Michigan has only played Rutgers eight times throughout history and has a 7-1 record against the Scarlet Knights. They first played in 2014. Here you can reminisce about the ten longest plays against Rutgers.
Giles Jackson 95-yard kickoff return TD (2020)
Jabrill Peppers 63-yard TD run (2016)
Chris Evans 61-yard TD run (2018)
Jake Rudock 56-yard pass to Jake Butt (2015)
Chris Evans 56-yard run (2016)
Cade McNamara 51-yard pass to Mike Sainristil (2021)
Karan Higdon 49-yard run (2017)
Shea Patterson 48-yard pass to Nico Collins (2019)
Cade McNamara 46-yard TD pass to Cornelius Johnson (2020)
Donovan Edwards 46-yard run (2022)
Hit the jump for videos of Jackson, Peppers, and Evans.
This is not an in-depth preview of any sort, but as a football fan, the Super Bowl is the most hyped game of the year. I don’t get as antsy about the Super Bowl as a Michigan State game, an Ohio State game, or a meaningful post-season game for the Wolverines, but it’s still pretty exciting to see the show the NFL puts on.
I usually root for whichever team has Tom Brady; failing that, I usually pick based on which team has more former Wolverines.
CINCINNATI BENGALS #25 RB Chris Evans Defensive Quality Control Assistant Jordan Kovacs
LOS ANGELES RAMS #36 CB Blake Countess #25 CB David Long, Jr.
The Cleveland Browns’ Donovan Peoples-Jones had an outstanding game on Sunday, catching 4 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. The two scores were a short catch-and-run and a 57-yard Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
QB Tom Brady (Buccaneers): Brady completed completed 24/42 passes for 297 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception in a 28-22 win over the Eagles.
LB Devin Bush, Jr. (Steelers): Bush made 6 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in a 23-20 win over the Seahawks.
WR Nico Collins (Texans): Collins caught 4 passes for 44 yards in a 31-3 loss to Colts.
RB Chris Evans (Bengals): Evans caught 3 passes for 49 yards and his first NFL touchdown, while also running the ball 4 times for 18 yards, in a 34-11 win over the Lions.
DE Kwity Paye (Colts): Paye made 1 tackle and 1 interception in a 31-3 win over the Texans.
He just can’t stop being awesome. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady completed 24/36 passes for 276 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 48-25 win over the Falcons.
HONORABLE MENTION
RB Chris Evans (Bengals): Evans caught 1 pass for 14 yards in a 20-17 loss to the Bears.
DE Kwity Paye (Colts): Paye made 5 tackles in a 27-24 loss to the Rams.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (Browns): Peoples-Jones made 1 catch for 14 yards in a 31-21 win over the Texans.
S Jabrill Peppers (Giants): Peppers made 6 tackles and returned 2 punts for 8 yards in a 30-29 loss to the Washington Football Team.
OG Jon Runyan, Jr. (Packers): Runyan made his first career start in a 35-17 win over the Lions.
OLB Josh Uche (Patriots): Uche made 3 tackles and 2 sacks in a 25-6 win over the Jets.
Both of Josh Uche's sacks came late in obvious passing situations, but he undressed the right guard twice on the same drive with a punch-dip move. #Patriotspic.twitter.com/n8cfUjeASX
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:
