Michigan Wolverines news: Jake Moody is historic NFL draft pick, multiple commitments, and more

Three former Michigan football players were selected in the NFL draft on Friday, plus a couple of commitments and more in our Michigan Wolverines roundup. 

It didn’t surprise any Michigan football fans that Jake Moody was drafted, only the timing might have caught some off guard as “Money Moody” went off the board in the third round to the 49ers.

The pick might have turned some heads, but there is no doubt that the former Michigan Wolverines kicker is one of the best to come out of college in a long time. He’s the total package and has a very strong leg. He can also handle kickoffs and is money in the clutch.

Moody was the Lou Groza Award winner in 2021 and also an All-American and became just the second kicker drafted in the top 100 picks in the past 17 years.

NFL draft weekend is usually a great one for the Michigan Wolverines and that’s proven to be the case so far. Four Michigan football players have been selected so far.

DJ Turner and Luke Schoonmaker both went off the board in round two. Some scoff at the Cowboys’ pick of Schoonmaker, but the dude is going to be a stud. He might not be Jason Witten, yet he’s a complete tight end in that mold and Mike McCarthy will love him.

I wouldn’t have been shocked if DJ Turner joined Mazi Smith as a first-round pick. Instead, he went 60th overall to the Bengals and landed in a great spot. He joins former teammate Daxton Hill and should have a real chance to become a starter for Cincinnati at the cornerback position.

Olu Oluwatimi, Ronnie Bell, Ryan Hayes, Gemon Green, Brad Robbins, and Mike Morris are all Michigan Wolverines that could be selected on Saturday at some point between rounds 4-7.

Michigan football lands a transfer kicker

Speaking of kickers, Michigan football added one via the transfer portal on Friday. It was reported as likely to happen earlier this week, yet former Louisville kicker James Turner made it official by announcing his transfer to the Michigan Wolverines.

Turner might not be Jake Moody, yet he was really good last season for the Cardinals and made 20-of-22 kicks. Turner has two seasons of better than 86 percent field goal accuracy. There was one dip to 65 percent as a sophomore, but he’s made 80 percent of his career kicks. He’s also made 121-of-123 extra points.

Michigan football had a need for a proven kicker and landing Turner fills it perfectly. With a team that feels it can contend for a national title, a reliable kicker was a must.

Look at what happened to Ohio State last year in the playoff.

Michigan Wolverines add to No. 1 class in 2024

In case you missed it, Michigan football added another talented commitment to the 2024 class as three-star center Jake Guarnera committed to the Wolverines.

Guarnera is ranked inside the top 500 and I love the fact that he’s 6-foot-4. He’s the fifth offensive line commitment for Michigan football in the 2024 cycle and Sherron Moore got another good one.

Fans might not be as excited because of the ranking. However, the staff seems higher on this commitment and it gives the Wolverines a long-term option to develop at center, or potentially even inside at guard.

Here’s the full breakdown from our Kyler Kregel, but suffice it to say, the 15th commitment of the 2024 class, which is ranked No. 1, was another solid get for the good guys.