Vincent Gray declares for the draft
Did not see this coming. Good luck to him.
Will Johnson, I hope you’re ready to go.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
Is Jim telling everyone to go a la Lloyd in '97?
January 8th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
Sure seems that way
January 8th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
Did Lloyd tell people to leave after the '97 season? I remember the rumors re the RichRod transition, but never heard anything about 1997...
January 8th, 2022 at 2:01 PM ^
Ur right--after Rich Rod. "97 vs '07, what's the difference.....
January 8th, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
Lloyd advised players who didn’t fit RR’s style of play to go. The tall drop-back QB, for instance. He didn’t just randomly tell players to go. The former was in the players’ best interest, as evidenced by the Threet fiasco.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^
Lloyd did tell CWood to go after '97 tho!
January 8th, 2022 at 2:24 PM ^
It’s bad that’s the first thing that popped into my head when I read the title of this thread.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
There was apparently chatter about Gray declaring before the semi against Georgia.
I consider this highly unlikely, absent some evidence, and rather unfair to Harbaugh.
I don't know if Harbaugh is staying or leaving. But he's not going to give advice to players outside of their best interests.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
Exactly…I think people really underestimate that there are some people that just want to get the next phase of their lives started. Vince has already graduated and been here for 4 years. He may just want to move on. He is who he is as a player, I doubt one more year at Michigan severely moves his draft stock one way or the other.
January 8th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
Right, and decent reason to think another year of age might cause him to slide, especially if he gets passed on the depth chart.
I think some people are seeing the week of departure and transfer notices, an entirely normal process in modern college football, compressed into this late week because Michigan made the playoff and everyone on the team loyally put off their personal advancement for the good of the team, and getting jittery because there appear to be so many because it's happening so fast.
I'm not saying that there aren't personnel moves that would concern me something, but so far we've seen two borderline guys declare early (which, c'mon, that happens all the time) and some guys declare for the draft that have no business not declaring, and a number of transfers of guys who need to leave if they want more playing time.
The idea that Harbaugh is trying to clear the cupboard is neither reasonable, nor supported by current evidence.
January 10th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
I've never understood the logic of a player leaving because they may get passed on the depth chart. With very limited exceptions, the possibility of getting passed on the depth chart at college would seem to be an indicator that the player needs to up their game to make it in the NFL.
January 8th, 2022 at 5:47 PM ^
You do remember all of the posts about where Michigan is in relationship to the 85 scholarship limit with the incoming class?
January 8th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
Uh, yeah. Weird. Turner was much better. Wish him luck, but he did not look NFL ready .
January 8th, 2022 at 1:56 PM ^
I don't think he's ready either. Georgia had a time with him.
But, I hope he gets picked in the Draft.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:00 PM ^
100%. He's not ready, although improved. That league minimum is calling to some of these guys, methinks.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^
True, but league minimum for a rookie next year is $705K for those that stay on the roster. I can't blame anyone for taking that deal if they think they can make it happen...
January 8th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
Practice squad players make from $8K-%14K/week - probably far more than he could realize in NIL without Michigan drastically changing their approach there (not saying that's his destination, but also wouldn't be surprised).
Wish him the best & always Go Blue!
January 8th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
Is the going NIL rate for a middling cb on a top ten team really more than $10k per week? I get the argument that the NIL is hurting us with top players, but I think you may be overstating the case here.
January 8th, 2022 at 5:44 PM ^
Read up dc - there are schools whose entire position groups are getting paid en masse (Texas OL for example) - they just commit to a few appearances or promos & they've met the guidelines for NIL.
Michigan has nothing going like that I'm aware of ?♂️
Or let's put it another way if we're trying to assess value - who provides more value to their team, a starter on a highly ranked college team, or a practice squad player for an NFL also-ran?
January 8th, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
Turner is much better - but not draft eligible!
January 8th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^
He might be thinking that there’s a chance he doesn’t start next year. If so he’s got a much better chance of going to the nfl now than next year.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:49 PM ^
He’s not going to look nfl ready after next year when he’s the third or fourth db on the depth chart and has the same athletic ceiling
January 8th, 2022 at 8:15 PM ^
I get that he is probably getting passed up next year. However, not sure I'd want the UGA game being the last impression on tape for NFL scouts.
