NFL Draft Watch Week 9: A Mass Exodus On The Horizon In Ann Arbor? Latest Buzz & More

Could an avalanche of allegations have the Michigan Wolverines players and head coach Jim Harbaugh making a mad dash to the NFL?

Oct 28, 2023

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MICHIGAN FALLOUT COULD RESULT IN MASS EXODUS

While mounting evidence surrounding Michigan staffer Connor Stalions and ‘WolverineGate’ continues to unfold on a national scale, there is an even bigger underlining problem in Ann Arbor. The future of Michigan football.

After the dust settles amidst the swirling accusations, mysterious photos that have since surfaced from the Michigan sidelines and curious details that could prove the capturing of opponents’ hand signals using electronic technology, what will remain from the ashes?

With a seemingly dark cloud lingering over the program, head coach Jim Harbaugh could follow in the footsteps of Pete Carroll an exit stage right back to the NFL.

Remember, Harbaugh had just returned from a ‘self-imposed’ suspension, stemming from an NCAA recruiting probe which found improper conduct that occurred during the 2020 COVID-pandemic season. An additional, separate investigation into former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss committing a computer access crime is currently ‘ongoing,’ with the FBI officially involved, according to reports.

This would be hard for any coach to overcome but Michigan is thriving despite the turmoil, fresh off a 49-0 whooping of Michigan State to remain undefeated at 8-0. With upcoming games at No.10 Penn State (Nov. 11) and versus No.2 Ohio State (Nov. 25), the Wolverines have a clear path to a National Championship.

Should they survive the scandal and run the table, it would make the situation an easy one for Harbaugh to depart and set off for greener pastures. Word on the street is that new Commanders ownership, led by Josh Harris, would love to have him in DC and one would believe that quarterback JJ McCarthy would be a prime first round target for Washington come April.

In such a scenario, we could expect to see a plethora of Michigan players follow suit and declare for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. There are over 20 players on the list of Michigan prospects below who would be draft-eligible this spring, according to the NFL Draft Bible Big Board Tracker:

NFL DRAFT BUZZ

Who’s Manning The Helm In Austin?

With top-rated Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers suffering a Grade 2 ACL joint sprain on his throwing shoulder last weekend, there was plenty of discussion as to who would get the starting nod in his absence.

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has confirmed that redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy will be the de facto starter. That decision delays the beginning of the Arch Manning era, or does it? Sark was coy when asked whether Manning, who was an early enrollee this year, would see game action against BYU this week.

For Murphy, it will be a chance for him to justify his decision to stay put in Austin, after numerous offers to enter the transfer portal following his impressive spring game outing. However, the opportunity comes with one of the most sought-after recruits in recent NCAA history looking over his shoulder in Manning.

As for Ewers, the latest injury could possibly sideline him for the remainder of the regular season, at which point he would need to make a business decision on his football future. In 16 career games at Texas, Ewers has completed 300-of-480 passes (62.5%) for 3,881 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes, nine interceptions and an additional six rushing touchdowns. Was it enough to justify the ‘franchise quarterback’ label that has been slapped on him?

There have been flashes of brilliance along the way for Ewers but NFL scouts may question his durability. He missed three games last season due to a sprained clavicle joint and dropped nearly 25 pounds during this past offseason in an attempt to be more mobile (from 218 to 195). He may not be a slam dunk first round pick that the media has made him out to be.

While Ewers rehabs from his latest setback, he’ll have plenty of time to weigh the various factors and mull over the best strategy for his career.

Get healthy for a return back to a potential big bowl game, or college football playoff run? Return to school (take an NIL payday) and try to boost his draft stock with a healthy season? Or, enter the NFL Draft and take his chances up against what figures to be a very competitive QB class jockeying for position up top.

Stay tuned, this saga is sure to have draftniks hooked by the drama.

Ascending Coach Revitalizes Once Promising Prospect

While the Longhorns grab all the national media attention, about 30 miles south of Austin, a truly remarkable story has begun to unfold. In San Marcos, Texas, head coach GJ Kinnie has already guided Texas State to five wins on the season, a feat last accomplished by the school a decade ago. The 34-year old Kinnnie has done it on the heels of transfer quarterback TJ Finley. You may remember Finley, the once promising freshman starter for LSU who transferred to Auburn, where he never really found his footing. Together, the duo has the Bobcats offense roaring. Through seven games, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound Finley has completed a career-best 68.9% of his passes, for 1,941 passing yards, 17 touchdowns (three rushing) and three interceptions.

The 34-year old offensive mastermind in Kinnie, who began his collegiate career as a player at Texas before starring at Tulsa, has resurrected the career of Finley, a pocket-passer with great size and a cannon arm. Both Kinnie (who guided Incarnate Ward to a 12-2 record in his first season as a head coach last year) and Finley should be on the NFL radar. You can catch them in what is sure to be one of the most competitive matchups of the weekend when Texas State hosts a red-hot Troy team.

GAME OF THE WEEK: #8 OREGON at #13 UTAH

Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 1:30p MT on FOX

This week’s marquee matchup features a battle between two Pac-12 heavyweights as Oregon visits Utah with ESPN College Game Day in attendance. The Ducks will be looking to exact revenge when they face the Utes, who edged them out 20-17 in Eugene last year. This will be the 80th consecutive sell-out game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, dating back to the 2010 season opener for Utah. Oregon leads the all-time series 24-12 and will be searching for their 700th career win in school history.

This game lost a little luster earlier this week when Utah declared both quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brett Kuithe have been ruled out for the season — unable to return from ACL injuries. There’s still plenty of prospects that NFL evaluators will be keeping tabs on. Let’s take a look at the prospects for each school in this matchup:

NFL Draft Watch: Oregon Ducks (6-1)

The Oregon Ducks own one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the land thanks in large part to the experience of Bo Nix, who has started more games than any quarterback in NCAA history (54). His proficiency has been on full display in 2023, as he has become less of a runner and more of a passer — he has connected with eight different targets on touchdown passes.

Most notably on the receiving end of Nix has been go-to target Troy Franklin who’s averaging 17.5 yards per catch and has hauled in eight touchdown receptions. The loudest quack of them all though has been multidimensional running back Bucky Irving.

One of the hottest players in the country, Irving has 257 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the past two games. His elusiveness as a runner, quick burst and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield has solidified him as a solid mid-round draft projection.

Here’s the full list of Oregon prospects, according to the NFL Draft Bible Database Tracker:

NFL Draft Watch: Utah Utes (6-1)

The consistency of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has been remarkable, having posted a winning record in nine straight seasons, dating back to 2014. In fact, the Utes have finished with a winning season in 16-of-18 years with Whittingham at the helm and became just the third team in Pac-12 history to win back-to-back conference championship games (2021, 2022).

Over the past two NFL Drafts, Utah has produced 10 players chosen and the 2023 squad might feature more pro prospects than any point in time during the Whittingham tenure. Former walk-on Bryson Barnes has showed his grittiness filling in admirably for the aforementioned Rising, while safety-turned-running back Sione Vaki has become one of the more ‘feel-good’ stories in college football. Make no mistake about it though, the strength of this Utes team resides on defense, which boasts a stellar secondary.

However, the one player who has significantly elevated his draft profile is pass-rusher Jonah Ellis, who is currently third in the nation with 10 sacks through the first seven games of the season. A legacy player, Ellis possesses a high motor and demonstrates violent hands, a smooth swim move and is relentless in pursuit—his father Luther was an NFL first round pick (1995) and Pro Bowl selection.

Here’s a look at the Utah prospects, according to the NFL Draft Bible Database Tracker:

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