LOOK: Zavier Simpson posts heartfelt farewell message to Michigan, supporters

Zavier Simpson’s senior storybook ending was taken away from him like many others across the nation due to the COVID-19 outbreak canceling the NCAA Tournament. After almost two months to reflect on the abrupt end to the basketball season, the Michigan Wolverines point guard took to social media to reflect on his career in Ann Arbor.

Here is what “X” had to say via his Instagram account on Monday evening:

This has been an amazing four years through out my entire college basketball career at The University of Michigan. Through all the ups and down, through the supporters, doubters, fans, family and friends & etc... I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be the person I am today, Zavier Simpson. I am more than hungry that I’ve ever been through my college career on wanting to reach goals I’ve never achieved.With all the madness, craziness that has happened during my collegiate career. I have managed to become a basketball player and more importantly a better person. I appreciate all my friends & families, the fans who support us, my teammates, the coaching staff I’ve played under and anyone else who has helped me, not just as a basketball player, but as a person off the court as well. I am now ready to begin my professional career, leaving The University Of Michigan behind me, but always with me! I put all my trust in God’s hands and ask that we continue to stay safe & faithful through out this process and help those who are in a time of need to defeat COVID-19.Forever & Always, Go BlueX. Simpson Out✌

Simpson and his fellow Michigan seniors graduated from the university over the weekend at home as the stay-at-home orders across the country remain in place.

OSU unsurprisingly leads in NFL Draftees at most positions

Over the last couple of seasons, the Michigan Wolverines football program has fared well in the NFL Draft, specifically after 10 overall selections in 2020, two first-rounders selected in 2019 and 11 overall selections in 2018.

Despite the impressive numbers under Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines hardly compare to that of Ohio State, which has dominated nearly every position of the draft over the past two decades. NCAAF Nation on Twitter outlined how many NFL-level players every Big Ten team has produced by position over the past two decades.

Ohio State leads the way with five quarterbacks drafted in the last 20 seasons. Cardale Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Terrelle Pryor, Troy Smith and Craig Krenzel are those who were drafted, along with Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett each making the NFL as undrafted free agents. Michigan has 4.

The Buckeye train rolls on as they also lead in running backs selected (with Wisconsin at a close second) of note for each team are J.K. Dobbins, Ezekiel Elliott, Mike Weber and Carlos Hyde for Ohio State. The Badgers have a pretty impressive resume themselves in recent years with the selection of Jonathan Taylor, James White, Melvin Gordon and Montee Ball under their belt. Meanwhile, Michigan has 3.

Those are just a few position groups that illustrate the current gap between Ohio State and the rest of the conference. As painful as it is to admit, they just do it differently down there and the rest of the conference is trying to catch up.

Top DL prospect has Michigan in top 14

New Jersey native and one of the top defensive lineman in the country, Tywone Malone, kept Michigan on his list as he released his top 14 over the weekend.

As the No. 56 recruit in the nation, Malone has received plenty of attention from the most prolific schools in the country. A third of his remaining list includes Big Ten teams — Rutgers, Penn State, Michigan and the crystal ball favorite to land him, Ohio State. Let’s hope the New Jersey pipeline Harbaugh has built doesn’t get burst by their mortal enemies.

National Brews:

• Legendary Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula passed away at 90 years old on Monday, Shula coached the undefeated Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins in 1972. They remain the only team in history to go 17-0.
• The Louisville Cardinals were hit with another NCAA notice of allegation from the time Rick Pitino was head coach.