Tag: DeVeon Smith

American Alliance of Football: Viewers guide for Michigan fans

The American Alliance of Football begins its inaugural season today. In case you haven’t seen it, here’s a brief rundown of the league from CBS Sports (LINK).

Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of what to watch for Michigan fans:
Saturday, February 9 @ 4:00 p.m. EST: San Diego Fleet (no Michigan players) @ San Diego Commanders (DL Matt Godin)
Saturday, February 9 @ 8:00 p.m. EST: Atlanta Legends (RB Denard Robinson) vs. Orlando Apollos (RB De’Veon Smith)
Sunday, February 10 @ 4:00 p.m. EST: Memphis Express (CB Channing Stribling) @ Birmingham Iron (Ty Isaac)
Sunday, February 10 @ 8:00 p.m. EST: Arizona Hotshots (no Michigan players) vs. Salt Lake Stallions (no Michigan players)

I’m throwing my fandom behind the Atlanta Legends, not only because of Denard Robinson but because I actively dislike players on the other teams with Michigan players.

Both Saturday games will be broadcast on CBS.

2017 NFL Draft Results for Michigan

Here are the 2017 NFL Draft destinations for former Michigan Wolverines:

2017
1st round: Jabrill Peppers – S – Cleveland Browns (#25 overall)
1st round: Taco Charlton – DE – Dallas Cowboys (#28 overall)
3rd round: Chris Wormley – DT – Baltimore Ravens (#74 overall)
3rd round: Jourdan Lewis – CB – Dallas Cowboys (#92 overall)
3rd round: Delano Hill – S – Seattle Seahawks (#95 overall)
3rd round: Amara Darboh – WR – Seattle Seahawks (#106 overall)
4th round: Ben Gedeon – LB – Minnesota Vikings (#120 overall)
4th round: Ryan Glasgow – DT – Cincinnati Bengals (#138 overall)
4th round: Jehu Chesson – WR – Kansas City Chiefs (#139 overall)
5th round: Jake Butt – TE – Denver Broncos (#145 overall)
6th round: Jeremy Clark – CB – New York Jets (#197 overall)

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Kenny Allen, P/K – Baltimore Ravens
Pharaoh Brown, TE – Oakland Raiders**
Matt Godin, DT – Houston Texans
Kyle Kalis, OL – Washington Redskins
Erik Magnuson, OL – San Francisco 49ers
Ondre Pipkins, DT – Washington Redskins*
De’Veon Smith, RB – Miami Dolphins
Channing Stribling, CB – Cleveland Browns
Dymonte Thomas, S – Denver Broncos

*Finished his college career at Texas Tech
**Played his college career at Oregon

2017 NFL Draft Preview: Michigan

Taco Charlton

Players are listed in order of how I expect them to get drafted.

1st ROUND

Taco Charlton – DE
Charlton didn’t particularly enjoy playing a 3-4 defensive end role in 2015 under defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, and he was more productive as a weakside end in 2016’s version of the 4-3.  He’s projected by NFL scouts as a 4-3 end, and mostly I’ve seen him pegged as going in the last third of the first round, though he has moved up to the middle third of the first round in some mock drafts over the last week or two.
Teams to watch: Saints, Bears, Dolphins, Falcons

Hit the jump for the rest of the draft preview.

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Goodbye, De’Veon Smith

De’Veon Smith (image via FanSided)

To encourage users to upload avatars, I will be choosing a number out of a hat for a $25 Amazon gift card. Any user with an uploaded avatar will be eligible to win, and the numbers will correspond with your sign-up date. So if you were the first user to upload an avatar, you will be #1 (that’s you, GKBlue). If you were fifth, you’ll be #5 (like MGoDude). The first drawing will take place when we reach 25 uploaded avatars. Right now we’re at ten. Of course, if you haven’t signed up for the site, you can’t upload an avatar. Once you do sign up and sign in, you can edit your profile by clicking on the bar at the top of your browser. Happy avataring!

HIGH SCHOOL
Smith attended Warren (OH) Howland and was part of the 2013 recruiting class. Here’s my commitment post for him (LINK), replete with a bunch of accurate statements about his game. The one thing I whiffed on was the final TTB Rating of 63 (LINK), in which I assumed he would be a backup for most of his career while sitting behind Derrick Green. Oops. More on that later.

Hit the jump for more on the career of De’Veon Smith.

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Michigan 2017 Pro Day Results

Dymonte Thomas (image via MLive)

Several Wolverines participated in the NFL Combine a couple weeks ago (LINK), and I broke down the winners and losers from the Combine (LINK). Michigan held its pro day on Friday, and there were numerous big NFL names at Al Glick Fieldhouse to check it out:

• Bears defensive backs coach Ed Donatell
• Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis
• Dolphins executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum
• Jets head coach Todd Bowles
• Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Bob Quinn
• Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia
• Ravens head coach John Harbaugh
• Saints head coach Sean Payton
• Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin
• Texans defensive line coach Anthony Weaver
• Titans head coach Mike Mularkey and head coach Jon Robinson

In total, there were reportedly going to be representatives from all 32 teams at the pro day.

Here are some notable performances from Michigan’s players:

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