When Jim Harbaugh took the Chargers head-coaching job, he talked about building Michigan football out west. He was essentially saying he wanted to bring what he built in Ann Arbor to the NFL — the culture, the winning, the development, all of it.
Well, maybe Harbaugh did mean people too. He certainly took a number of key assistants, most notably, Jesse Minter and strength coach Ben Herbert.
That’s not shocking. He did the same thing when he left Stanford for the NFL. He wants as many Michigan football guys as he can get and we’ll see what that means for the NFL draft.
However, if Dane Brugler of The Athletic is accurate at all with his mock draft, Harbaugh will have at least four players join him from the national championship team.
Four Michigan football players go to Chargers in mock draft
Brugler has Kris Jenkins going to the Chargers early in the second round, followed by Blake Corum in the third. Corum and Harbaugh in the NFL would be a match made in heaven. When Skip Bayless compared him to Emmitt Smith, it was one of the smartest things he’s ever said.
Corum has that ability. Just watch him from the Penn State game on. He also did that one year removed from ACL surgery. The second-year back is always better and some NFL team will get a lights-out Blake Corum.
Trevor Keegan was mocked to the Chargers in the sixth round, while Michael Barrett went to LA in the seventh. It’s crazy to me those guys could be available that late. Keegan feels like a starting NFL guard to me, maybe as early as next season if he winds up in the right situation.
Barrett is another dude who will play right away, at least on special teams. Some have said he won’t be a three-down linebacker in the NFL, but I don’t necessarily agree with that. Regardless, if he plays two downs, three, or one, Barrett will be a solid pro.
But one of the most interesting parts of the NFL draft weekend for Michigan football fans will be tracking how many Wolverines end up playing for Jim Harbaugh. I hope it’s a lot.
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