Where Phil Steele Has Michigan Football 2022 NFL Draft Prospects Slotted

In his annual season preview magazine, college football expert Phil Steele ranks the top draft eligible players throughout the country heading into the season, knowing the NFL Draft is still several months away. Michigan saw 13 of its players check in, ranging from some near the top in the country at their positions and some barely making the cut.

Here are the Wolverines who made Steele's rankings:

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No. 3 defensive end: Junior Aidan Hutchinson

No. 3 free safety: Sophomore Daxton Hill

No. 12 outside linebacker: Redshirt sophomore Michael Barrett

No. 13 defensive tackle: Sophomore Christopher Hinton

No. 19 strong safety: Fifth-year senior Brad Hawkins

No. 26 wide receiver: Junior Ronnie Bell

No. 29 defensive tackle: Redshirt junior Donovan Jeter

No. 31 offensive guard: Redshirt junior Andrew Stueber

No. 34 running back: Redshirt sophomore Hassan Haskins

No. 36 tight end: Sophomore Erick All

No. 51 outside linebacker: Redshirt junior Josh Ross

No. 77 defensive end: Redshirt freshman David Ojabo

No. 95 defensive tackle: Seventh-year senior Jordan Whittley

• Given that Michigan's defense struggled mightily last season, which led to the dismissal of former coordinator Don Brown, it's somewhat surprising that nine of the 14 Wolverines who were ranked by Steele came on the defensive side of the ball. At the same time, this can be seen as a positive in the sense that the Maize and Blue have a lot of the draft eligible players (in other words, veterans) on a side of the ball that is amidst a transition and needs to improve.

• Hutchinson, a projected 2022 first-round draft pick, and Hill, who could rise up draft boards with a big season, are both No. 3 at their respective positions. Despite the question marks elsewhere on defense, it bodes well that the Wolverines have two high-level cornerstones to build the unit off of in addition to Hawkins, who makes Michigan's safety duos one of the country's best on paper.

• While Barrett is listed as the No. 12 outside linebacker, he has shifted to the inside this offseason as the 'viper' is no longer a position. Ross was also listed as an outside guy, but he's also playing inside. It's a bit unsettling that the two inside linebackers are seen as potential future professionals at a slightly different position.

• Rightfully so, there has been a high level of concern surrounding the defensive tackles this offseason after the Wolverines allowed 177.2 rushing yards per game last season. But it is a major positive that Steele sees three Wolverines — Hinton (13), Jeter (29) and Whittley (95) — as some of the top draft eligible players at their position. There is potential at the spot, but Michigan needs that trio, as well as redshirt freshman Mazi Smith and others, to step up.

• Nobody knows who will start at quarterback, but Michigan does have two very solid players at both wide receiver (Bell) and running back (Haskins), along with some others who could emerge at the skill positions. That can't be overlooked when discussing the signal-caller spot — he will be surrounded by a good amount of talent and experience.

• Stueber was the only offensive lineman to check in, but that's to be expected considering the bulk of the most talented players in the trenches — including freshman guard Zak Zinter, redshirt freshmen guards Trevor Keegan and Nolan Rumler, etc. — are underclassmen. It was a bit surprising that redshirt sophomore left tackle Ryan Hayes, who has won the starting job according to head coach Jim Harbaugh, didn't make the cut as a top 75 draft eligible tackle.

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