Ohio State beat Michigan last November, but what school will be victorious on Draft day?  The following is a short player-by-player analysis of each player from Michigan and Ohio State in the 2007 NFL Draft this April.  It includes a brief summary of their career with the Wolverines and Buckeyes as well as some information on their positives and negatives and where they might end up being drafted this April.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Mike D'Andrea-LB-250/6'2-After suffering through a career filled with injury, D'Andrea is now ready to try his hand in the NFL.  D'Andrea missed parts of the 2004 and 2005 seasons due to knee surgery and missed some of the 2006 season due to injury.  The upside to D'Andrea is that he has great speed and strength for his position and isn't afraid to get in and mix things up a little bit.  He is also an intelligent player with a real nose for the game.  His downside is, of course, the injury issues he has had in the past and this is the number one problem with D'Andrea.  He also has some problems going back and covering backs and wide receivers and does not move well towards the ball at times.  If D'Andrea can prove to NFL scouts that he is over his injury issues, he could be drafted somewhere during the second day but most likely he will go undrafted and wind up trying out on an NFL team during training camp.

Doug Datish-C-OG-With the capability to play both guard and center, Datish could solidify himself a spot in the 2007 NFL Draft.  Datish had a solid career with the Buckeyes and helped anchor an offensive line that was one of the top lines in college football.  Datish is a very athletic lineman who plays with a ton of skill and good effort.  He is a strong blocker with good moves and great footwork moving side to side and forward.  Datish plays hard on each play and plays smart.  The only real drawback to Datish is that he has some short arms and therefore has some trouble keeping rushers off the edge when playing at the guard position and this might be the reason why he projects to be a center in the NFL.  Look for Datish to go somewhere early on the second day to a team that is looking for a good backup center.

Timothy Downing-OG-292/6'4-After not logging much playing time during his career with the Buckeyes, Downing makes an attempt to come into the 2007 NFL Draft and get selected.  His lack of playing time might and other factors might hurt his chances of being drafted however.  Downing is not as athletic as the ideal lineman should be and has some issue with footwork and moving up and down the line as well as meeting defenders on the move to block.  His mechanics aren't too great and he has not that physical.  He does have some great football intelligence but probably won't get drafted in this April's draft.  He might find his way onto an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.

Ted Ginn Jr.-WR-180/6'0- After a successful career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Ginn comes out a year early to take his chances in the NFL.  Coming out as a junior should be the right choice for Ginn who had a very productive career as a wide receiver and kickoff and punt return specialist.  Ginn has awesome speed and quickness and can accelerate when it is needed.  He can also dub as a return specialist which makes him that much more valuable to any NFL team.  The downside to Ginn is his lack of experience at the position, which makes him somewhat inconsistent.  He needs to get some help with running routes and needs to work on getting stronger.  It is entirely possible that Ginn could be switched back to cornerback and be used as a return specialist as well.  This will depend on how well he works out before the draft and where NFL teams see him playing.  However, his talent makes him a sure first round selection and he should have a great career in the NFL.

Anthony Gonzalez-WR-193/6'0-Following a career in which he played second fiddle behind Ginn, Gonzalez comes into the 2007 NFL Draft as someone who might surprise a lot of people.  The upside to Gonzalez is that he runs good routes and can keep cornerbacks guessing.  He isn't afraid to go across the middle and can catch those tough passes.  He has a knack for going up to catch the pass and has good hands.  He was a leader and a hard worker and possesses some very good football intelligence.  Gonzalez practices as hard as he plays.  The downside to Gonzalez is that he doesn't have a lot of starting experience and even though he had some return experience, he needs more if he is to become effective doing this in the NFL.  He could also get stronger.  Gonzalez is a good enough to be drafted in the late first to early second round and could find himself as a possession receiver and kick return specialist.

John Kerr-LB-233/6'1-Kerr started only his last season with the Buckeyes.  He did start and play fairly well for the Indiana Hoosiers before coming to Ohio State but has gotten lost in the shuffle and will have to really impress the scouts in order to get noticed and get drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft.  What Kerr does well is he plays the run decent and is a solid wrap up tackler.  He is instinctive and can keep moving towards the play very well.  One thing that he does lack is overall experience and this will hurt him in his chances to get drafted this April.  The likely scenario for Kerr is that he will go undrafted and possibly wind up getting a tryout somewhere in the NFL.

