[Bryan Fuller]

Exit Jalen Mayfield Comment Count

Brian August 18th, 2020 at 5:20 PM

Big ol' welp right here:

That has to be a record for the fastest a Michigan OL has entered the draft. Even if there had been a season Mayfield would have entered as a redshirt sophomore, and I can't recall anyone who'd managed that before. Taylor Lewan was the only guy in spitting distance in the last decade.

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Comments

Gentleman Squirrels

August 18th, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^

Good luck Jalen! We barely knew ya but once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine.

5 new OL next year. Warinner will have his hands full forming this new line. Hopefully some game experience from Hayes and Stueber can help anchor the line and help them gel together.

Bo Harbaugh

August 18th, 2020 at 5:34 PM ^

OSU should lose about 50% of their starters.  Will they?  Who knows, shit always seems to fall in place for them.  Their underclassmen will probably end up being better anyways.  

Hoping this 1 year pause fucks up their mojo though.

willywill9

August 18th, 2020 at 5:36 PM ^

Is there a reason why the announcement is happening now? Timing feels unnecessary, unless I'm missing something? (Not hating, very happy for the young man and wish him the best. I just was curious as to what benefits, if any, there are with announcing this now.)

wile_e8

August 18th, 2020 at 6:10 PM ^

He could continue training for a season that isn't going to happen while taking virtual classes from a college he's unlikely to graduate from, or he could just start training full time for the next stage of his life. Or just keep taking virtual classes while training for the next stage of his life. Sticking around at college probably isn't worth as much if you're not going to get the full college experience. 

ERdocLSA2004

August 18th, 2020 at 11:35 PM ^

Is he dropping out of school altogether or just quitting the team?  He has a long time til the draft.  Assuming he is not enrolling it seems like he’d have more than enough time to get a semester of classes in without fall football and still be plenty prepared for the draft.  we are doing a hell of a job of devaluing an education around here though.  Hopefully he’ll stay enrolled for at least fall semester.  There isn’t anything else to really do with covid anyway.

Blake Forum

August 18th, 2020 at 5:36 PM ^

Certainly can't fault the kid. Best of luck to him, bet he'll make a great pro. This is a blow but there are a lot of good OL on the roster. Whenever a season actually happens, maybe they can even kick the tires on Jeffrey Persi...

The Impaler

August 18th, 2020 at 5:37 PM ^

Next up, Harbaugh (citing a will to coach somewhere that allows football - my guess is Offensive Analyst for an NFL team this year with a jump to a head coaching job after the season).

ERdocLSA2004

August 18th, 2020 at 11:40 PM ^

Can he?  I thought the point behind a scholarship was the education. You know, if football doesn’t work out.  The only thing he WAS guaranteed was an education.  He isn’t guaranteed his health, draft pick, or contract.  Perhaps his family would still be able to support an education out of pocket but most people don’t have that luxury.  

DoubleB

August 18th, 2020 at 8:21 PM ^

Nothing, except a crappy combine and interviews which he is now spending an extra 4-5 months on.

He has proven he can play at a high level, has one season less of mileage and is very young (doesn't turn 21 until next May). Frankly, I think this is exactly what an NFL OL coach would want--take the talent and mold it as opposed to trying to break a full 4 years of potentially bad technique.

dragonchild

August 19th, 2020 at 6:27 AM ^

From literally everything I've read and seen, that is precisely the opposite of what NFL coaches want.  They want polished, pro-ready players (though they'll spend picks on obvious talent).  College is very much a free minor league for the NFL, and they take it for granted.  They don't want to spend any time coaching anyone less than HoF talent out of bad habits.  There are exceptions, but they are exceptions.

Mayfield's exit makes sense in the context of B1G's cancellation, but otherwise, early draft entries generally don't go well.  Too much to take in at once, if you've got technique work on top of learning the scheme.

BlueWolverine02

August 18th, 2020 at 9:48 PM ^

Mock drafts this time of year mean less than September Heisman talk.  Unless he blows up at the combine, he doesn't have the tape to push him into the 1st round.

Now if he shows off at the combine, then all bets are off and I could possibly see him take a Ruiz like jump in the draft.  But he isn't some 6'7" 330 lb monster with quick feet that you take solely based on potential.

JonnyHintz

August 19th, 2020 at 6:13 AM ^

If he has the tape to be considered first round right now, why doesn’t he have the tape to be considered first round in the spring?
 

Again, there isn’t going to be a season. Nobody is going to have new tape. So what exactly do you think is going to happen between now and the draft where scouts are all of a sudden going to not like the tape they already like? 

goblue76

August 18th, 2020 at 5:51 PM ^

Best of luck to you Jalen!  Hope you can continue the tradition of Michigan Offensive Linemen in the league.  Sucks that we hardly know ya'.