Alright, so the Michigan Pro Day for 2024 rolled around, and I figured I gotta check this out. Been following this team, especially after that championship run, you know? Felt like seeing the guys off one last time before they hit the big league.
So, the day comes. I cleared some time, grabbed some snacks – gotta be comfortable for this. Didn’t actually go there, wish I could have, but following it online was the plan. Found a decent stream, settled in. It’s always interesting to see how these things go down outside the combine spotlight. More relaxed, maybe? Sometimes.
Getting Started
First thing, you’re looking for who’s actually participating. Obviously, the big names were the draw. I was mostly keyed in on:
- J.J. McCarthy: Quarterback, everyone wants to see that arm.
- Blake Corum: Running back, wanted to see his speed and agility stuff.
- Roman Wilson: Wide receiver, checking his routes and hands.
- Kris Jenkins: Defensive lineman, interested in his power drills.
- Mike Sainristil: Defensive back, looking at his quickness.
- And a bunch of the O-linemen, naturally. That whole unit was solid.
Watching the Drills
They started rolling through the usual stuff. The 40-yard dash always gets attention. Corum looked quick, about what I expected. Didn’t seem like he lost a step after his injury stuff from before. Wilson looked smooth, fast too. That seemed to help his stock from what people were saying.
Then you got the position drills. This is where I really tuned in for McCarthy. He was throwing, obviously. Lots of eyes on him. Looked like he had Harbaugh out there running routes for him at one point, which was kinda funny. His passes looked crisp for the most part. Some deep balls, some short stuff. You try to gauge the velocity, the accuracy. Seemed alright, pretty solid showing I thought.
The offensive linemen, man, they just look huge doing their drills. Footwork stuff, blocking drills. Hard to judge individuals just from watching a stream sometimes, but they looked powerful as a group, which we already knew.
Saw Sainristil moving through the defensive back drills. Looked fluid, quick transitions. That guy just seems like a football player, always around the ball.
Didn’t focus as much on the bench press or jumps, more interested in the football movement stuff today. But you hear the numbers trickle out, guys hitting their marks.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a good few hours spent. Felt like a proper send-off for that championship team. You see the coaches, the scouts all huddled around. You see the players trying to put their best foot forward. McCarthy probably did himself some favors, looked comfortable and capable. Corum showed he’s ready. Wilson too. Just felt like a confirmation of what we saw all season for many of these guys. It’s always a bit weird watching Pro Days, less hype than the combine, but feels more… real? Anyway, glad I watched. Now we just wait for the draft to see where they all land.