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jabrill peppers

Exit Jabrill Peppers Comment Count

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Farewell. [Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]

After wrestling with a decision many thought was a foregone conclusion, Jabrill Peppers informed Sports Illustrated today that he will enter the NFL Draft:

“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Peppers said. “I’m choosing between cementing my legacy as a college player and starting my pro legacy. It’s something you dream of when you were a kid. I was torn between the two.”

Peppers said he ultimately came to a decision this weekend while visiting his family in his native New Jersey. He informed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh of his decision in a meeting in Harbaugh’s office on Monday. “He thanked me and told me it was a pleasure to coach me,” Peppers said. “I told him it was a pleasure to play for him. He molded me for the next level, that’s how he operates. He runs his program like an NFL team. He’s done more than enough to prepare me for this moment.”

Peppers leaves Michigan as a Heisman finalist and consensus All-American, not to mention one of the most explosive, versatile, and entertaining players ever to grace the field at the Big House. Whether as a hybrid linebacker or safety, he should be selected in the top half of the first round.

When a pulled hamstring kept Peppers out of the Orange Bowl, we got a preview of what the VIPER(!!!) position could look like in his absence. Sophomore-to-be Josh Metellus took most of the available snaps at the position with junior-to-be Noah Furbush providing a more traditional linebacker look against heavier sets. Sophomores Khaleke Hudson and Jordan Glasgow and freshman Jaylen Kelly-Powell will also compete for snaps as hybrid safety types, as would Willie Gay if he ends up in the 2017 class; sophomore Josh Uche will push for situational snaps as a pass-rush specialist.

While it would've been wonderful, to say the least, for Peppers to return for one more season, no reasonable person could blame him for beginning what should be a long and lucrative career in professional football. He'll be a fascinating player to follow at the next level; he was a delight to watch at Michigan.

Comments

victors2000

January 10th, 2017 at 3:27 PM ^

As soon as you committed to the Wolverines I knew your time with us would be short. It was sad that the last game against the Seminoles you were unable to play; I know you would have been the difference maker...what might have been. Good luck man, hope the Lions are smart enough and lucky enough to select you in the draft!

God bless you and yours!

Joined: 03/21/2009

MGoPoints: 12972

Larry Appleton

January 10th, 2017 at 3:29 PM ^

I hate to nitpick, but I believe "unanimous all-american" is more appropriate than "consensus all-american." :)

Fare thee well, JP.  Best of luck!

Joined: 05/15/2014

MGoPoints: 17216

Blue_sophie

January 10th, 2017 at 3:34 PM ^

But Oakland neads linebacker help in a big way, and he could follow in Woodson's footsteps.

It also would be nice to see him playing on a capable professional team.

He is an unforgettable player, I'm so glad to have had him on our team.

Joined: 02/22/2015

MGoPoints: 2766

BklynGoBlue

January 10th, 2017 at 3:34 PM ^

but can't blame him for beginnning his profession.  Thank you JP5!  Look forward to following his pro career...hope he ends up at New England with brady...would love to see how belichick would use him...he needs to play for an innovative team to make the most of his talents...

Joined: 10/25/2016

MGoPoints: 450

UofM Die Hard …

January 10th, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^

probably wont read this but hey I will post anyway.  Good luck at the next level...would love to see you in a Hawks uniform...you would be a deadly piece playing for a Pete Caroll defense.

 

 

 

Joined: 03/10/2011

MGoPoints: 18392

Glow Blue Mike

January 10th, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^

Thanks Jabrill

He was one of the most exciting players in recent memory.  The type of player that you got out of your seat every time he touched the ball.  This departure, though unfortunate from a selfish stand point, is completely understandable, expected, and the right decision for him and his family.  I wish him the best and know he will tear it up on Sundays.

 

Forever, Go Blue!

Joined: 01/20/2016

MGoPoints: 132

stephenrjking

January 10th, 2017 at 3:44 PM ^

What a great player. A critical performer in a time of transition for Michigan. I hope one day that a Michigan player will stand on the title podium and, like Ben Boulware, extoll the names of guys like Peppers who came before.

There's a lot one could say about him. He was great. The team's accomplishments, in retrospect, were good but not spectacular. But he did so many incredible things, it's hard to narrow it down. The punt returns? The way he shut down bubble screens for two whole years? Games he dominated every aspect of for almost 60 minutes?

