Early draft stock predictions for Michigan’s entire 2024 recruiting class
Michigan inked all 27 of its commits in the early signing period, cementing the next generation of Wolverine football players. The 247Sports composite placed Michigan’s class 15th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten, including the new additions.
The staff in Ann Arbor has done a great job of developing players in recent years. The Wolverines have had a first-round pick in the last five drafts, and 37 players were drafted during that stretch. The expectation, of course, is the 2024 class produces a number of NFL talents with multiple first-rounders.
We examine the early NFL draft stock for each signee based on their floor, ceiling and NFL-level traits.
Andrew Sprague, OT
Brady Prieskorn, TE
Similar to Sprague, Prieskorn is already cut for the NFL. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound tight end has the right size for the big league and moves well enough to beat linebackers in coverage. He is a polished blocker who can play as either a traditional attached tight end or split into the slot as a mismatch in the passing game. Prieskorn is exactly the modern tight end prospect NFL teams are looking for.
Prieskorn could sneak into the back of the first round for a TE-needy team, but I doubt he will fall out of the second unless he completely flops as a college player.
Jo'Ziah Edmond, CB
Devon Baxter, Edge
Lugard Edokpayi, Edge
Jordan Marshall, RB
Marshall is a tough one to have this low because I am pretty adamant he is the best player in the class. He has a legitimate case to be a top-50 recruit. However, the simple truth is running backs aren’t valued as first-round players unless they are a true threat as a receiver. Marshall has not shown himself to be such as threat. He is a great ball carrier between the tackles and can be a very productive player in college and the NFL, but his skill set is seen as replaceable.
Unfortunately, I doubt Marshall will sneak into the back end of the first round. He should be a second-round guy, but running backs with 400-plus touches usually aren’t considered first-round picks by scouts.
Blake Frazier, OT
Cole Sullivan, LB
Death, taxes, and linebackers from the Midwest.
Sullivan is a quick middle linebacker who has long arms, and he hits the ball carrier with vicious tenacity at the point of contact. His ability to make plays sideline-to-sideline makes him a fit for NFL defenses, so expect to see him on Sundays. I think his evolution in coverage will be the determining factor in his NFL draft stock.
Sullivan has a similar draft projection to Blake Frazier. I’m not sure I see potential to be a first-round pick, but there’s little chance he makes it out of Day 2. He can certainly find a home in the NFL with his play style.
Jadyn Davis, QB
Like Marshall, Davis is tough to put this low … but he simply isn’t an NFL-style quarterback as of now. His ability to control the game and deliver accurate passes in the short and intermediate regions of the field are exactly why he fits at Michigan, but his arm talent and athleticism are not on par with recent top draft choices. There is an argument that the success of players such as Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy makes him a more attractive candidate to developed offenses, but I’m not sure it would land him top-choice status.
Assuming he has a strong career at Michigan but does not show serious arm strength development, I think Davis will be a mid-round pick. For better or for worse, quarterbacks are usually drafted based on potential (see Zach Wilson, Patrick Mahomes) and Davis probably doesn’t have the ceiling to justify being that high of a pick.
Jacob Oden, S
Oden is probably the safest player in the class. He has great technique in his backpedal, fluid hips in coverage, and absolutely lives in the film room. He has a chance to play as early as his true freshman year at Michigan and looks to have a very similar career to Rod Moore. He can play either safety or nickel with success, so versatility is certainly a plus in his game.
Oden is not a freakish athlete, so he will probably be a mid-round guy. I would expect him to stick at Michigan for a full four seasons and end up as a captain, but the NFL traits don’t justify a higher grade.
Jaden Smith, ATH
Dominic Nichols, Edge
Micah Ka'apana, RB
Hogan Hansen, TE
Hansen is another guy who projects best as a role player. He is a very willing and advanced run blocked who will probably be able to showcase his abilities at Michigan. His role as a receiver will determine how high he gets drafted, however. If he can put up a couple of 400-plus-yard seasons, I would project him as a fourth-round pick at the highest.
A run-heavy team will likely take Hansen to be their second-string tight end. He can be an in-line tight-end who specializes in sealing the edge and taking contact away from the team’s primary receiving option at the position. A team looking to extend the career of a veteran player is the best fit for him.
Jeremiah Beasley, LB
Beasley is the second-best pure linebacker in the class, and he brings a much more intellectual approach to the game. He has all the athletic traits to succeed but stands out with his mental abilities. He is a 4.0 student and should be the brains of the defense whenever he gets on the field. I’m not sure Beasley will ever be the star of Michigan’s defense, but he certainly raises the floor of the unit.
Much like Oden, I think Beasley will stick at Michigan for a while. He will probably head to the NFL as a very experienced linebacker and get scooped up in the late rounds to be a high-floor backup.
Deyvid Palepale, IDL
Owen Wafle, IDL
I'Marion Stewart, WR
Mason Curtis, ATH
Jake Guarnera, C
Luke Hamilton, IOL
Guarnera was the last player I think has a strong chance to get drafted.
Hamilton is a mean offensive guard who hails from the state of Ohio and spurned the Buckeyes to commit to Michigan. He loves getting dirty and takes pride in finishing blocks on top of his opponents. He likely will not be ready to start at Michigan until his third year at the earliest. He has footwork issues and isn’t an elite enough athlete to make up for his technical shortcomings. Hamilton is a very valuable commit, however. He is a great culture fit and keeps the blue-collar mentality of the program alive.
Hamilton could be a guy who sees the light late in his career, but he might take a second to realize his NFL potential. I could see him finding a home as an undrafted free agent and getting some spot-start action due to his toughness.
Ted Hammond, IDL
Channing Goodwin, WR
Goodwin is the teammate of quarterback Jadyn Davis and the two will likely connect a lot in college. Goodwin is a pretty standard athlete and makes his money with his feel for the game. He knows where to be against zone coverage and gets open with very technical route running. His talents might not translate to the NFL, but there’s a good shot he can produce at Michigan.
Ben Roebuck, OT
Roebuck is a 6-foot-7, 320 pound tackle who can dish out punishment. Like Hamilton, he’s got some general athleticism and movement issues when it comes to NFL projections, but there is a shot he can be re-built into a draftable tackle by Ben Herbert. His process could take a while, but his reach gives him at least one NFL trait.
Manuel Beigel, IDL
Jeremiah Lowe, CB
Zach Ludwig, LB
Ludwig is in a similar boat to Lowe. He is relatively limited athletically and doesn’t move the needle past other commits in this class or previous ones. Look for him to potentially earn a spot on special teams, but otherwise there isn’t much in terms of an NFL projection.
