Michigan Football: Former Wolverines turn heads at Senior Bowl

Multiple former Michigan football players are having themselves a good week at the Senior Bowl and here’s a look back at what they did in practice. 

The Senior Bowl is always a huge part of the NFL draft process and it’s a chance for guys to impress, while getting to work up close and personal with NFL coaching staffs, as well as having just about the entire league in attendance or at least keeping close tabs.

Well, teams that are in need of a wide receiver have likely been keeping tabs on former Michigan football standout who has shined all week down in Mobile.

Collins is 6-foot-4 and got solid news weighing in at 215 pounds and this week, Nico has proven just how good of shape he’s in with some dominant showings. Here’s a video from Rivals, showing Collins do this thing once again.

As he was with Michigan football, Collins has been especially impressive on deep balls down the field and on the jump-ball type plays in the red zone. While he only had one 100-yard game in his career with the Wolverines, he did catch 13 touchdowns in just two years as a starter.

With his size and jump-ball ability, plus the way that he has performed this week, he’s going to get a look in the second or third round. This draft is deep at wide receiver, but thinking about the Green Bay Packers, who just lost in the NFC title game, how much could they use Nico Collins?

Lots of teams could use him and if he posts a solid time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, I could easily see him sneaking in the top 60 picks.

Yet, he’s not the only Wolverine that has impressed this week.

Evans also turns heads

Running back Chris Evans missed the 2019 season and only touched the ball 22 times last season. But he averaged 4.6 yards per rush and caught nine passes for 87 yards. He had 49 receptions in his career and that ability, plus his quickness will get him drafted.

Evans has also helped himself this week and was cited as one the ‘winners’ of the week from the Athletic’s Dan Brugler via 247 sports.

Evans probably won’t ever be a full-time back in the NFL, but he’s explosive and the bright minds in the NFL will find a way to utilize him much better than U-M did.

Former Michigan football fan favorite, Ben Mason, is also turning heads in Mobile. Mason played both offense, defense and special teams at U-M and is tough as nails.

Fullback is a dying position in the NFL, but teams still have to be able to run the football and according to Vinnie Calderone of Sports Illustrated, Mason is getting buzz as a mid-round selection. Others are even calling him the best fullback in the draft.

The best thing about Mason is that he brings a ton of versatility. He will likely play on many special teams units right away in the NFL, which would justify his roster spot as a fullback. Then, he could make a real impact on an NFL offense that still values his position or that H-back of sorts.

Mason has also played some tight end this week and you could easily see him playing some in that spot in the NFL as a blocker, getting motioned around.

Whatever he can do to add to his value is a good thing and as the Senior Bowl game is set for Saturday, it’s clear Mason, Collins and Evans have all helped themselves this week.