Three Michigan players check in on PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft Big Board, one in the top 50
Michigan Wolverines football may not have a projected first-round picks for the 2023 NFL Draft at this point, but it’s important to remember Aidan Hutchinson, who went No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions, and Dax Hill (No. 31 to the Cincinnati Bengals) improved their stock mightily throughout the 2021 campaign. Current draft-eligible Michigan players have the opportunity to do the same this fall.
Three Michigan players made appearances on the Pro Football Focus (PFF) 2023 NFL Draft Big Board released shortly after the conclusion of this year’s draft, though it’s important to note more Wolverines could be picked come next spring. PFF’s big board didn’t include the same amount of players as there are picks in the draft.
Here’s a look at the trio of Maize and Blue players, one of whom ranked top 50 overall.
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RB Blake Corum: No. 47 Overall, No. 6 Running Back
Michigan junior Blake Corum checked in sixth among running backs, behind Texas‘ Bijan Robinson (No. 18 overall), Texas A&M‘s Devon Achane (No. 26), UAB‘s DeWayne McBride (No. 30), Auburn‘s Tank Bigsby (No. 43) and Kansas State‘s Deuce Vaughn (No. 45). For comparison’s sake, the sixth running back taken in 2022 was with the second pick in the fourth round, so Corum could find himself in that territory next year.
If Corum hadn’t suffered a high-ankle sprain last in Michigan’s 2021 campaign, he likely would’ve joined Hassan Haskins as a 1,000-yard rusher. Haskins was the 10th player off the board at his position, late fourth round to the Tennessee Titans.
Corum racked up 952 rushing yards and 11 scores despite missing two contests, and flashed his big-play ability at less than 100 percent healthy by ripping off a 55-yard run against Ohio State and a 67-yard touchdown dash in the Big Ten title game.
Corum is at his best in space, and is known for making big plays. Twenty two of his 143 rushing attempts went for 10 or more yards last season, and a whopping 47 percent of his yards came on runs of 15-plus yards, per PFF, showing that Corum doesn’t just get past the first and second levels of the defense — he can run by anybody.
He can also be used as a pass-catcher, having recorded 24 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown last season.
Olusegun Oluwatimi: No. 69 Overall, No. 2 Center
Grad student Olusegun Oluwatimi opted to return to college for his final season after receiving feedback from the NFL, but wanted to do it elsewhere after beginning his career at Virginia. The 2021 Rimington Award finalist chose Michigan as the place to showcase his talents one final time after hearing he’d likely go Day 3 (rounds four through seven) or undrafted in 2022.
Now, though, he’s projected to be one of the top interior defensive linemen in the 2023 draft. PFF ranked just three centers — Minnesota‘s John Michael Schmitz, Oluwatimi and Ohio State‘s Luke Wypler. That could put Oluwatimi in the first round, with four interior offensive lineman having been taken in the opening round in 2022.
Oluwatimi graded out as the third-best run blocker at his position last season, per Pro Football Focus (PFF), and was named a season-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.
CB DJ Turner: No. 92 Overall, No. 13 Cornerback
Senior DJ Turner went from backup in the first half of last season to the No. 13 cornerback on the board, which is significant given that more than 30 players at the position were picked in 2022.
Turner was Michigan’s top coverage player last season, recording two interceptions and posting a team-best 83.3 PFF coverage grade, with 26 receptions, 267 yards and two touchdowns allowed on 59 targets.
