*Rashan Gary – Noteworthy
Rashan Gary is not backing down from his comments earlier this month at the NFL Scouting Combine. It was there the two-time all-Big Ten defensive end said he was the best player in the 2019 NFL Draft. And that went for both sides of the ball. On Friday, after Michigan held its annual ‘pro day’ event for NFL personnel in Ann Arbor, Gary doubled down on those comments. He cut off a reporter mid-question when asked about it. “Thought or know?,” Gary said. “I know I’m the best player in the draft, offensively and defensively.” Gary admits that he’s told NFL teams that in one-on-one interviews, at least when they ask what separates him from the pack. Most mock drafts peg the 6-foot-4, 277-pound defensive end as a top-10 pick.
“I tell them why I know I am,” Gary said. “At the end of the day, it’s about knowing who I am as a person and offering up what I bring to the table. Film is going to speak for itself. What you do at the combine and pro day speak for itself.” As for pro day itself, Gary says he didn’t do much. He sat out the timed tests and position drills, instead opting to take things in as a spectator. Linebacker Devin Bush, also a projected first-round pick, said he took part in position drills. Chase Winovich, who could be a second or third-round pick, worked out as a defensive end and linebacker. Gary said he was happy with his combine performance in Indianapolis, where ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds and posted strong numbers in the vertical jump (38 inches) and three-cone drill (7.26 seconds). “I feel like I did what I had to do at the combine, so I decided not to do this,” Gary said. “I’ve been doing it the past three months, now I’m focused on football and what I need to improve on.” – MLive.com
*Zach Gentry – Noteworthy
Tight end Zach Gentry was the only top U-M prospect that took part in testing drills on Friday, running another 40-yard dash after turning in a disappointing 4.9-second time at the NFL combine. One evaluator in attendance said Gentry ran in the 4.7s on Friday, and Gentry said he was clocked as low as 4.66 seconds. “I’ve been pretty pissed off the last couple weeks about my combine 40 time,” Gentry said. “More pissed off that I knew I could have (run better). This is more consistent with what I had been running, so I’m happy.” Gentry, who’s projected as a Day 3 pick, said teams downplayed his combine 40 time. “When you watch me on tape, everybody was assuming that I was going to run faster than a 4.9,” he said. “I talked to several teams after that, that were like you don’t look like a 4.9 guy on tape. So I think it just proves that I will be able to stretch the field with my size.” – Detroit Free Press
Chase Winovich – Noteworthy
The first purchase for former Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich after he inks an NFL contract will be a new car. Not for himself, but for his mom, Anina. Winovich was one of 16 former Wolverines to go through pro day at Michigan before NFL scouts on Friday. He posted some superb numbers as the NFL combine earlier this month, including a 4.59 40-yard dash, but during pro day he went through defensive line and linebacker drills. “I told one team I was trying to get my mom a car if they could help me out,” Winovich said, laughing, in response to being asked where he thinks he might be selected. “They’re going to decide if she’s getting a Ferrari or she’s getting a Camry.” Over the course of Winovich’s career at Michigan, his mother has driven a number of times from Pittsburgh, but the computer system in her car is broken, so she can’t listen to music or audiobooks. “So the past year I’ve always been motivated by that, just seeing her face,” Winovich said. “That’s something I plan on doing as my purchase. After that, my brother (Peter, a financial advisor) will be handling all my money.” Winovich will have thumb surgery Wednesday to fix an injury suffered early in the game against Ohio State. The recovery will take about two months, but he delayed surgery so he could play in the bowl game, then train for the combine and pro day. – The Detroit News
