Michigan Wolverines News: Aidan Hutchinson dominates, Luke Schoonmaker to NFL draft and more

In our latest Michigan Wolverines news roundup, Aidan Hutchinson takes over Lambeau Field Michigan football’s Luke Schoonmaker declares for the draft, and more on Jim Harbaugh. 

Most people probably expected Aaron Rodgers to be talking to the Sunday Night Crew after the Lions-Packers game at Lambeau Field with a playoff berth in hand. Instead, former Michigan Wolverines superstar Aidan Hutchinson stole the show.

The former Michigan football pass rusher was selected No. 2 by the Lions in the 2022 NFL draft and he showed why against the Packers notching two sacks in a 20-16 victory.

Hutchinson finished the season with 9.5 sacks and three interceptions and frankly if he’s not NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, the award is rigged. Hutch was huge in both wins over the Packers intercepting Aaron Rodgers in the first game and then with the two sacks last night.

Detroit finished the season with a 9-8 overall record and while the Lions missed the playoffs, I bet few people expected to see Hutch doing the Lambeau Leap.

Michigan football standout David Ojabo gets his first NFL sack

Another former Michigan Wolverines great, David Ojabo, had a pretty cool moment Sunday. After injuring his Achilles during pre-draft workouts last year, Ojabo fell to the Ravens in the second round of the draft.

People didn’t know if he would be able to play at all this season but he returned to the field and on Sunday, he was credited with a strip sack on Joe Burrow — his first in the NFL. Ojabo will be part of the NFL playoffs next weekend with the Ravens, who will face the Bengals again.

Luke Schoonmaker declares for the NFL draft

Some news about the current Michigan Wolverines is that they will be without one of their top tight ends next season as Luke Schoonmaker has declared for the NFL draft.

Schoonmaker had a breakout season for Michigan football despite missing a few games to injury and Pete Thamel of ESPN reports that the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder could be a second-round pick.

Schoonmaker had one year of eligibility left, but the fifth-year tight end was expected to depart (he accepted a Senior Bowl invite months ago), so it’s not a huge surprise. It’s probably why Michigan football added AJ Barner, a tight end from Indiana in the transfer portal.

NIL push to keep Michigan football players

When it comes to the idea of keeping current players at Michigan, the Valiant Management Group, a NIL collective is putting together a fund to try and entice players such as Blake Corum, Cornelius Johnson, Zak Zinter, and Trevor Keegan to return.

This allows fans to even contribute and it’s picking up some momentum early. Corum has told people he’s 50/50 about returning and is probably awaiting the decision of head coach Jim Harbaugh, as the others could be too.

Still, this will help and it’s important that Michigan football does stuff like this. It if doesn’t want to get into bidding wars for recruits, this is a way for NIL to be impactful.

Latest on Jim Harbaugh’s future with Michigan Wolverines

At this point, I don’t think much has changed with Harbaugh. The Broncos and Saints are talking about a trade that includes a first-round pick for Sean Payton.

So it appears he’s the No. 1 candidate. If Harbaugh was (he doesn’t cost a first-round pick) that move would make more sense. If Payton doesn’t want to coach or that deal falls through, it could be something to watch but also feels like posturing.

Michigan football just needs to make him an offer he can’t refuse and put this to rest for good.