-21), TE, Cin- cinnati Bengals: Racked up 20 catches for 158 yards, starting six of nine games for the 4-6 Bengals … Suf- fered a torn ACL Nov. 3 and will miss the remainder of the season. • AJ Barner (2023), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Has opened three of nine outings for the 4-5 Seahawks, registering 14 grabs for 132 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets … His 64.3 PFF run-blocking grade ranks 15th among NFL tight ends with 50-plus such snaps. • Ronnie Bell (2018-22), WR, San Francisco 49ers: Has appeared in eight contests off the bench for the 5-4 49ers, hauling in 2 receptions for 22 yards. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Tampa Bay Bucca- neers: Has started all 10 outings at left guard for the 4-6 Buccaneers, generating a 55.1 overall PFF rating with 18 pressures and no sacks given up. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Cleveland Browns: Has tallied 38 tackles, including 1 for loss and 1 sack, and a pass breakup in nine appearances with five starts for the 2-7 Browns. • Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB, Seattle Sea- hawks: Has notched 61 carries for 213 yards and 4 touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 189 yards and a score in nine games with a pair of starts for the 4-5 Seahawks. • Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans: Currently out with a hamstring injury, having missed the team's last five contests … Activated from injured reserve Nov. 8, meaning he's nearing a return … Started all five games in which he's appeared for the 6-4 Texans, with 32 receptions for 567 yards and 3 touchdowns. • Junior Colson (2021-23), LB, Los Angeles Char- gers: Exited a Nov. 3 game with an ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve, but head coach Jim Harbaugh said he's expected to return at some point this season … Has 14 tackles and 1 pass breakup in six bench appearances on the season. • Blake Corum (2020-23), RB, Los Angeles Rams: Has registered 80 yards and 6 first downs on 23 rushes, and hauled in 3 receptions for 24 yards in nine appearances for the 4-5 Rams. • Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs: Missed more than a month with a pectoral injury but returned Nov. 10, making 2 tackles in a win over the Denver Broncos … Has played in and started five games, totaling 16 tackles, 1 stop for loss, a half-sack and 3 quarterback hits. • Chris Evans (2016-18, '20), RB, Cincinnati Ben- gals: Out for season (knee injury). • Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers: Has started nine games for the 6-3 Packers, register- ing 24 tackles, 3 stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, 8 quarter- back hits and a pass breakup … Totaled 1.5 sacks in a three-week span from Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, after not having 1 since Sept. 6. • Graham Glasgow (2012-15), OL, Detroit Lions: Has started all nine clashes for the 8-1 Lions, one at center and eight at left guard … Has registered a 59.5 overall PFF rating with 16 pressures and 2 sacks given up. • Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Has posted 14 tackles, 2 stops for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble in nine appearances with one start for the 7-2 Eagles … Per StatMuse, he's the 16th-oldest player in the league this season. • Jaylen Harrell (2020-23), OLB, Tennessee Titans: Registered a career-high 2 tackles in two different games, part of his 9-tackle, 2-TFL rookie campaign in nine games off the bench for the 2-7 Titans. • Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Los Angeles Char- gers: Scored his first touchdown of the season in a win over his former team, the Tennessee Titans, Nov. ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Midseason Rookie Check-In Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. has started two of eight games and been productive with 16 tackles, 1 stop for loss and a sack. PHOTO BY RYAN MEYER/BENGALS.COM