Roy Hall-WR-235/6'2-Hall had his good moments with the Buckeyes but may not have enough to make it as a star in the NFL.  Hall does have some great size to him but doesn't have the speed that you would like in an ideal wide receiver.  When Hall is part of the game and balls are coming his way, he is very active and very much into the game but when he is not involved, it's hard for him to keep his head in the game.  He does have some questions regarding his mechanics and isn't a strong blocker.  Don't look for Hall to get drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft but it's possible he could wind up as a free agent or on a practice squad somewhere in the league.

Brandon Mitchell-FS-199/6'0-Mitchell started just one season at the safety position but comes into the 2007 NFL Draft with high hopes.  The upside to Mitchell is that he isn't afraid to hit and is pretty well adept at defending against the run.  He also has good size for the free safety position and can cover receivers well.  However, there is more downside to Mitchell than upside.  As mentioned, he doesn't have a lot of starting experience and therefore will need to learn a lot when coming into the NFL.  He lacks experience in man to man coverage and isn't too good at locating the ball or playing with instinct.  Unless Mitchell can really improve his stock before the draft, he will most assuredly go in the 6^th or 7^th round.

David Patterson-DT-285-6'2-Patterson had a good career with the Buckeyes as more of a specialized player (coming in during nickel situations) and can play both defensive tackle and defensive end.  Patterson lacks great speed and burst up the field and it doesn't appear as if he could work the edge that well and keep containment (when playing the end position).  He does display some skill in getting past blockers and does possess some great football intelligence and can really hustle on the field but he isn't the greatest of athletes and might be somewhat of a situational guy in the NFL than a full time starter.  However, with a great pre-draft set of workouts, Patterson should go in either the 4^th or 5^th round.

Quinn Pitcock-DT-295/6'3-Pitcock had a little bit of an up and down career with the Buckeyes but he managed to come through quite nicely as a senior and is now poised to make it big in the NFL.  Pitcock would excel in a 4-3 type defense that emphasizes gap control (such as the Chicago Bears) and is great against the run.  He is a strong player and can take on blocks well and get up field well also.  What Pitcock lacks is bit play ability, which is vital for his position.  He also doesn't move around the field very well and lacks the agility to be an effective pass rusher.  He will be better suited, as previously said, in a 3-4 defense as a run stuffing specialist.  Depending on how he works out in the combine and during his pro day workouts, Pitcock could possibly crack the bottom of the first round but is most likely an early to middle second round pick.   

Antonio Pittman-RB-195/5'11- Pittman has a tons of potential.  The two years that Pittman did play, he played very well and he could make some kind of an impact in the NFL.  Some of the upside to Pittman is that he can run very well on the inside and can change direction very well.  He has a strong upper body and runs down and forward when going through the line.  Pittman can see the field very well and thus make adjustments in his game to take advantage of holes and blocking as he runs down the field.  He does very well at running on the inside but struggles at times to bounce outside when there is a lot of trash in the line.  Pittman excels at securing the ball and does not fumble often.  He is also a good blocker but not a strong one.  Some of the downside to Pittman is that he is not as hard of a worker as most would like and may not adapt well in the NFL if he doesn't learn that he will have to spend a lot of time learning and working hard day in and day out.  He needs to work on getting his legs stronger as he lacks the leg strength to push the pile.  Pittman also needs to get lower when running longer distances and lacks the power to break tackles.  He also struggles in the passing game and lacks solid skills in catching passes.  Pittman's injury history includes a turf toe injury, a thigh bruise, a knee sprain and a sore hamstring.  Pittman looks like a player who will be chosen middle 2^nd to the 3^rd round.

Jay Richardson-DE-273/6'5-Richardson had a decent career with the Buckeyes that was filled with mediocre play and injury.  Mechanically, Richardson does have some issues including some trouble getting off of blocks and getting off of the snap fast enough.  He could also stand to add some bulk and get stronger as well but really needs to work on his mechanics if he is going to have a career in the NFL.  Look for Richardson to go early on the second day in either the 4^th-5^th round. 

Antonio Smith-CB-195/5'9-A career special teams player, Smith enters the 2007 NFL Draft as a relative unknown.  Some of the upside to Smith is that he is a decent in coverage and is very athletic.  He is also a well adept special teamer.  The downside to Smith is that he hasn't had a ton of starting experience and really hasn't displayed a lot of outstanding ability for the position.  He will most likely go undrafted but could possibly wind up somewhere on a team in the NFL depending on that team's specific needs.

