- Michigan
STATE CHAMPS! Scout Team looks at the 2020 NFL Draft prospects from Michigan high school football
If you’ve been craving sports content while you’re stuck at home, the NFL Draft has your back. While this year’s draft is bound to seem odd, as it works around the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, what won’t be odd is to hear a ton of names familiar to high school football fans in the state of Michigan. All of the players mentioned below — along with hundreds and hundreds of their fellows — made business decisions on their respective signing days, hoping to put themselves in a position to hear their name called by the NFL over the next three days.
Here’s a look at 18 players (listed in alphabetical order) who trace their roots back to Michigan high schools, and where they might be drafted (or not drafted, as the case may be) over the next few days:
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Jayru Campbell, QB, Ferris State
High school: Detroit Cass Tech
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 215 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.74 seconds
Bio: After his much-publicized commitment to Michigan State, and later fall from grace, Campbell got his shot at redemption by working his butt off at both Garden City Community College and then at Ferris, winning a JUCO national title at GCCC. He won the 2018 Harlon Hill Trophy, leading Ferris to the D-II national title game, but missed much of 2019 with injuries that ended his collegiate career.
Stats: (2018/FSU) 187 for 310 passing, 2,931 yards, 27 TDs, 6 INT, 282 rushes, 1,460 yards, 21 TDs; (2019/FSU) 64 for 106 passing, 1,306 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INT, 56 rushes, 236 yards, 6 TDs in 5 GP.
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: UDFA
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DRAFTED! >> Minnesota, Round 7 (pick 249)
Brian Cole II, S/OLB, Mississippi State
High school: Saginaw Heritage
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 213 pounds
Arms: 31 3/8 inches | Hands: 10 inches
40-yard dash: 4.52 (unofficial)
Bio: Signed with Michigan out of high school, and played three games at U-M. Played at East Mississippi Community College, then two seasons at Mississippi State after a redshirt season in 2017.
Stats: (2018) 11 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT; (2019) 67 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PBU
Mock draft projection: Rounds 6-7 (NFL.com); Rounds 3-5 (NFLDraftScout.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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DRAFTED! >> Kansas City, Round 5 (pick 177)
Mike Danna, DE, Michigan
High school: Warren De La Salle
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 257
Hands: 10 1/2 inches | Arms: 32 1/2 inches | Wingspan: 79 1/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.86 seconds
Bio: A grad-transfer from Central Michigan, Danna played just one year with the Wolverines. He was first-team All-MAC in 2018, when he earned the Herb Deromedi MVP award, and Pro Football Focus First-Team All-American honors.
Stats: (2016/CMU) 31 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks; (2017/CMU) 54 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks; (2018/CMU) 66 tackles, 15 TFL, 10 sacks, PBU, 3 FR; (2019/UM) 38 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FF
Mock draft projection: Round 7/Priority UDFA (NFLDraftScout.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Atlanta Falcons
Austin Edwards, DL, Ferris State
High school: Lansing Waverly
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 265 pounds
Hands: 9 3/4 inches | Arms: 33 1/8 inches | Wingspan: 82 inches
40-yard dash: 4.96 seconds
Bio: A three-time All-GLIAC honoree and three-time All-American, Edwards was a finalist for the 2018 Cliff Harris Award, and won the 2019 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.
Stats: (2016) 8 tackles; (2017) 12 tackles; (2018) 97 tackles, 14 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 2 FR; (2019) 64 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, FF, FR
Mock draft projection: Rounds 6-7 (NFLDraftScout.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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DRAFTED! >> Denver, Round 2 (pick 46)
K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
High school: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s/IMG Academy
Height: 5-foot-9 | Weight: 178 pounds
Arms: 30 3/4 inches | Hands: 9 3/8 inches
40-yard dash: (did not run at Combine/reportedly ran a 4.27 before) | Bench press: 15 reps
Bio: Was an all-stater at OLSM before transferring to IMG, and missing his senior season with an injury. Redshirted his first season at Penn State after an ACL tear.
