Former Michigan football players Junior Hemingway and David Molk were late-round steals, says Mel Kiper Jr.
The Michigan football program didn't have a whole lot of quantity in the 2012 NFL draft.
That doesn't mean there was a lack of quality.
During a conference call with reporters Monday, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. tabbed ex-Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway and former Wolverine center David Molk as a pair of seventh-round steals.
"I was really surprised Hemingway went as late as he did, he went in the seventh round and he was gaining a lot of momentum," Kiper said. "I think Junior Hemingway is going to be a real good pick for the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I thought (Molk) would be a fifth-round pick, and (San Diego) got him later than that. When you're talking about the seventh round, the 226th player taken, a kid who was a dominant player at times. He was a neutralizer. ... I think he'll be a nice fit."
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says Kansas City's selection of Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway, above, in the seventh round of the NFL draft "was one of the better picks of the draft in terms of the late rounds."
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Kiper said he projected Hemingway as a fourth-round talent, but said the 6-foot-1, 222-pound receiver eventually fell to Kansas City (seventh round, No. 238 overall) in part because of his low production numbers at Michigan.
Numbers, Kiper said, that weren't exactly Hemingway's fault.
"Denard Robinson's not an accurate passer," Kiper said. "It reflected in (Hemingway's) numbers, and they weren't as high as they should have been or could have been.
"You're talking about a guy that probably could have been a fourth-round pick, and I don't think anybody could have had a big argument with that. That, to me, was one of the better picks of the draft in terms of the late rounds. He'll have a great opportunity to help that football team."
Last season, Hemingway finished with just 34 receptions and four touchdowns, but did total 699 yards, averaging out to an impressive 20.6 yards per catch.
For his career, Hemingway was a consistent big-play receiver at Michigan -- finishing his four years with an average of 18.6 yards per reception.
As for Molk, Kiper said his size -- specifically his short arms -- was the biggest reason for his slip to the seventh round.
David Molk
Kiper compared Molk to former undrafted free agent center Jeff Saturday, who eventually won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts and made four Pro Bowls in the process.
"The issue with him was the short arms and barely being 6-foot-1," Kiper said. "He's a very smart player with a great football IQ. Jeff Saturday came out of North Carolina and had a great (college career) with short arms, and he was limited. He ended up having a great career with the Colts and now he's in Green Bay.
"(Molk) was at least drafted, and I think he'll be a nice fit."
Kiper also mentioned former defensive tackle Mike Martin, taken in the third round by the Tennessee Titans, as a player he expects to make an immediate contribution next season.
Also on Monday, fellow ESPN analyst Todd McShay tabbed Martin as Tennessee's "Impact pick" of the draft.
This weekend marked the fourth straight year Michigan saw three or fewer players taken in the NFL draft. Michigan has had one first round pick (Brandon Graham in 2010) since 2008.
Also, the 2012 draft marked the first time since 1994 -- and just the fourth time since 1968 -- that Michigan had only one player (Derrick Alexander) taken through the first six rounds of the draft.
Kiper acknowledged Michigan's recent run of limited participation in the draft, and said it will now be current coach Brady Hoke's job to replenish the talent pool -- something he expects to happen.
"Overall, when you look at this team, it's like Notre Dame, you've got to build back the talent base," Kiper said. "That's what Brady Hoke's trying to do, to build it back up by recruiting.
"If you play well, normally you'll have guys go pretty high. ... It'll come together, no question about that."
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 11:13 p.m.
I don't know what the people in charge of making NFL draft picks are thinking but, in the case of Junior Hemingway, I "think" they should have noticed how skilled he was in catching some of those Robinson passes. Man, what athleticism and "football intuition." I just have the feeling that Hemingway may turn out to be in the same class as Lynn Swan or Jerry Rice. You can't help but want David Molk to succeed: he seems like such a great guy and he always seemed to have his head on straight - in addition to being "the little engine that could."
vi4mi4
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 11:38 a.m.
..Wolverines on Sunday..yeaa.. Go Blue! v
OldBittyBates
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
Realistically, Mochigan would be better off to try #16 at a position other than QB this year. Give the other two quarterbacks a chance - since they throw nicer passes. The Wolverines tend to have good players, but not great ones. We will likely continue to be mostly adequate but not exceptional. We improved last year because of the coaching staff (not due to team improvement in overall quality).
RWBill
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 11:40 p.m.
I believe DR should be worked in as a slot back and run a deep pattern on the fly or catch the ball on the run on a slant. I believe he should continue to be the primary QB, however when they go to the "deuce" formation he should be a receiver, not a runner.
Steve McQueen
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 2:01 a.m.
I agree with Kiper, especially on Junior Hemingway and also on how the talent level has dipped at Michigan. The interesting thing is that these guys like Junior, Molk and all of the free agent rookies from Michigan got 1 year of GREAT NFL level coaching, in the past year under Coach Molk and staff. There was also value that was never uncoverred by the prior regime, in terms of flexibility of scheme, or in being severely depressed in their level of defensive insight. Luckily these kids got a chance under Coach Hoke....and went 11-2 as a result. The results could have been much worse for these kids, had the prior regime of unbelievable incompetence had been given "one more year" as many of the pundits who have long disappeared from annarbor.com forums, clamored for.
Rabid Wolverine
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 5:36 p.m.
The way, Let's not get into "honoring contracts" as RR was the first to fail to honor his contract. He put our prestigeous program under probation. He failed to uphold the integrity with which he was charged. He could have been let go without so much as a parting handshake, but he was allowed to finish out the season and the rest of his contract was bought out. UofM honored the contract much more that RR did.
TheWay
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 7:32 a.m.
It has nothing to do with my football knowledge. It has everything to do with the integrity of honoring a contract. That's the kind of thing we do here at Michigan. At least, it used to be.
Steve McQueen
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 5:05 p.m.
BTW the fact that you think that RR deserved another year, speaks volumes for your football knowledge, or lack of it rather. Wow.
TheWay
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 6:09 a.m.
Rich Rodriguez should have been given another year, regardless of how well Hoke & Co. performed. But it is what it is.