January 4th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
He will make an excellent doctor one day.
Best of luck, DPJ
January 4th, 2020 at 4:42 PM ^
You can't be a doctor without going to medical school. Don't be a douche, wish a kid, that played his heart out for UM good luck and move on dude. Smh....
January 4th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
There's no reason he couldn't pursue medical school after the NFL - why the harsh response?
January 4th, 2020 at 5:43 PM ^
He was taking a shot at DPJ. And he knows it. He didn't graduate yet and if he declared, he will be prepping for the draft. I don't think he is going to medical school anytime soon.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:25 PM ^
As mentioned above, he doesn't need to go straight to med school. In fact, putting "I played in the NFL" on med school application is probably a very big positive.
Worst case scenario is he doesn't have what it takes to make it in the NFL and he makes $500,000 for the next couple years to study for the MCATs while achieving a lifetime dream.
Coming back to M for one more year won't drastically improve his likelihood of being an all pro receiver, and it won't improve his ability to become a great doctor.
Why stay?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:58 PM ^
I usually agree with responses like this but I don't here. I actually think he has very high-upside that can be shown a lot better during the football season next year at Michigan. The guy did almost nothing with his talent didn't even make the first or second-team all-big ten this year.
Not that all that matters but there has to be some questions on if he can make a productive NFL player when he's not productive in college. I think he could easily be two or three rounds higher if he stayed
January 4th, 2020 at 5:26 PM ^
You do know there's a reason why you're being negged right?
January 4th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
Good luck to the young man. This is a loaded WR draft class. Hopefully he lands somewhere that can fully utilize his talent (gut feeling is he will be a steal for whoever gets him and people will be like "wtf did he do in college?")
Another what could have been story for a 5-star talent at Michigan sigh...
At least we got the 2018 Paul Bunyan celebratory highlight reel of him along with 2019 Indiana. Should be at least 8 more.
January 4th, 2020 at 11:03 PM ^
Even more targets to Bell. Winning.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
Oh well....that 17 WR class will always be a giant what if.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^
Too bad that Tarik was injury prone. Too bad that Martin transferred, though his early returns at Iowa suggest that he was maybe overrated.
What more do you want from Nico? I'd say he worked out fine.
DPJ is the most interesting case. I'm open to arguments that he underachieved (or was underdeveloped) here.
Anyway, the class is a medium-sized what if. Not giant.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:14 PM ^
Underachieved places the blame on him and underdeveloped I don’t think is accurate given the number of times he (and Nico) were open. He was just under targeted (very likely more due to QB decisions than coaching decisions) and never got to truly show what he had. Was excited to see if McCaffrey would be able to feed his best athletes more than Patterson and was hoping that duo would be lightning in a bottle. Guess we’ll never know. Really incredible and disappointing the way that WR class turned out by no fault of their own.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
You nailed it. On most plays Shea seemed to only look at number 8, no matter what the coverage was
January 4th, 2020 at 9:35 PM ^
I like DPJ and think he's a talented guy, but he dropped a lot of passes this year. Off the top of my head he dropped a TD against OSU, 2 passes early on against PSU, and at least one against Wisconsin (though I'll give him a break there because it was his first game back). The whole WR crew save Collins and Bell (to a lesser extent) had issues with holding onto the ball this year, and that's just as demoralizing to a QB as him not throwing a ball to a WR.
I guess I've been in the minority here because when I watch a lot of these games I see DPJ streaking down the field with minimal separation and a lot of the "hand-waving open" plays being 40+ yards downfield when the corner/safety has decided his role in the play is over because it's been 3-4 seconds. DPJ is talented but I never saw him make the natural route and play progressions when he came to college; at times it felt like he was just trying to win with athleticism. Which worked against the worse teams but caught up to him against the better defenses. I think he'll do fine in the NFL, probably as a return guy/extra receiver in the slot. But the number of people around here who blame Shea Patterson for "destroying" guys' careers doesn't mesh with reality.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:25 PM ^
What if they took KJ Hamler? Is the real question.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:40 PM ^
More than a few teams could ask themselves that question.
Look at the 2017 rankings (for what they're worth). All four of Michigan's receivers from that class where thought to be better than Hamler.
Without the benefit of hindsight, where do you put him in that class? Who does he displace?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:13 PM ^
He probably would have been misused and/or underdeveloped if we're calling a spade a spade
January 5th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
Not 1 made 1st team all anything. Hell Oliver Martin couldn't even find the field at Iowa. I have a feeling Tarik will not have much success after he leaves. Here's hoping Nico has an All America year next year, when he comes back.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:19 PM ^
Congrats and best of luck to him. Get yo money.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:24 PM ^
5th round pick. No production all potential
January 4th, 2020 at 4:39 PM ^
I can't imagine being someone like you.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:46 PM ^
Yeah, you can. You'd be squat and stupid-looking, speak with a fake Spanish accent, and be an insult to the people of two countries!