Troy Smith-QB-215/6'1-Smith, coming off a career in which he helped his team win quite a few games and garner him the Heisman trophy, enters the 2007 NFL Draft as one of the top quarterback prospects.  However, his stock may have taken a dip after a poor performance in the BCS Championship game and he will have to prove himself during workouts prior to the draft if he wants to get drafted higher than he is projected to go.  When looking at Smith, the one thing that sticks out right away is his ability to throw on the move and run with the football.  He is very effective when he throws on the run, which is something that every NFL coach covets in a quarterback.  Smith has a strong arm as well and can throw the long pass accurately.  He has good pocket presence and can sense the rush and move within the pocket accordingly.  If you had to point out one glaring fault that Smith has it would be his size.  Smith isn't the tallest quarterback in the draft and his size limitations might make some teams shy away from him.  He doesn't have a ton of playing experience either but that can be remedied with some time at second string in the NFL.  It's tough to tell where Smith might go in the 2007 NFL Draft.  Smith will probably go somewhere from late 2^nd round to mid 3^rd round.

Michigan Wolverines

Willis Barringer-FS-206/5-11-Barringer had a marginal career with the Wolverines and comes into the NFL draft as someone who will more than likely go undrafted.  The positive side to Barringer is that he is intelligent and can react to plays very well.  He is also solid against the run and plays aggressively.  He does have some difficulty dropping back to defend against the pass and isn't the best of athletes.  He does have some trouble playing under control and has some issues missing tackles.  Barringer is a leader on the field and isn't afraid to talk during games.  However, he just isn't that athletic and will most likely go undrafted with a possible shot at making a team as an undrafted free agent.

Rondell Biggs-DE-276/6'1-Biggs played in a tackle rotation during his career with the Wolverines backing up such standout players as Alan Branch.  Biggs has had some injury problems during his career with Wolverines and that will be taken into consideration as teams evaluate him for the draft.  He does play aggressively and has good mechanics but doesn't have the starting experience that most NFL teams look for and therefore might not be considered by many NFL teams.  Look for Biggs to go undrafted but wind up on the practice squad of an NFL team somewhere.

Turner Booth-LS-260/6'2-With longsnappers becoming somewhat of a premium in the NFL (see the Chicago Bear's Patrick Mannelly) Booth stands a good chance of either being drafted in the later rounds or winding up on an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.  Booth excels at what he is at Michigan to do and that is snapping the ball on special teams.  He has a great ability to get the ball in the backfield and also does well on short snaps.  He does have some problems with getting down the field in time but can tackle well.  Look to see him somewhere in the NFL in 2007.

Alan Branch-DT-321/6'6-Branch started out his career with the Wolverines a little slow, playing sparingly as a freshman but exploded onto the scene as sophomore and never looked back.  His career surged after that and he is now considered to be one of the top five defensive tackle prospects in the 2007 NFL Draft.  Branch is huge and can dominate the interior of the defensive line.  He is very good at closing up running lanes and is definitely someone that will have to be double-teamed often.  He is also a great athlete that can get pressure on the quarterback.  What Branch seems to lack is the ability to play hard on every snap and keep his head in the game.  Mechanically, he needs to work on exploding off the snap more and getting through the line better.  Branch is a promising prospect with a ton of potential and should be the first defensive tackle selected in the draft.

Steve Breaston-WR-180/6'1-After a fairly successful career with the Wolverines, this senior standout is now ready to make his jump to the NFL.  In terms of injury, Breaston hasn't missed that much time and has only suffered a foot injury, which cost him one game.  The upside to Breaston is that he has great speed and can beat some cornerbacks.  Once he hits the open field it is next to impossible to catch him as he seemingly has another gear he kicks into and outraces the defenders.  He also has some good moves to keep defenders guessing in the open field.  Breaston could be a real weapon in the middle of the field and can take a hit despite his size and he runs good short routes.  The areas where Breaston has struggled include catching deep balls, his release from the line and his overall durability.  When making catches down the field (on deep passes) Breaston has some troubles adjusting to the ball and making catches over his shoulder.  His size raises some questions about his durability as well.  His size does make it difficult to release effectively from the line and not getting a clean and quick release would be a problem.  Overall, Breaston does have some big play potential and will be of value to a team that needs to add a playmaker to their roster.  Breaston should go somewhere in the 5^th-7^th round of the draft.

