With the biggest college football matchup of the year taking place Saturday between Michigan and Ohio State, former NFL general manager Rick Spielman walks us through which matchups to keep an eye on and how NFL evaluators will take notes.
Battle at the Line of Scrimmage
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State, DT (NO. 91)
Height, Weight: 6-foot-2, 290 Pounds
Year: Junior
Williams was a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference honoree. He’s recorded 45 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss (TFL) and three sacks this season.
Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State, DT (No. 51)
Height, Weight: 6-foot-2, 280 Pounds
Year: Junior
In three seasons, Hall has recorded 10 TFL and six sacks. He was ranked No. 54 overall amongst all players coming out of high school.
Zak Zinter, Michigan, OL (No. 65)
Height, Weight: 6-foot-6, 322 Pounds
Year: Senior
Zinter was a 2022 All-Big Ten First-Team selection.
Drake Nugent, Michigan, OL (No. 60)
Height, Weight: 6-foot-1, 301 Pounds
Year: Graduate Student
Before the season, Nugent transferred from Stanford, where he was a two-time All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
Skill Position Matchup to Monitor
Roman Wilson, Michigan, WR (No. 1)
Height, Weight: 6-foot, 192 Pounds
Year: Senior
Wilson has 10 receiving touchdowns this season, second in the Big Ten. In four seasons, he has recorded 1,530 career receiving yards.
Denzel Burke, Ohio State, CB (No. 10)
Height, Weight: 6-foot-1, 190 Pounds
Year: Junior
Burke was a 2022 All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Running Backs to Watch
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, RB (No. 32)
Height, Weight: 5-foot-10, 212 Pounds
Year: Junior
Henderson was a 2022 All-Big Ten honorable mention. This season, his 6.7 yards per rush lead the Big Ten. 2023 marks the second season of his career in which he’s notched double-digit rushing touchdowns.
Blake Corum, Michigan, RB (No. 2)
Height, Weight: 5-foot-8, 213 Pounds
Year: Senior
Corum was a unanimous First-Team All-American selection and a Doak Walker Award finalist in 2022. His 20 rushing touchdowns this season lead the NCAA. 2023 is Corum’s third college season with 850 or more rushing yards.
Donovan Edwards, Michigan, RB (No. 7)
Height, Weight: 6-foot-1, 210 Pounds
Year: Junior
Edwards entered Michigan as the nation’s No. 44 overall player out of high school. Through three seasons, he’s rushed for 1,488 yards on 270 attempts with 13 touchdowns.
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