Tag: Nick Eubanks

2021 NFL Draft Primer: Days 2 & 3

Last night defensive end Kwity Paye went #21 overall to the Indianapolis Colts. I discussed offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield yesterday as a possible first rounder (LINK), but as expected, he did not go off the board on night one.

So besides Mayfield, who’s next?

Wide receiver Nico Collins measured in at 6’4″, 215 lbs., having lost weight since he last wore a Michigan uniform in 2019. He ran a 4.43 at Michigan’s pro day, broad jumped 10’5 3/4″, and showed a 37.5″ vertical. Even though I have doubts about that forty time, I don’t think anyone expects him to be a burner in the NFL. He can be a matchup probably with his size. I thought he might be a good fit for a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Eagles already went with a wide receiver (albeit a small one) in Devonta Smith.
Projected draft spot: Rounds 2-3

Cornerback Ambry Thomas is probably the next best bet. At 5’11” and 191 lbs., Thomas showed off a 38″ vertical, broad jumped 10’2″, and ran the forty in 4.37. He opted out of the 2020 season, but he was a shutdown corner when he last played in 2019. Will teams hold it against him that he missed 2020? That remains to be seen, but a few guys who opted out of 2020 still went in the first round.
Projected draft spot: Rounds 3-4

Linebacker Cam McGrone missed a chunk of the 2020 season with a torn ACL, and he wasn’t playing that well before the injury, anyway. At 6’0″ and 234 lbs., he was unable to run the forty and did 20 reps on the bench press. McGrone only started for part of 2019 and part of 2020, and he probably left too early. It would not surprise me if he went undrafted, and it would not surprise me if he went in the 5th round.
Projected draft spot: Rounds 6-7

Fullback Ben Mason weighed in at 6’2″ and 246 lbs. He did 29 reps on the bench, ran a 4.72, and broad jumped 9’9″. Fullbacks have gone the way of the dodo in recent years, but he’s such a devastating lead blocker that I think he can fill a role on a roster somewhere.
Projected draft spot: Rounds 6-7

Running back Chris Evans is 5’11” and 211 lbs. He clocked a 4.44 forty, did 20 bench press reps, had a 40.5″ vertical, and broad jumped 10’7″. His pro day was arguably the most impressive of any Michigan player, and yet his overall lack of production at Michigan leaves some questions about what he can really do at the next level. He never topped 685 rushing yards in a Wolverines uniform, and his final season included just 73 rushing yards and 87 receiving yards. I think he can play in the NFL, but it would be a little odd for him to get drafted.
Projected draft spot: Round 7 or UDFA

Other draft-eligible players I do not expect to get drafted:

• LS Cameron Cheeseman
• TE Nick Eubanks
• DT Carlo Kemp
• K Quinn Nordin

2021 Michigan Pro Day Results

Several NFL Draft hopefuls worked out at Michigan’s pro day on Friday, March 26. Here are some of the noteworthy results:

WR Nico Collins (6’4″, 215 lbs.)
40 time: 4.43 seconds
Bench press reps: 14
Vertical jump: 37.5″
Broad jump: 10’5 3/4″
3-cone drill: 6.71 seconds
5-10-5 drill: 4.32 seconds

Hit the jump for more.

Goodbye, Nick Eubanks

HIGH SCHOOL
Eubanks attended Fort Lauderdale (FL) American Heritage, a program pretty well known for producing college prospect. He was a 3-star, the #15 tight end, and #344 overall in the class of 2016. Michigan secured his commitment late in the process, and he was one of three tight ends in that class, joining Sean McKeon and Devin Asiasi. I gave Eubanks a TTB Rating of 44 (LINK), largely because I thought Asiasi (a 92 rating) and McKeon (77) would push him out.

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan 48, Rutgers 42 (3 OT)

For discussion, head on over to touchthebanner.blogspot.com while the comment section patiently waits to get fixed.

Winning feels good. I don’t really care that it was Rutgers. I don’t really care that it took three overtimes. I don’t really care that I had to stay up until midnight to watch the finish. I went to bed feeling . . . maybe not happy, but relieved.

Remember, remember, the 23rd of September . . . On September 23, 2017, quarterback Wilton Speight’s back got broken on a dirty hit by Purdue. In stepped backup John O’Korn, who completed 69.2% of his passes for 270 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception for an offense that had been disappointing up to that point. He was the savior! The following week he threw 3 interceptions against Michigan State and would finish with 2 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on the year. The Purdue game was Fool’s Gold. So I have that in the back of my mind going into the next section.

Hit the jump for more.

2020 Season Countdown: #14 Nick Eubanks

Name: Nick Eubanks
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 256 lbs.
High school: Plantation (FL) American Heritage
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #82
Last year: I ranked Eubanks #31 and said he would be a backup tight end with 15 catches for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns (LINK). He started ten games and made 25 catches for 234 yards and 4 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 44

I suppose it’s about time I offer up my apology to Eubanks for that TTB Rating of 44 back in the day. It assumed that the third most ready tight end in the class – behind Devin Asiasi and Sean McKeon – would not stick around to develop and become a player. Michigan, however, managed to hit on all three tight end signees that year. Asiasi became a 3rd round pick (after transferring to UCLA), McKeon played a bunch and signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, and Eubanks is coming back for year five as a pretty well established starter.

Eubanks had a high of 43 receiving yards (vs. Rutgers) and 3 catches (3 separate times) in 2019, so he doesn’t appear to be in danger of winning the Mackey Award. But he’s a pretty consistent receiving threat, and he improved as a blocker last year after struggling in that area earlier in his career.

Michigan still has options at tight end, so Eubanks isn’t free and clear to be the one and only tight end in 2020. There’s a lot of buzz about Erick All and some growing enthusiasm about Luke Schoonmaker. But I do like Eubanks’s experience, size, and overall athleticism. He’s not going to outrun safeties on seam routes, but he should be a consistent short target for Joe Milton and a presence in the running game.

Prediction: Starting tight end