Michigan Football: Veterans Prepare For Their Last Game At The Big House
Not only will Saturday's matchup between No. 3 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State have massive implications on the College Football Playoff, it will also be the final game in Michigan Stadium for a number of Wolverines who are key contributors.
It's a given that guys like Blake Corum, Trevor Keegan, Kris Jenkins, Mike Sainristil, and Mike Barrett will all be pursuing their dreams of playing football in the National Football league after this season, but other major contributors will have a big decision to make once the 2023 season comes to an end.
Here's a quick look at just some of those key contributors who could be playing their final game in the Big House this weekend:
Graduate Students
- Mike Sainristil, DB
- Trevor Keegan, OL
- Karsen Barnhart, OL
- Cornelius Johnson, WR
- Michael Barrett, LB
- Trente Jones, OL
- Josh Wallace, DB
- LaDarius Henderson, OL
- Drake Nugent, OL
- Cam Goode, DL
Seniors
- Blake Corum, RB
- Roman Wilson, WR
- Kris Jenkins, DL
- Zak Zinter, OL
- Jaylen Harrell, EDGE
- Braiden McGregor, EDGE
- Makari Paige, DB
- AJ Barner, TE
- Myles Hinton, OL
Juniors
- JJ McCarty, QB
- Donovan Edwards, RB
- Josaiah Stewart, EDGE
- Junior Colson, LB
- Rayshaun Benny, DL
- Rod Moore, DB
Prior to the start of the 2023 season, head coach Jim Harbaugh predicted that Michigan would break Georgia's record of having 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
"I think we'll have 20 guys picked (in the next NFL draft). I bet we break that record. (Georgia) had 15 that year."
Harbaugh named a number of players specifically he thought would be drafted after this season, including Trevor Keegan (OL), Drake Nugent (OL), Zak Zinter (OL), Trente Jones (OL), Karsen Barnhart (OL), Myles Hinton (OL), Ladarius Henderson (OL), Blake Corum (RB), Donovan Edwards (RB), AJ Barner (TE), and JJ McCarthy (QB).
Although it's likely that Harbaugh will be proven right about most of the guys he named off, it will be interesting to see what guys like JJ McCarthy and Donovan Edwards decide to do.
For McCarthy, it wouldn't be all that surprising to see the junior quarterback declare for the draft following the 2023 season. He's already considered a first-round pick, and he's projected by many to be among the first five quarterbacks selected.
Junior running back Donovan Edwards made it clear over the summer that his intention was to declare for the draft after this season, but there's no denying that his production has been less than expected heading into the year. It seems like a return for one more season in Ann Arbor would serve him will, particularly since he wouldn't be splitting reps with Corum next season - but that's a decision he'll obviously need to make in the near future.
Either way you cut it, this Saturday's matchup against Ohio State will also represent the final game in Michigan Stadium for so many incredible Wolverines. It's hard to think of a better way to end that chapter than with a win over the Buckeyes, setting the stage for another run at the conference championship and a shot at playing for a national championship.
Speaking with the media on Monday, senior running back Blake Corum made it clear that he's anticipating a ton of emotion as he walks down that tunnel in the winged helmet one last time.
"I think it's definitely going to be emotional, but it's the game," Corum said. "Who's not going to be emotional? I'll definitely be amped up. Going down that tunnel one last time, definitely will have a lot of emotions going on. Playing in front of 110,000, like I said, the best fanbase. Going into my last game in the Big House, I just want to say that the University of Michigan has been nothing but good to me. I'm so glad that I chose the University of Michigan, and the University of Michigan chose me. I'm just thankful, I'm excited, and hopefully we can end it with a bang."
