Brad
Cheesehead
I was just wondering what everyone was thinking about possible draft picks for the pack asside from Erasmus....I was thinking more in the Secondary or other possible D-line choices? Just curious, let me know
Here is something we could do, if we weren't going after erasmus (which I still think we should). We could trade one of our running backs and a first round pick to move up and select Antrell Rolle (sp?) from Miami (Fl). He would be a great cornerback. I don't think Carroll is going to turn out to be anytihing special.Brad said:I was just wondering what everyone was thinking about possible draft picks for the pack asside from Erasmus....I was thinking more in the Secondary or other possible D-line choices? Just curious, let me know
Sunday, January 9, 2005
U-M's Shazor to declare for NFL draft
Standout safety will pass on last season of eligibility and has signed with an agent
ANN ARBOR -- Michigan now will be without two All-American defensive backs in the fall.
Safety Ernest Shazor, one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation's top defensive back, and the Wolverines' leading tackler, will forgo his final season of eligibility.
All-American cornerback Marlin Jackson has exhausted his eligibility and also departs the Wolverines, the co-Big Ten champions who were 9-3 and No. 14 in the final 2004 poll.
"I've decided to leave," Shazor said Saturday. "I thought hard about it, and it was just the best decision for me."
Shazor, a 6-foot-4, 229-pounder from Detroit, has signed with an agent but declined to reveal the agent's name. Shazor said he will formally declare for April's NFL draft on Monday. Juniors have until Saturday to do so.
He said NFL insiders have told him he is projected a late first-, early second-round selection. Shazor, who could play strong or free safety at the next level, plans to work out in Phoenix to prepare for next month's NFL combine in Indianapolis.
Shazor said he examined what he did during the 2004 season and realized there was not much more he could achieve at the college level. He led Michigan with 84 tackles, including 10 for loss; had two interceptions and two forced fumbles and was voted All-Big Ten first team.
"If I had played receiver, I could have come back for another year and added to my statistics," Shazor said, referencing teammate Braylon Edwards, who returned for his final season, set U-M career receiving records and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.
"But as a safety, 84 tackles, a finalist for the Thorpe, you can't do anything better. The only thing I wish I could have won was the Rose Bowl."
Michigan fell, 38-37, to Texas on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl. Shazor said he got a piece of Dusty Mangum's winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.
"I just didn't get enough of it," Shazor said.
Much has been expected of Shazor since he was The News' No. 1 Blue Chip player out of Detroit Martin Luther King after his final high school season in 2000. He redshirted his first year with the Wolverines.
"It's just a dream come true, basically," Shazor said. "I've gone from playing Friday nights, to Saturdays to playing on Sundays. Some people can't say they live their dreams, and I am lucky to do that. I just want to go out and showcase my talents on Sundays."
Shazor said he recently met with Coach Lloyd Carr to discuss his decision to leave.
"We're friends," Shazor said of his relationship with Carr. "I told him what I decided to do, he told me what he thought, and I'm leaving as friends."
It was important, Shazor said, to take advantage of an opportunity to help his family financially.
"We're not in a situation to be wealthy or rich," Shazor said. "We're just middle-class people, and I want to be a blessing for my family."
He leaves Michigan 25 credits shy of his degree in general studies from the College of Literature, Science and Arts.
"For sure I'm going to come back and finish," he said.
With Shazor's departure, Michigan now has two huge vacancies in the secondary, along with Jackson, a two-time All-American who returned in 2004 for his senior season. Sophomore-to-be Jamar Adams could step in for Shazor, and Grant Mason, who will be a senior, could replace Jackson.
IPBprez said:No offense here, LNW - but Sharper is a waste of good Draft money.
Sharper needs to go.. I'd use him for trade options on a good Reggie White type.
Our secondary may suck, but so does the opposite side of KGB. That's why they can focus on him so easily... there's no danger on the open side of the QB - if there was, then KGB blind-siding the QB would be a snap...
Sharper has had Antonio Freeman's disease ever since he signed for that big contract - focusing more on partyin than playin.... and that's the Coach's fault for lettin' em get away with that attitude - I'd sit him and then let him go!
Not sure what their approach would be with Wahl... He's gonna want significant $$$$