Stats: (2018) 42 catches, 754 yards, 5 TDs; 26.2 average on 20 KOR; 6.9 average on 14 PR. (2019) 56 catches, 904 yards, 8 TDs; 21.4 average on 24 KOR; 5.5 average on 23 PR.
Mock draft projection: Rounds 2-3 (NFLDraftScout.com); First pick of Round 3 (TheDraftNetwork.com); Round 3 (DraftTek.com), Round 2 (WalterFootball.com), Round 3 (CBSSports.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 2
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Kansas City Chiefs
Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan
High school: Detroit King
Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 190 pounds
Arms: 30 7/8 inches | Hands: 9 1/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds | Bench press: 21 reps
Bio: A four-star who initially committed to Penn State, before switching to Michigan, Hill was named the “Air Defender of the Year” at the U.S. Army All-American Game. He was second-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore, earning first-team honors his final two seasons in Ann Arbor.
Stats: (2016) 2 tackles, 1 PBU; (2017) 25 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 PBU; (2018) 14 tackles, 1 INT, 5 PBU; (2019) 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 10 PBU, 3 INT
Mock draft projection: Round 7 (NFL.com); Rounds 5-7 (NFLDraftScout.com), Round 4 (DraftTek.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Los Angeles Rams
Trishton Jackson, WR, Syracuse
High school: West Bloomfield
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 197 pounds
Arms: 32 3/8 inches | Hands: 9 3/4 inches
40-yard dash: 4.50
Vertical jump: 36.0 inches | Broad jump: 117.0 inches
Bio: A quarterback and hoops star in high school, Jackson spent two seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Syracuse, where he was able to play in the Orange’s bowl game after sitting out the 2018 season. Was second-team all-ACC in his lone full season at Syracuse.
Stats: (2016/MSU) 5 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD; (2017/MSU) 12 catches, 143 yards; (2018/SYR) 3 catches, 27 yards; (2019/SYR) 66 catches, 1,023 yards, 11 TDs.
Mock draft projection: Rounds 5-7 (NFLDraftScout.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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DRAFTED! >> Cincinnati, Round 5 (pick 147)
Khalid Kareem, DE, Notre Dame
High school: Farmington Hills Harrison
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 268 pounds
Arms: 34 3/8 inches | Hands: 10 7/8 inches
Bio: A top-100 player coming out of Harrison, Kareem picked South Bend over Michigan or Alabama, and enrolled early. Missed the combine after surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder that he played through in his final four games at ND.
Stats: (2016) 3 games played; (2017) 21 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks; (2018) 42 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 5 PBU; (2019) 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 10 TFL, 3 FF.
Mock draft projection: Rounds 2-4 (NFLDraftScout.com); Round 4 (TheDraftNetwork.com), Round 4 (DraftTek.com), Round 4 (WalterFootball.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 4
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Mabry, TE, Maryland
High school: Ypsilanti Lincoln/IMG Academy
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 247
40-yard dash: 4.92
Hands: 10 3/4 inches | Arms: 34 1/4 inches
Bio: Transferred to Maryland from Buffalo after earning first-team All-MAC honors in 2018. Was on the 2019 John Mackey Award Watch list.
Stats: (2016/BUF) 9 catches, 95 yards; (2017/BUF) 24 catches, 242 yards, 1 TD; (2018/BUF) 27 catches, 230 yards, 2 TDs; (2019/MD) 13 catches, 155 yards, 3 TDs
Mock draft projection: High priority UDFA (NFLDraftScout.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: UDFA
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DRAFTED! >> Denver, Round 3 (pick 77)
Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa
High school: Farmington Hills Harrison
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 200 pounds
Arms: 32 1/4 inches | Hands: 8 7/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.45 seconds
Vertical jump: 36.0 inches | Broad jump: 122.0 inches
3-cone drill: 6.87 seconds | 20-yard shuttle: 4.21 seconds
Bio: The younger brother of former Harrison, Michigan and NFL defensive end Mario Ojemudia, Michael played inside for the Hawks in high school, but moved outside for the Hawkeyes, and he played immediately, starting 22 games over his final three seasons in Iowa City.
