The Michigan football team had three players selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, but they are far from being the only Wolverines to receive opportunities in the league.
After the draft concluded Saturday, the league’s undrafted rookie free agency process began, and several Michigan players have signed with teams.
According to reports, Jarrod Wilson, Joe Kerridge, Sione Houma and Mario Ojemudia have signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, respectively.
Wilson, a safety, appeared in 48 games and started 30 of them. In his 2015 campaign, he tallied 61 tackles, one sack and two interceptions.
A reliable presence in the back of Michigan’s secondary, Wilson received All-Big Ten honorable mention for his efforts.
Under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, both Kerridge and Houma found ample playing time as fullbacks within Harbaugh’s pro-style offense.
Both played key roles as lead blockers, while also proving to be capable at running and catching the ball. In their final seasons, Kerridge ran 14 times for 62 yards and one touchdown in addition to tallying five receptions for 33 yards, while Houma accumulated five touchdowns and 184 rushing yards on 43 attempts and caught eight passes for 77 yards.
Ojemudia spent the first three years of his career at defensive end before transitioning to the BUCK hybrid linebacker position in former defensive coordinator DJ Durkin’s defensive scheme. Ojemudia got off to a fast start in 2015, recording 19 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks through the first five games of the season. But he tore his Achilles against Maryland, and the injury forced him to miss the rest of his senior season.
Harbaugh and Michigan looked into getting Ojemudia one additional season of eligibility, but because his injury took place in the fifth game of the season, Ojemudia did not qualify for a medical redshirt.
Several other undrafted players who played pivotal roles for the Wolverines last season include Joe Bolden, Desmond Morgan and Royce Jenkins-Stone. All will presumably look to catch on with NFL teams in the coming days.
This is a developing story. Stay with Michigandaily.com for updates.