Michigan has two of the top 10 'freaks' set to light it up at NFL Combine
Michigan Wolverines football had four players on The Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘freaks’ list heading into the 2023 season, a ranking of players who “display physical attributes that wow every those who observe gifted athletes every day.” The Maize and Blue have a record 18 players who were invited to the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis, including two who are some of the top freaks that will participate.
Feldman revisited his freaks list and put out a ranking of the players he’s most interested to see test and time at the combine. Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson checked in No. 6, while defensive tackle Kris Jenkins ranked 10th.
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Former Michigan director of strength and conditioning Ben Herbert told TheWolverine.com last May that Wilson, known for his speed, ran a 3.71-second 20-yard shuttle. Feldman reported that he ran a 6.20-second three-cone drill.
“Those two times have been met with some disbelief in combine training circles, so there will be a lot of eyeballs on Michigan’s top receiver,” Feldman wrote. “Wilson, who also flew up the Wolverines’ reactive plyo stairs in 2.22 seconds (tops in the program), had a fantastic few days at the Senior Bowl.”
Jenkins, meanwhile, was nicknamed “The Mutant” by Herbert for his unique quickness and speed at his large size (6-3, 305). He was the No. 6 ‘freak’ per Feldman last summer, but the reporter pointed out that some of the “freaky stuff” that warranted that ranking “won’t be relevant” at the combine. For example, Jenkins did a Turkish get-up with a 170-pound dumbbell — “the heaviest former Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert has ever witnessed.”
“Jenkins also does pull-ups with a 100-pound weight strapped to his waist and could do 760 pounds on the combo twist,” Feldman continued.
“What will show up in Indy are his agility numbers and explosiveness. Last offseason, Jenkins ran a 7.16 3-cone, a 4.33 shuttle, broad jumped 9-8 and vertical jumped 34 inches. He also did 32 reps at 225 pounds. All those numbers would be among the best for his position if he can match them, especially the agility times.”
Michigan had standouts at the combine last season, and they lined up similarly to how Feldman ranked players in the previous year’s ‘freaks list.’ Cornerback DJ Turner, for instance, ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash, leading all players at the combine. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith, meanwhile, led all participants with 34 reps on the bench press. Feldman predicts that Wilson and Jenkins will be the next Wolverines to put up dazzling numbers at this year’s event.