Stats: (2016) 5 tackles, 1 PBU; (2017) 29 tackles, 1 PBU; (2018) 39 tackles, 3 INT, 6 PBU; (2019) 52 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INT, 9 PBU
Mock draft projection: Rounds 4-5 (NFL.com), Rounds 4-6 (NFLDraftScout.com), Round 6 (DraftTek.com), Round 6 (WalterFootball.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 5
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DRAFTED! >> New England, Round 6 (pick 182)
Michael Onwenu, OG, Michigan
High school: Detroit Cass Tech
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 344 pounds
Arms: 34 3/8 inches | Hands: 10 1/2 inches
40-yard dash: 5.61 seconds | Bench press: 26 reps
Bio: A top-10 national recruit on the offensive line, Onwenu played on both lines early at U-M, then started nine times as a sophomore, and 13 games at right guard as a junior and senior, earning third-team all-Big Ten honors each of the last two seasons.
Mock draft projection: Round 5-7 (NFLDraftScout.com), Round 5 (TheDraftNetwork.com), Round 6 (DraftTek.com), Round 7 (WalterFootball.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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DRAFTED! >> Minnesota, Round 5 (pick 176)
K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami (Fla.)
High school: Ypsilanti Lincoln/IMG Academy
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 203 pounds
Arms: 31 1/4 inches | Hands: 9 1/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds | Bench press: 18 reps
Vertical jump: 37.5 inches | Broad jump: 123 inches
3-cone drill: 7.0 seconds | 20-yard shuttle: 4.35 seconds
Bio: Spent his first three years of high school at Lincoln, before transferring to IMG for his senior year. Played three seasons in the MAC at Buffalo before transferring to Miami for his final season.
Stats: (2016/BUF) 8 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD; (2017/BUF) 35 catches, 493 yards, 4 TDs, 19.4 average on 16 KOR, 10.3 average on 8 PR; (2018/BUF) 53 catches, 892 yards, 7 TDs, 19.3 average on 7 KOR, 10.3 average on 25 PR; (2019/MIA) 50 catches, 547 yards, 5 TDs, 20.1 average on 10 KOR, 15.9 average on 16 PR.
Mock draft projection: High-priority UDFA (NFLDraftScout.com), UDFA — No. 319 prospect (CBSSports.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 7
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DRAFTED! >> Cleveland, Round 6 (pick 187)
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
High school: Detroit Cass Tech
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 212 pounds
Arms: 33 1/2 inches | Hands: 10 1/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds
Vertical jump: 44.5 inches | Broad jump: 139 inches
Bio: A five-star recruit and the Gatorade Michigan Football Player of the Year at Cass Tech, Peoples-Jones had a solid but unspectacular career at Michigan, turning pro after his junior season. He was a freshman All-American after starting nine games his first year on campus, then earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore, before struggling with an injury to start his junior year.
Stats: (2017) 22 catches, 277 yards, 8.0 average, 1 TD on 40 PRs; (2018) 47 catches, 612 yards, 8 TDs, 10.0 average, 1 TD on 25 PRs; (2019) 34 catches, 438 yards, 6 TDs, 7.2 average on 24 PRs.
Mock draft projection: Rounds 3-5 (NFLDraftScout.com), Round 2 (TheDraftNetwork.com), Round 3 (DraftTek.com), Round 3 (CBSSports.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 3
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Carolina Panthers
David Reese II, ILB, Florida
High school: Farmington
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 239 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.86 seconds
Bio: Thrust into the starting lineup as a freshman, Reese never really left, starting 38 of the 46 games he played in, and finishing with 322 tackles (121 solo, 3.5 sacks, one interception and 21 tackles for loss. Was the third Gators linebacker since 2007 to tally a 100-tackle season when he did it as a sophomore.
