5 Michigan HS grads invited to 2019 NFL Combine (Story)

Written by
Jeff Corrion
Published
02/07/2019

5 Michigan High School graduates will be participating in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine on Feb 29th-March 4th.

Ohio State / Cass Tech RB Mike Weber

Weber committed to Michigan initially, but changed his mind with Brady Hoke struggling to keep Wolverines among the elite programs in the country. He was an all-state pick and rated as one of the top 100 prospects nationally out of Cass Tech after rushing for 2,268 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior year. As a redshirt freshman, Weber played like an elite back, winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award and second-team all-conference honors after rushing for 1,096 yards and nine scores on 182 carries (6.0 average) in 13 starts. His sophomore year did not go as well, as a hamstring injury limited him to 101 carries (for 626 yards, 6.2 average) and 10 receptions (94 yards, 9.4 average), though he did score 10 touchdowns on the year. Weber returned to health, relatively speaking, during the 2018 season. He played in 13 games (two starts), garnering honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades by toting the rock 172 times for 954 yards (5.5 average) and five touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 112 yards (5.3 average) and a score. He switched jersey numbers from 25 to five for the Michigan contest and returned to his former number for the team's final two games.

Buffalo / Mona Shores QB Tyree Jackson

Jackson was a four-year starter at Mona Shores High School, earning first-team all-state honors as a senior and finishing in the top-five in Michigan history in career passing yards and passing touchdowns. He moved from the edge of Lake Michigan to the edge of Lake Erie to play college football for the Bulls. After a redshirt season, he started nine of 10 games in 2016, throwing for 1,772 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing 53.1 percent of his passes (165-of-311) and running for 399 yards (99 attempts, 4.0 per, five touchdowns). Jackson started eight games in 2017 (143-of-237, 60.3 percent, 2,096 yards, 12 touchdowns, three interceptions passing; 47 carries, 197 yards, 4.2 ypc, four touchdowns rushing) but missed four contests due to a knee injury. Healthy in 2018 and throwing to fellow NFL prospect Anthony Johnson, Jackson was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. He started all 14 games, passing for 3,131 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. His completion rate dropped to 55.3 percent (225-of-407), however, but he did score seven times as a runner (55 carries, 161 yards, 2.9 ypc). After his junior season, Jackson put his name in the NCAA transfer portal, giving other colleges a chance to recruit him as a graduate student. After additional thought, he decided to declare for the NFL Draft instead of playing for another school.

Michigan State / Lumen Christi S Khari Willis

Willis was named the Ann Arbor News Michigan High School Player of the Year in 2014 as a running back after he covered nearly 3,000 yards on the ground and scored 31 touchdowns. He didn't end up at Ann Arbor for college, signing with Sparty. Willis started 3 of 9 games played as a true freshman (11 tackles), but his season ended before the Big Ten Championship Game due to a broken foot. He started one game in 2016, making 30 tackles in 11 contests overall. An opening occurred in MSU's secondary for 2017, and Willis took advantage. He garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten honors that season, accumulating 71 tackles, 5.5 for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. He repeated his honorable mention all-conference performance as a senior, posting 84 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups in 13 starts for the Spartans.

Ohio State / Plymouth OT Michael Jordan

Center-guard prospect with NFL size and a frame that should add even more mass and muscle. Jordan has rare height for a center but has easy flexibility in his hips, knees and ankles, allowing him to man the position. He's a little lazy with his hands and might not move well enough for teams asking their interior linemen to get out in space. His 2017 guard tape might be more appealing to teams as he flashed as a drive-blocker. His size and versatility could make him a Day 2 draft pick with starting potential early in his career.

Central Michigan / Chippewa Valley CB Sean Bunting

Bunting received CMU's Defensive Player of the Year award with 37 tackles, three for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 12 games (11 starts). Bunting started all 13 games as a sophomore, making 49 tackles, breaking up five passes, forcing two fumbles and ending the year on a high note by intercepting five passes in the final four games. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, the Michigan native played in all 13 games (one start) and was credited with 18 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups. Bunting is expected to become just the third defensive back from Central Michigan to get drafted in the NFL since 1985 (Kavon Frazier by Cowboys in 2016 and Jim Bowman by Patriots in 1985). - Cited from nfl.com