The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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18 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2026 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M ichigan had eight par- ticipants across seven different positions at the NFL Combine, but may lack a first-round pick for the first time since 2018. The Wolverines have had at least one opening-round selec- tion for six straight and eight of the last 10 drafts, including three a year ago. Still, the Wolverines were well-rep- resented in Indianapolis Feb. 23- March 2, with players such as edge rusher Jaishawn Barham, tight end Marlin Klein and linebacker Jimmy Rolder gen- erating buzz during testing and drills, weeks before the program's March 20 pro day. Here's a look at how each par- ticipant fared: JAISHAWN BARHAM Pos.: Edge Ht./Wt.: 6-3 1/2 • 240 Arm: 32 3/8'' Hand: 10 1/4'' Working out with the edge rushers after playing both that position and linebacker during his time in college, Barham im- pressed with his speed and athleticism. He ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash, ranking seventh among defensive ends, with a 1.61-second 10-yard split (fifth), had a 33-inch vertical and broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches. "You watch him, you can see him close from the back side," NFL Network ana- lyst Daniel Jeremiah said. "He can really run. You saw it evidenced by that 4.65 [unofficial time]. They'll use him in kind of letting him walk around and blitz from different entry points, and I thought he was really, really twitchy." On Barham's second 40-yard dash attempt, he appeared to injure his right hamstring, so he didn't go through posi- tional work. The District Heights, Md., native played two seasons at Maryland before his final two at Michigan. He helped the Wolverines win 17 games, including a big one at Ohio State in 2024. "I feel like it's prepared me physically, mentally, and on the field, off the field, spending time with guys there," Barham said of his experience in Ann Arbor. "Just learning more. It just prepared me a lot for life on the field and off the field." RAYSHAUN BENNY Pos: Defensive line Ht./Wt.: 6-3 • 298 Arm: 33 3/8'' Hand: 9 1/4'' Benny chose not to run a 40-yard dash or do any testing, but he went through drills with the defensive tackles. Last sea- son, he set out to prove he was a "first- round talent." While he's not projected there heading into the draft, he believes he's prepared to make an impact wherever he winds up. "I played with a lot of guys, from Mason [Graham] to KG [Kenneth Grant] to Mazi [Smith]," Benny said. "I had a lot of good people to learn from, model my game af- ter and get good coaching tips from over the past few years. I wouldn't trade it for the world. A big part of my development is me being able to be around so many great players and see what it looks like to be a first-round pick and just know what it takes." MAX BREDESON Pos.: Fullback Ht./Wt.: 6-2 • 252 Arm: 30 1/8'' Hand: 10'' Bredeson is still working back from a foot injury he suffered Nov. 22 at Mary- land — coincidentally on a play where he Marlin Klein, who came to Michigan from Germany, posted a 4.61-second 40-yard dash, which was the seventh-best among tight ends at the NFL Combine. PHOTO BY MADELYN BURKE PRO PIPELINE Eight Wolverines Attend 2026 NFL Combine