Stats: (2016) 49 tackles, 2 TFL; (2017) 102 tackles, 10 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT; (2018) 77 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 FR; (2019) 94 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FR.
Mock draft projection: Round 7/priority UDFA (NFLDraftScout.com), Round 5 (WalterFootball.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 7
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DRAFTED! >> New Orleans, Round 3 (pick 105)
Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
High School: Elk Rapids
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 255 pounds
Arms: 32 5/8 inches | Hands: 9 1/2 inches
40-yard dash: 4.8 seconds | Bench press: 18 reps
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches | Broad jump: 114.0 inches
3-cone drill: 6.78 seconds | 20-yard shuttle: 4.27 seconds
Bio: A high school quarterback and Dayton’s Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year during his redshirt season in 2015, Trautman was a versatile weapon early in his college career, then led the Flyers in receiving as a sophomore and junior before earning Associated Press FCS All-American honors to go with Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: (2016) 24 catches, 238 yards, 3 TDs; (2017) 43 catches, 537 yards, 5 TDs; (2018) 41 catches, 604 yards, 9 TDs; (2019) 70 catches, 916 yards, 14 TDs
Mock draft projection: Rounds 2-3 (NFL.com); Round 2 (NFLDraftScout.com); Round 3 (TheDraftNetwork.com), Round 4 (DraftTek.com), Round 1 (WalterFootball.com), Round 3 (CBSSports.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 2
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Kansas City Chiefs
Cody White, WR, Michigan State
High school: Walled Lake Western
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 217 pounds
Arms: 32 1/2 inches | Hands: 10 inches
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches | Broad jump: 120.0 inches
3-cone drill: 7.19 seconds | 20-yard shuttle: 4.52 seconds
Bio: An all-around player for the Warriors in high school, earning the STATE CHAMPS! Mr. Football award, White was strictly a wideout and return man at Michigan State, starting the final six games of his freshman season. He led the Spartans in receiving each of his last two seasons in East Lansing, before turning pro after his junior year.
Stats: (2017) 35 catches, 490 yards, 4 TDs; (2018) 42 catches, 555 yards, 2 TDs; 4.6 average on 5 PRs; (2019) 66 catches, 922 yards, 6 TDs, 5.7 average on 7 PRs.
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 6
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SIGNED! >> UDFA by Atlanta Falcons
Rayshawn Wilborn, OLB, Ball State
High school: Lansing Sexton
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 230
Arms: 32 1/4 inches | Hands: 9 5/8 inches | Wingspan: 78 3/8 inches
Bio: Transferred from Garden City Community College, where he had 120 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 23 TFL in 23 games. Started 12 games at outside linebacker as a junior, then moved to safety as a senior, where he started 12 games.
Stats: (2018/BS) 83 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 6 PDF, 2 FF; (2019/BS) 83 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INT, 6 PDF.
Mock draft projection: Priority UDFA (NFLDraftScout.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 7
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DRAFTED! >> Minnesota, Round 7 (pick 225)
Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State
High school: Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 264 pounds
Arms: 31 1/4 inches | Hands: 9 1/2 inches
40-yard dash: 4.87 | Bench press: 32 reps
Vertical jump: 32.5 inches | Broad jump: 119.0 inches | 3-cone drill: 7.39 seconds
Bio: A walk-on and scout team member to start his Michigan State career, Willekes blew up as a sophomore, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. He was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior, and second-team All-Big Ten as a senior, after fighting back from a broken fibula in the bowl game to end his junior year.
Stats: (2016) 1 game played; (2017) 73 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 7 sacks; (2018) 79 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 20.5 TFL; (2019) 78 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 16 TFL, 2 FF, 2 FR.
Mock draft projection: Rounds 5-6 (NFLDraftScout.com), Round 3 (TheDraftNetwork.com), Round 5 (DraftTek.com), Round 3 (WalterFootball.com)
STATE CHAMPS! Projection: Round 4
