Michigan Football: Despite injury, Josh Uche’s NFL draft stock is solid

Michigan football sent 11 former players to the NFL combine this week and one of them, Josh Uche, is seeing his stock solidify, even while being injured.

It was awesome to see 11 former Michigan football players get invited to the NFL draft combine and one of them, defensive end/linebacker/whatever, Josh Uche probably could have used it as a real springboard.

Unfortunately, Uche suffered a hamstring injury at the Senior Bowl, which means that he will only take part in interviews and take the physical that all the players get, giving teams an accurate look at his height and weight, as well as his injury history.

For an edge rusher like Uche, that hurts because with his size, if he could put together an impressive time in the 40-yard dash, the like 4.51 that Don Brown said that he ran, that certainly would open some eyes in the NFL. Too bad he won’t get the chance.

The best hope for Uche is that he will be healthy enough to run when Michigan football holds its pro day. Yet, even with him being sidelined for now, Uche’s NFL draft stock looks really solid and according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., he seems like a second-round pick:

"“Uche is a solid second-round pick, With the pass-rush ability, he has the bend off the edge. I think somebody said, ‘I wouldn’t be shocked if he went late-first,’ because pass-rushers go. I’d say second (round). At worst, third. But I’m thinking second round to me.”"

Uche’s production speaks for itself over the past two seasons. He recorded 7.5 sacks last season and also finished with seven sacks in 2018. On top of that, Uche finished 19.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

At Michigan, he became a jack-of-all-trades, playing linebacker, defensive end and doing both really well. In the NFL, he seems like a perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end, a standup pass rusher.

There are a number of teams that employ that scheme and that will need a pass rusher like him. In fact, with his talent, any scheme would work because whether his hand is in the dirt or he’s in a two-point stance, Uche can rush the passer.

He proved that at the Senior Bowl and that’s why even though he can completely work out this week, his draft stock shouldn’t be impacted.