It was a busy weekend with the 2020 NFL Draft taking place, but there were some other notable stories throughout the last few days that may have fallen through the cracks for you.
Michigan adds two non-conference games, including Oakland
The Michigan Wolverines have added a foe close to home to their non-conference schedule in 2020-21 as they will play host to the Oakland Grizzlies on Dec. 21 at Crisler Center. The last time the two faced off was in 2011 in a year that capped four-straight seasons where the two teams met. In eight games, the Wolverines have prevailed all but one time.
Michigan has also added Southern Utah to the home slate, whom they will play on Nov. 27.
Juwan Howard and his team will also face the Kentucky Wildcats in December in a game that is reportedly still on it London despite the coronavirus concerns. Michigan will also have the back end of their home-and-home series that will see them heading to Eugene to play the Oregon Ducks.
Of course there will also be the continuation of the ACC/Big Ten challenge, whose matchups have yet to be announced.
Finally, the Wolverines will play in the Empire Classic Tournament against some of the top teams in recent years including Baylor, Villanova, and NC State.
Former Michigan center Colin Castleton chooses Florida
Late Sunday night, sophomore Colin Castleton, formerly a member of the Michigan Wolverines basketball program, has chosen to transfer to the Florida and become a Gator.
#GoGators pic.twitter.com/OcW3x2C70r
— Colin Castleton (@Castleton_) April 27, 2020
After emerging as a formidable role player in his freshman season under John Beilein, he struggled to see time on the court under the new regime with Howard. Austin Davis capitalized on some solid play and took over the backup center position behind senior Jon Teske this past season.
With Davis confirmed to come back to Ann Arbor for a fifth-year, and top-50 freshman Hunter Dickinson coming in at the same position, Castleton announced a few weeks ago that his time at Michigan had come to a close.
The former four-star prospect in the class of 2018 averaged only 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds a game last season.
Double-digit Michigan men chosen in the NFL Draft
Jim Harbaugh and his staff pumped out the second most players from a single school that we selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. In a tie with their arch-rival, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Wolverines had 10 players selected and another two signed as undrafted free agents.
Schools with most picks in the 2020 NFL Draft@LSUfootball 14@UMichFootball 10@OhioStateFB 10@AlabamaFTBL 9@ClemsonFB 7@GatorsFB 7@GeorgiaFootball 7@Utah_Football 7@AuburnFootball 6@NDFootball 6@HawkeyeFootball 5@GopherFootball 5@PennStateFball 5@TCUFootball 5
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) April 25, 2020
Here are the 10 Wolverines who were chosen in the draft:
- C Cesar Ruiz (No. 24 to the New Orleans Saints)
- EDGE Josh Uche (No. 60 to the New England Patriots)
- G Ben Bredeson (No. 143 to the Baltimore Ravens)
- LB Khaleke Hudson (No. 162 to the Washington Redskins)
- DE Mike Danna (No. 177 to the Kansas City Cheifs)
- G Michael Onwenu (No. 182 to the Patriots)
- WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (No. 187 to the Cleveland Browns)
- OL Jon Runyan (No. 192 to the Green Bay Packers)
- S Josh Metellus (No. 205 to the Minnesota Vikings)
- LB Jordan Glasgow (No. 213 to the Indianapolis Colts)
After the draft, CB LaVert Hill joined former Michigan teammate Mike Danna on the Kansas City Cheifs, and TE Sean McKeon inked a deal with the Dallas Cowboys. If memory serves, the only remaining eligible player is QB Shea Patterson.
In the draft, Michigan extended their streak as one of only four schools to have a player drafted in every class in the Common Era. Michigan State, Florida, and USC are the only other schools in college football to enjoy the same feat.
For the first time in the Common Era, four players from the same offensive line were drafted in a seven-round draft: Cesar Ruiz, Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu, and Jon Runyan. An incredible accomplishment for Ed Warinner and this group.
National Brews:
- Episodes three and four of the docuseries “The Last Dance” aired on Sunday evening. The third episode featured the “Bad Boys” era of the Detroit Pistons. If you missed it, you can find the clean and unadulterated versions on the WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
- The New England Patriots have signed former Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke who was held to just 66 yards against the Wolverines in 2019.
- The NBA announced on Saturday that they will begin to let players go back to training facilities in May. There is still no timetable on a return to action.