Michigan Football: Maurice Hurst is set to have a monster season

Maurice Hurst gave Michigan football some good news when he decided to return for his senior season and now he is projected to be a first-round draft pick.

There has been a lot of talk about all the great players Michigan football has lost since last season, but one big-time talent that returns, is defensive tackle Maurice Hurst.

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Hurst has steadily improved for Michigan football the past few seasons, but finished 2016 with 30 tackles, 11.5 TFL and five sacks. The junior also added 34 pressures and established himself as an elite pass rusher.

Last season, he was overshadowed, not just on the defense, but on the defensive line. With a slew of NFL-caliber players such as Taco Charlton, Chris Wormley and Ryan Glasgow, it was easy for Hurst to just blend in on an extremely talented front four.

And with players like Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis in the back end, it’s no surprise that few talked about Hurst as a star.

But in 2017, that is all going to change.

Thankfully, for the Wolverines, Hurst didn’t make the jump to the NFL. If he had, his name likely would have been called on the first or second day. Backing up that claim, is the fact that Pro Football Focus rated Hurst 22nd among returning players.

PFF also pegged Hurst as the top returning interior pass rusher in the nation and had him 16th in an early 2017 mock draft.

At 6-2, 282 pounds, Hurst has the body type of a Mike Daniels (Packers) or Aaron Donald (Rams), two of the NFL’s elite interior rushers. His ability to play with leverage and his short-area explosiveness, will translate perfectly to the next level.

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Ideally, Hurst will be a defensive tackle at the next level, particularly in a 4-3, where he could thrive. Yet, he is stout enough and sound enough in the run game, that he could easily make it as a 3-4 defensive end.

It’s hard to say where Hurst will ultimately go in the NFL draft, but his stock is ascending. He is legitimate 3-down lineman, one capable of living in the opponents backfield.

Yet, even with Hurst’s pedigree and past production, he is still overshadowed slightly.

There is tons of excitement surrounding Rashan Gary, the top defensive recruit in the nation in 2016, who also has the look of a star.

The two should form one of the top defensive line duos in the nation. Gary rushing on the edge and Hurst up the gut, has to be a frightening prospect for quarterbacks.

It’s not that Hurst’s ability isn’t respected, it is, especially by those who know the game. But he is a much better player than most realize and by season’s end, he should be talked about as one of the nation’s top defenders.

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It may not count as a bold prediction, but Hurst is set for a monster season. And if the Michigan football star has one, he could be find himself among the top-10 picks in the 2017 NFL draft.