What's astonishing about his career is that for all of his amazing competiveness and incredible athleticism, I don't recall him making a killer, boneheaded mistake on the field as a result of overconfidence.

Too many ultra-athletic guys rely on their athleticism to the point that they can be liabilities. Fielding a punt that's guaranteed to be a turnover, or leaving the gameplan to pursue a player and getting killed on a fake, or something like that.

Jabrill is athletic, but he's incredibly smart. What a talent.

Good luck.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

DonAZ

January 10th, 2017 at 4:23 PM ^

A critical performer in a time of transition for Michigan.

There were many players who carried over from Hoke to Harbaugh, but in many ways Peppers was the rope that held it together.  A top recruit coming to Michigan even when the shine started to come off the Hoke star, he stayed put.  

Joined: 12/05/2011

MGoPoints: 16763

SalvatoreQuattro

January 10th, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^

ends up being drafted. Injury concerns is one. He never played a complete season. The second issue is what position will he okay? Hybrid linebacker/ safety with a lot of work needed to improve his coverage and ball skills. He is not a starter day one on defense. Jabrill Peppers is a raw but terrific talent. At the very least he should be a fabulous punt returner early on in his career. In time he could become an elite player at LB or Safety as his skill level catches up with his physical ability. He has the work ethic and desire to be a great one.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 79584

socrking

January 10th, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^

So happy for him. He deserves every dollar he earns at the next level. I hope he lands on a good team that utilizes all of his many talents. It will be fun to watch him. Interesting that he mentioned his legacy. He will no doubt remember his time at Michigan with a bitter sweet taste in his mouth. He is one of the most talented and classy men to ever play for Michigan. He deserves all the individual awards he received. But his accomplishments truly fall short of what he and everyone else hoped for. I bet that's why the decision was so hard for him. 1-2 vs MSU 0-3 vs OSU 0 division titles 0 Big Ten championships 0 postseason appearances

Joined: 11/03/2012

MGoPoints: 1736

SalvatoreQuattro

January 10th, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^

The expectations were always too high. The comparisons to Woodson were ridiculous. Woodson was a transcendent player of a type few programs ever see. Peppers fell short of legendary status. His career was not the equal of Harmon, AC, Howard, or Woodson. He was not the best at the positions he played, but he was perhaps the most unique.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 79584

jmblue

January 10th, 2017 at 4:08 PM ^

If you don't credit him with any postseason appearances because he missed them to injury, why do you assign the 2014 losses to MSU and OSU to him, when he was medically redshirting?

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 103061

snarling wolverine

January 10th, 2017 at 4:43 PM ^

You seem butthurt.  Sorry that Jabrill didn't single-handedly win national championships for you.  

Look, he comes from one of the poorest communities in the country (East Orange, N.J.), has lost his brother, and has already missed one full season of football to injury.  He knows how fleeting a chance to turn his life around can be.  I selfishly would have liked him to play another season for us, but cannot in any reasonable sense blame him for this decision.  I wish him all the best.

 

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98733

socrking

January 10th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^

You went to the personal attacks pretty quick. Did you even read what I wrote or just glance at the numbers and then go into keyboard warrior mode? I'm thrilled peppers will be able to cash in on his talent this spring. I feel awful for jake butt. He is exhibit a on why you should skip your senior year. But can we stop pretending the last year was a success and everything is great? The team came close but ultimately fell short this year. My point was, I think it took jabrill so long to make this decision because the team fell short of its goals. It's too bad for him and everyone else that his legacy isn't what everyone hoped it would be. That's sports I guess. Hopefully the next decade is better than the last one.

Joined: 11/03/2012

MGoPoints: 1736

AlwaysBlue

January 10th, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^

appreciate he stuck with his commitment when times were rocky. He said at the time "that's why they call it rebuilding." He was wiser than many Michigan fans.

Joined: 11/23/2008

MGoPoints: 7854

echoWhiskey

January 10th, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^

That's a good point that I think a lot of people forget with the "rise of Harbaugh." He jumped onto this ship when things didn't look so promising for the program in an effort to help turn it around. That should be part of his legacy and commitment to the program.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1080