ESPN analyst: Donovan Warren 'not the player he should be at this point'
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said in a conference call Monday that Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren could be a second-round pick in April's NFL Draft, though he would have been better served returning to school.
“I wasn't surprised," McShay said of Warren's decision. "I had heard he was leaning in that direction. I guess I was a little bit disappointed. I just think that he hasn’t quite reached his potential yet."
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay would have preferred to see Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren, above, stay in school for his senior season.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
McShay said he expects Warren, who led Michigan with 4 interceptions this year, to fall to "the middle of the second round because he’s just not the player he should be at this point."
The junior said Sunday he was told he'd be drafted somewhere in the first 3 rounds.
“I like his athleticism and I think he can develop into a starting cornerback in the NFL," McShay said. "But the inconsistency that I see in his game and the occasional mistakes and a lot of the technique and footwork that he needs to improve upon, I think that that’s going to cost him as we get closer to the draft."
Warren, 6-foot and 185 pounds, does not rank among McShay's top five cornerbacks of Florida's Joe Haden, Florida State's Patrick Robinson, Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox, Boise State's Kyle Wilson and Alabama's Javier Arenas.
"There’s a lot of depth to this cornerback class but there’s not a lot of elite corners, so it’ll be interesting," McShay said. "I think workouts and combine and all those different things will really help shake out this class.
"I would probably put Warren behind those top 5, in the same category as guys like Brandon Ghee from Wake Forest and Devin McCourty from Rutgers."
As for defensive end Brandon Graham, the nation's leader in tackles for loss, McShay said he should be a top-50 pick.
"He was phenomenal to watch this year," McShay said. "He really was. He’s not the fastest defensive end and he’s not going to be a huge sackmaster in the NFL, but his versatility, his relentless approach and just his toughness as a player, he gives the type of effort of every single down that coaches love.
"I think that when you get closer to the draft and all the character concerns and injuries and all the different things that start coming up with players, he’s going to be one of the guys that you just look at and say he may never be an annual Pro Bowl-type guy, but he certainly is safe. And I think that’s going to help him."
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Man in the Mirror
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 10:46 p.m.
"not the player he should be at this point".....he would have been if he had the correct coaching. He was a beast as a freshman. Sophomore, Junior years he's not the player he should be. Coaching sucks......
Man in the Mirror
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 10:42 p.m.
Another Carr recruit on his way to the NFL. Wonder how many of Rich's will get that opportunity to be considered for the draft. There is no reason for Warren to stay. Get paid while you can Donovan. All Michigan athletes can return for their degrees at any point in their lives if they go into the pro ranks. See you on Sunday's!!!!!!
BlueInBama
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 7:34 p.m.
HunterJim, "PAY it back?" Uh, no... not relevant here... yet, let's say Donovan was a college coach who refused to pay back his contract after leaving his head coach position for another school, and let's pretend the school he coached was his OWN ALMA MATER. Ok, then legally and to be professional, he should pay it back. But since he's playing on Michigan's worst team in close to 50 years with the program sinking, I don't blame him. He didn't sign up for this current debacle. IN MICHIGAN WE TRUST
foreigner
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 10:19 a.m.
Hey HunterJim, I like that idea...make the kid pay the scholarship back. And then Michigan can pay him his share of the profits they made from the football team this year. You know...divide it up equally amongst all the players on the team. Good luck to Donovan Warren. I hope he gets picked in the 1st round, but 2nd round seems likely to me.
Hunterjim
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 9:54 a.m.
I notice two things in common with most of these posts and Warren. "The team failed me so I am going to bail". If the team failed this year, he is as responsible as anyone else. He sould have stayed and helped his team develop as well as developing his own skills. More importent though is that he should have finished his education, so when he fails in the NFL he has future outside of football. If he is on scholarship, PAY it back! So in my opinion, Goodbye! a team does not need a player who think only of his financial needs through "get rich quick in the NFL."
braggslaw
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 9:34 a.m.
I think he will be a good corner in the NFL. Time to get out of Dodge.
voiceofreason
Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 9:26 a.m.
It sucks to see him go early, but he will be a lot better NFL CB than Todd McShay believes he will be.
Sean T.
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 11:11 p.m.
Arrington acvtually plays for the 12-1 Saints. He was injured in pre-season but was expected to contribute. Look for him next year! Truthfully, it wasn't much to stay here for so let's hope he does good. (Warren)
Chango
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 10:02 p.m.
Good Luck D.Warren go show them what you can do and shine in the NFL.
Michiganiac
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 7:03 p.m.
Blame the coach yeah cause Donovan was never beat deep. Never caught out of position, no he never fumbled the ball.... He did all of that and more. You can blame coaches sure. but it comes down to making plays.DOnovan Warren didn't make plays, not that often atleast.I'm mean football and more exact cornorback is man vs man spot, and donovan was the man getting beat deep alot of the time.But he went pro and that happens all the time in every program regardless of who the coach is.You'll have some junior declare for the draft.Not cause of thier coach but because you can make millions as a back up, plain and simple.It's for the money and he said as much.
tzgoblue
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 6:49 p.m.
XTR Obviously you don't follow M football. Mallet, Arrington and Manningham didn't even give RR a chance to try to convince them to stay. They all bailed as soon as the bowl game was over. Manningham is doing fine, Mallet had a good year at Arkansas, but where is Arrington??? He is nowhere.
XTR
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 6:27 p.m.
Why would Donovan return? Another cellar dwelling performance in the big ten? Another losing season? Another bowless season? Another worthless season under Rich Rod? Rich Rod indirectly drove Donovan away the same way Rich Rod indirectly drove Mallet, Arrington, Maningham.
BlueInBama
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 4:44 p.m.
"I just think that he hasnt quite reached his potential yet." It's difficult to reach your potential when the program is being driven into the ground. For the first time since I've been a Michigan fan, I can see why a player would want to leave this team whether it is for the draft or transfer. Dark times in Ann Arbor...