Decision time is coming for several members of the Michigan football roster, and more than half a dozen appear ready to depart.
Seven players from the Wolverines’ national championship team have accepted invites to play in this year’s Senior Bowl on Feb. 3 in Mobile, Ala., it was announced Tuesday on NFL Network.
Accepting a Senior Bowl invite is non-binding. Players have until Monday, Jan. 15, to formally declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, leaving the door open for a few of these players to return.
The complete list of Michigan players:
• TE AJ Barner
• LB Michael Barrett
• OL LaDarius Henderson
• OL Trevor Keegan
• EDGE Braiden McGregor
• DB Mike Sainristil
• WR Roman Wilson
Edge rusher Braiden McGregor is probably the biggest surprise of the group. A senior with another year of eligibility remaining, McGregor told MLive ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff final that he was still weighing his options and that Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) funds would factor into the decision. The Port Huron, Mich., native had a productive season nonetheless, totaling 4 1/2 sacks and nine tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
Another notable decision came from Roman Wilson, Michigan’s leading receiver in 2023. The second-team all-Big Ten wideout caught 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a four-catch, 73-yard game against the elite Crimson Tide secondary.
Tight end AJ Barner appears ready to test the NFL market, too, despite having a year of eligibility remaining as well. A transfer from Indiana, Barner came in and became an immediate fit to the Wolverines’ offense as a versatile tight end, catching 22 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown.
Trevor Keegan, a three-time all-Big Ten guard, technically had another year of eligibility left — but was considered a near-lock to depart after weighing the NFL last offseason.
Meanwhile, linebacker Michael Barrett, offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson and defensive back Mike Sainristil were all out of college eligibility. Barrett played six seasons at Michigan and was a third-team all-Big Ten linebacker, while Sainristil — a former receiver — blossomed into the backbone of the Wolverines’ lockdown secondary. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has spoken glowingly about Sainristil’s pro prospects, and a strong showing in Mobile could seal the deal with scouts.
