Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines NFL Draft Prospect Watch
November 24, 2012; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) runs for a 67 yard touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE
It’s rivalry weekend in college football, and one of the top early matchups pits Ohio State against Michigan. This is essentially a bowl game for the undefeated Buckeyes, who have no eligibility for postseason play. The same is not true for Michigan, who is one of the top teams in the Big Ten and playing for a 7-1 conference record.
This game features two of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, though Denard Robinson seems to have been supplanted by Devin Gardner as the official quarterback for Michigan. Braxton Miller leads a high-powered Ohio State offensive attack, which has thrived in its first season under Urban Meyer.
We’ve documented some of the top prospects in this game eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft here at NFL Mocks.:
This game is a great opportunity for fans to see what Denard Robinson can do for an NFL team, playing some running back and wide receiver as well. It’s also a great chance to see receiver Roy Roundtree with a solid QB throwing him passes. No offense to Robinson, but Gardner is just a little better at his craft.
Here is a snippet from our Ohio State prospect preview:
"54 John Simon, Defensive Lineman, Senior 6’2″ 260 poundsSimon is a guy that really stands out when you watch Ohio State play, if for no other reason than he is just almost inarguably giving the most effort of any player on the field at any given time. His work ethic on and off the field is, according to Urban Meyer, “Tebowish,” and on the field, he reaps the benefits. He’s not likely to fill up the stat sheet in terms of sacks like some of the top pass rushers will, but he makes plays behind the line of scrimmage and you certainly don’t want to be the guy who gets in his way when the ball is snapped. Last season, he had 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks along with 53 total tackles. He has played both end in the 3-4 and some dropping in coverage as a linebacker. When he goes to the NFL, he can play inside or outside and have upside in both areas, though he’s a little light for a defensive tackle. I really enjoy watching this guy play, and I think he has a bright future in the NFL as a second-fourth round selection."