The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE at just 18.2 percent of the 33 selec- tions, or 23 percentage points lower than their totals. Round seven of the NFL Draft has been responsible for saving seven former Wolverines from free agency, but surprisingly only two were three- star prospects — center David Molk and wide receiver Junior Heming- way went in the 2012 draft — while the average star ranking of the seven to go in the final round was 3.9. Com- paratively, the six players to go in the first round had an average star rank- ing of 4.2. The five players chosen in the second round also had a 4.2 average rank. Former wide receiver Braylon Edwards is the lone three-star re- cruit in the Rivals.com era to go in the first round of the NFL Draft (in 2005) with three-star linebacker Da- vid Harris chosen in round two (in 2007), one three-star going in round five, one in round six and two in round seven. ❑ U-M's Five-Star Recruits Have Enjoyed Mixed Success In The NFL Class Athlete Pos. NFL Draft 1997 James Whitley* CB Undrafted Note: Played in 25 games over three seasons with the St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers, recording 48 tackles. 1997 Anthony Thomas* RB 2001, Second Round Note: The 2001 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Thomas rushed for 3,891 yards and 23 touchdowns, and had 113 receptions, in his seven-year NFL career. 1998 David Terrell WR 2001, First Round Note: Had four touchdowns in rookie year, but lasted only five seasons while total- ing 128 receptions for 1,602 yards and nine total touchdowns. 1998 Marquise Walker WR 2002, Third Round Note: Never played a game in the NFL. 1998 Justin Fargas RB 2003, Third Round Note: After spending final two years at USC, rushed for 3,369 yards and 10 touch- downs with 32 starts among 92 games played for the Oakland Raiders (2003-09). 1998 Drew Henson QB 2003, Sixth Round Note: Made one start among nine appearances after giving up on a Major League Baseball career that saw him play in eight career games in 2002-03. 2001 Ernest Shazor S Undrafted Note: Appeared in two games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005, and was then out of football for good. 2001 Pat Massey DL Undrafted Note: Did not play in the NFL.