NFL Draft: Michigan Football DT Willie Henry Will Bring Dominance to Your Team
The NFL Draft is just around the corner, and former Michigan football defensive tackle Willie Henry is in shape for a great pro career.
It seems that around this time of year, college football lovers spend a lot of time leading up to the NFL Draft talking about their team’s quarterback and where he might be picked and what he’ll be able to do as a pro.
Related Story: What if Brady Hoke wasn't fired?
But in many cases, your favorite team’s quarterback that’s on the market is going to be in the shadow of the better linemen. Michigan football makes no exception to that.
Will Jake Rudock be picked up in the NFL Draft? It’s likely, but not incredibly important. What is important is that defensive tackle Willie Henry has a chance to be a monster on an NFL defense line.
Henry could have stayed in the Michigan football program for one more season, but it wasn’t completely necessary. Though there was some refining that could have been done, he’s got the physical tools to go to the pro game right now, which is why it’s no surprise that he did.
In January, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said Henry could potentially be a first-round pick.
"“Henry, to me, and I’ve said this (on my radio show), he was instrumental in their success defensively. He was a guy who wowed you over. (Chris) Wormley had his moments early on, but throughout the year it was Henry,” Kiper said. “That defense was what it was throughout the year, I think, because of Henry. He was a fear factor player. Offensive line coaches knew who he was and had to account for him.”"
His workouts, along with rigorous game observations, revealed a couple flaws that some teams might be weary of, but bear with me.
As the Pro Football Focus scouting report points out, his run game awareness was “non-existent” at times during his Michigan career, and it’s difficult to assess how much he benefited from playing within one of the best defensive lines in the country. Was he a free-rider? Certainly not. But it’d be interesting to see how would hold up if he were the guy.
MORE: Harbaugh has a great response to the NCAA
What you can’t deny, though, is Henry’s tenacious pass-rushing ability.
Henry was perhaps the most explosive lineman on Michigan’s defensive front last season; he spent a lot of time in opponents’ backfields. The PFF report mentions it’s “rare that an offensive lineman could get lower than Henry and gain leverage.”
Henry also demonstrated with the Wolverines that he’s a capable pass-rusher from both guard and end, and he even saw time lining up over the center. He has a variety of moves and enough athleticism and strength to make his way into the backfield from just about anywhere on the defensive line.
As most draft analysts point out with Henry, nobody is going to question his effort, but they will question his technique. Henry has tremendous upper body strength and was a very pure pass-rusher at Michigan. If there’s a team that takes him in and can refine those skills, they’re going to have quite the weapon on their line.
Next: Top freshmen to watch this season
At the very least, whichever team decides to take Henry is getting one of the best pass-rushers in the draft.