January 4th, 2020 at 6:05 PM ^
I steal Fritos not reality
January 4th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^
You can't imagine living in reality?
January 4th, 2020 at 6:17 PM ^
Let's bet our accounts. Over/Under 1st pick of the 5th round.
Since it's reality you and Frito should have nothing to lose. I'll take 1 thru last pick of the 4th round.
I'll delete my account if I lose...you all delete and never post your bullshit here again if he goes in the 5th or later.
Deal?
January 4th, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
I won't bet my account. But I'm going to say he gets drafted in the 3rd round because of his lack of production. Unless he's a baller in the combine than he will go in the 4th.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:25 PM ^
A realist? In a stacked wr class there’s no way he’ll make it before day 3. Take your blinders off.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:57 PM ^
Ok? I just wished him good luck and you jumped in poo pooing him. Calm done friend.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^
What’s he coming back for? Another year of potentially getting injured while not being properly utilized and playing for 3rd in the big ten. What’s the upside in staying?
January 4th, 2020 at 5:32 PM ^
Are you seriously suggesting that he has no room for improvement? He is at best a 4th round pick right now, and I would be mad if my team wasted a 4th rounder on him. The WR core was utilized pretty damn well the 2nd half of the season. IF DPJ couldn't outshine Bell or Nico, why would anyone think he would be better in the pros?
January 4th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
Sorry to disagree, but go look at the last five games of the season and specifically DPJ's stat line. It does not scream pro at the next level.
January 4th, 2020 at 10:28 PM ^
He’s saying there’s no opportunity for improvement.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:33 PM ^
He didn’t put up any numbers, dumbass!
January 4th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
Not sure why you're being downvoted. 5th round is a realistic prediction for him. He's a less athletic, less productive DK Metcalf.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
did you want him to jedi mind trick Shea into throwing him the ball more? He has loads of upside and athleticism. If he doesn't go until the 5th round then someone is getting a steal.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:14 PM ^
I 100 percent agree that everyone should wish him luck and you can’t fault a kid for getting no less then 500K next year but honestly when has a WR who played 13 games and had less then 500 receiving yards and less then 200 returns yards been drafted in the top two rounds. To be honest I am not so sure that Giles Jackson would not have passed him up next year for the number 3 receiver spot. Losing Nico would be the big loss as we don’t have another WR who can consistently go deep and win jump balls (Ronnie has not yet shown this in games).
January 4th, 2020 at 4:19 PM ^
Sigh. Not going to lie, I’m probably going to view his time here the same way I do with Rashan...
January 4th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^
Shut up.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:24 PM ^
Why should I shut up? Do you think DPJ’s and Rashan’s actual production matched the hype and starzzz rankings?
edit: Braylon Edwards had basically as many receiving yards his senior season as DPJ did in his entire career at Michigan.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:37 PM ^
1. I just don't understand why we have to knock the kid right now is my main point
2. Being a receiver is way different than being a defensive lineman. Defensive line is just man vs man. There's not much scheming or dependence on other players like there is with being a WR.
The staff, scheme, and QB failed DPJ for like 90% of his career here.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:39 PM ^
If people are knocking DPJ, then they're morons. I think most of the negatives are clearly on the staff here for wasting his talent.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
Griese is clearly criticizing DPJ here.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
DPJ is a heck of an athlete and nobody can blame the guy for leaving an offense that doesn’t feature the WR. And of all the WRs, DPJ is the one I thought would come back. I’ll miss his poor decision making during punt returns.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:46 PM ^
I’m not knocking him. Being disappointed in his career here does not mean I’m disappointed with DPJ the player or person. He’s obviously an outstanding young man that worked his butt off.
I’m disappointed about his actual production and I’m not going to type up a novel to discuss the ins and outs as to why. That’s the point I’m trying to make. Same goes with Rashan as well.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:47 PM ^
"The staff, scheme, and QB failed DPJ for like 90% of his career here."
Isn't this starting to sound like a common theme here at Michigan? How many players does it seem like him didn't live up to their ability here under the coaching staff over the last 10+ years? Yeah, no program will ever hit on 100% of their recruits. But this is another indication of the real problem here that's preventing Michigan from becoming elite: coaching.
January 4th, 2020 at 5:48 PM ^
Sad agree.
January 4th, 2020 at 7:43 PM ^
that's preventing Michigan from becoming elite: coaching.
I agree with that.
When Jim McElwain was coaching the WRs they looked like WR core should look.
If there's any way of getting him here as OC we will start to see a real offense here, like when Jedd Fisch was here. And very likely better.
January 4th, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^
I don’t understand why you say the staff failed him when know nothing about how well he ran his routes or anything pertaining to the position.
January 4th, 2020 at 6:33 PM ^
I don’t understand why you say the staff failed him
Of course you don't, Baghdad Bob
January 4th, 2020 at 7:51 PM ^
Every WRs routes looked a lot better last year when Jim McElwain was coaching them.