I feel he would look much better in a pure zone coverage scheme (like Blake Countess), and the right transfer could help boost his stock and prep him as a system corner in the NFL.
That said, I'm no scout, agent, or NFL GM and if he's hearing he may get drafted I definitely hope it comes to pass for him. Great improvement this year and like with all our guys, hope he gets paid and a chance at the next level.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:23 AM ^
He’s graduating in the spring. There was some issues during the season that will be left unsaid. Vincent is a good kid and we should wish him nothing but the best. Only inside info I can probably ever provide.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
There were some rumblings this might happen. Really hope he got his degree. Best of luck.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:20 AM ^
Got his degree and we still have Green for depth with experience. Will Johnson come in to the competition starting in January. Hope he lives up to the billing sooner than later.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
Lots of exits all at the same time.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
Season is over, this is when the exits happen.
So far only two have been unexpected IMO. This being one of them.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^
Right there is always an I’ll-advised exit or two.
January 8th, 2022 at 5:51 PM ^
It wouldn't be very nice, but one could even make the case Michigan would have been better off if Grey had declared before the Orange Bowl!
January 8th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
Not surprising. Season is over. Declare your intentions for the draft. If you’re going to transfer, the Next semester is starting up. Need to move quick and get to your new school in time for spring ball. Michigan still a few scholarships over the limit too so more to come.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
Head scratcher here. Best wishes!
January 8th, 2022 at 1:39 PM ^
Pre Georgia game there was some random articles saying he was thinking he was going to go to the nfl.
I just laughed, not really sure he will be drafted at all
January 8th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
NFL teams don't usually draft CBs that run a 4.7 40. Hopefully he gets picked up as an UDFA and can earn his way on a team.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
Not with Bob Quinn no longer a GM at least.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:14 PM ^
Teez Tabor, we hardly knew ye.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
I'm not sure either. It's really hard to get into the NFL. He's projected to go at the bottom of the last Round.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
Good luck to him
Not sure it’s a huge loss relative to others with our recruiting
lot of people leaving the ship, but maybe reading too deeply re: harbaugh to nfl
January 8th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
Lots of people were leaving the ship regardless. We’re still well over the scholarship limit and still pursuing a few transfers/recruits.
Doesn’t really say anything about Harbaugh’s future at all.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
Someone is giving these kids terrible advice
January 8th, 2022 at 2:24 PM ^
Who’s advising him?
January 8th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
Ryan Day & Mel Tucker.
January 8th, 2022 at 3:41 PM ^
He's graduated. He's been here for four years. He had a good season this. That's a perfectly sensible time for him to go.
He's not likely to get a ton better next year, just older. NFL drafts a lot on potential, and his potential is bigger this year than it would be next year.
All these things make sense if you stop and think and not just act and respond immediately because you are disappointed in someone else's decision.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
Headscratching departure....best of luck to the young man of course. Work hard, and stick in the league.
January 8th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
NFL Draft rankings have him as an UDFA but the DraftZone has him at 244, so I don't know.
As for overall ranking, he started the season at 260 and currently sits at 507.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:05 PM ^
If Quinn was still GM for the Loins, definitely 3rd round material.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:20 PM ^
I heard the Patriots were going to take him so we just had to jump in there first
January 8th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
Might be thinking he is going to be passed by Johnson or McBurrows next year.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:23 PM ^
Johnson or McBurrows? More like Johnson and McBurrows. Gray is/was an average B1G corner. I guess his choices were to hit the portal, transfer to a crappy team and play as an average corner next year or move on and try to make something happen at the next level. Maybe as a special teams guy?
Best of luck to him. Always appeared to be a high effort quality guy.
January 8th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
Makes sense for everybody because the coaching staff probably wants to focus on the new recruits who have higher ceilings anyway - Johnson, Jones, Pollard and maybe even Berry at CB. By November of next year we'll need 2-3 of those guys playing at a high level in Columbus, so might as well get started with them.