Jabrill Peppers makes it official
Peppers declares for the NFL Draft
Isaiah Hole - 67 minutes ago 5
Michigan Newsletter
The day that Michigan Wolverines fans have feared has finally arrived.
After decrying a Forbes report earlier in the month, Michigan hybrid linebacker Jabrill Peppers made his decision official on Tuesday, announcing via Twitter and through a Sports Illustrated exclusive with Pete Thamel that he is declaring for the NFL Draft, and forgoing his final two years of eligibility in intercollegiate athletics.
“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Peppers said. “I’m choosing between cementing my legacy as a college player and starting my pro legacy. It’s something you dream of when you were a kid. I was torn between the two.”
Peppers said he ultimately came to a decision this weekend while visiting his family in his native New Jersey. He informed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh of his decision in a meeting in Harbaugh’s office on Monday. “He thanked me and told me it was a pleasure to coach me,” Peppers said. “I told him it was a pleasure to play for him. He molded me for the next level, that’s how he operates. He runs his program like an NFL team. He’s done more than enough to prepare me for this moment.”
In 2016, Peppers had a breakout year. Peppers finished third on the team in tackles with 71, tied for first with 15 tackles for loss, had 3.5 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery for a 2 pt. conversion, 27 rushes for 167 yards and three touchdowns, a punt return for a touchdown and 570 yards in kick and punt returns.
Now that he's headed for the NFL, considering that he didn't hold a traditional position in 2016, playing a mixture of linebacker, safety, nickel and corner (to name a few), Peppers told SI's Thamel that he plans to focus more on playing in the secondary -- adding that he didn't put his best foot forward in coverage this season.
Peppers said he welcomes questions from NFL franchises and understands how much teams will be investing him. He said his position switch last season inhibited him from working in pass coverage as much as he’d have liked to. He took “full responsibility” for not “putting forth my best coverage” on tape this season. He said that he flashed much better coverage skills during his redshirt freshman season when he worked primarily as a defensive back. He looks forward to refining that part of his game.
“All the questions will be answered,” he said. “And they’re good questions. I think I’ll be able to show that I can play one position well when I focus all my time and attention to it. I’m really excited to focus on my back pedal, flipping the hips and my coverage. I’m going to really hone in on that and iron out my weaknesses. I know my weaknesses and I know what I’m good at and need to improve on.”
Speed could be another question, which prompted a chuckle from Peppers in a phone interview on Tuesday. Peppers is 6-feet, 208 pounds and clocked a hand-timed sub 4.4 40-yard dash this summer. Harbaugh went on record this year predicting that Peppers will run faster than a 4.4 at the NFL Combine. “I’m a two-time state track champion,” he said, citing his days at Paramus Catholic in New Jersey. “I don’t think speed will be a question. I want to show the guys I do have great hips and can run with receivers.”
Peppers was with Michigan for three seasons, but only saw limited time in his true freshman season, after sustaining an injury in the season opening contest. After gaining his medical redshirt, Peppers started anew with Jim Harbaugh taking over the reins of the Michigan program at the end of 2014.
While Peppers leaves Michigan with eligibility left on the table, he finished his college career as one of the nation's most versatile players -- honors of which have earned Peppers the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player. Peppers had graded himself as doing a modestly adequate job during the regular season, but regardless of his personal views of his performance, Peppers garnered consensus All-American honors, to go along with being the many bestowed upon him by the Big Ten Conference -- including the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.
Peppers was invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City in December, where he finished fifth. He will leave the Michigan program having never participated in a bowl game, as he missed this season's Capital One Orange Bowl and last year's Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl with injuries.
http://ohiostate.247sports.com/Bolt/Peppers-declares-for-the-NFL-Draft-50446625