Prescott Burgess-OLB-243/6'4-After coming to the Wolverines as a safety, Burgess switched to the outside linebacker and excelled at the position especially during his junior season which was his best.  Now he is poised to go into the NFL and could make a huge impact at the outside linebacker position.  The one thing that you will notice about Burgess right away is his size.  He has great size for the position and possesses good speed as well.  Burgess is a solid athlete and can cover receivers and make big plays against the pass when needed.  One thing that Burgess lacks is great speed and doesn't have what it takes to chase the play down from behind or catch up to faster offensive players.  He does have a ton of potential and could become one a solid linebacker that makes a lot of plays (similar to the Chicago Bear's Lance Briggs) and definitely has a ton of upside.  Look for Burgess to go somewhere between the 2^nd and 4^th round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Tyler Ecker-TE-250/6'6-Ecker played in a part time role before his senior season at Michigan and didn't post all too good of numbers during that time.  Ecker is consistent but his athletic ability is somewhat of a question mark.  He does have the ability to run good routes and his pass catching skills are very solid.  He doesn't have any trouble catching passes in traffic and make tough catches.  Ecker is also a solid textbook blocker.  Some of his downside is his lack of athletic ability as well as his lack of speed.  Ecker might make it as a second or a third tight end somewhere in the NFL.  As far as getting drafted, if he has strong workouts, it's possible he could go very late in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Leon Hall194/5'11-After what many consider to be a stellar career at Michigan, Hall enters the 2007 NFL Draft as possibly the number one player at his position.  He has the skills and abilities that teams will be looking for in April.  Hall has all the skills needed to become an effective shutdown NFL corner.  He excels in coverage and is not afraid to step up and play against the run or even rush the quarterback.  He matches up with receivers very well and doesn't get caught up in moves or fakes to easily.  Like every player, there is a downside to Hall but it's not a big one and that is that he is a little less athletic than what you would like in a corner but it's really not that noticeable nor detrimental.  Hall is most likely the best cornerback in the draft and could easily be a top 10 or 15 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

David Harris-ILB-251/6'2-After having a lackluster first three years of school, Harris improved himself during his senior season and now stands ready to continue his career in the NFL.  After suffering injury to his knee he has improved his play, stayed healthy and has produced well during his career.  He is a great run defender and can move quickly in the box.  He can react to plays very well and isn't afraid to take on blocks.  Harris does not fair too well when he has to defend against the pass either rushing the passer or covering.  He lacks the speed to keep up with fast wide receivers and running backs which is now somewhat of an importance in the NFL today and has trouble catching up to plays when coming up from behind.  Harris will get a lot of looks from teams before the draft and could very well go in the 2^nd round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Jerome Jackson-RB-200/5'11-Jackson took a back seat to Mike Hart who was the undisputed starter at the running back position and didn't get too much time to play during his career.  Jackson also had some trouble with the school during his time there, which cast a deep shadow on his career and a potential career in the NFL.  Right now, with such little playing experience, it appears as if Jackson will go undrafted and take his chance as an undrafted free agent.

Mike Kolodziej-OT-310/6'6-After moving through a career filled with health problems, Kolodziej now makes an attempt to start a career in the NFL.  Kolodziej played in a rotation for most of his college career and didn't get a chance to start as often as he would have liked to have had.  He has good size for his position and plays tough but lacks the experience, quickness and tools to play effectively in the NFL.  Some teams might give him a look as a developmental player but he probably won't get drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Garrett Rivas-PK-215/5'9-Rivas had a pretty solid career with the Wolverines but is just a little bit shy on true NFL talent but then that's what many said about Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould and now look where he is.  RIVAS kicker.  This lack of leg strength will also hurt him when he has to make field goals from over 40 yards.  Rivas does have the ability get the kick off quickly but needs to work on his mechanics and kicking accuracy.  He probably won't get drafted but will get a chance to participate in training camp with an NFL team this summer.

Ross Ryan-P-206/6'1-Ryan had a pretty solid career with the Wolverines and could be a player that you see in the NFL someday soon.  Ryan was a dual-purpose player at Michigan playing punter and kicking off and did both very well.  He gets great hangtime on his punts as well great direction and can play in a variety of weather conditions.  Will be an undrafted free agent.

Brian Thompson-FB-237/6'2-After a career in which he helped block for some of the better rushers in the country, Thompson makes an attempt to make a name for himself in the NFL and get drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft.  Thompson did suffer a foot injury during school and that hampered some of his junior season but it appears as if he is ready to go and injury free.  He has good speed and quickness as well as good lateral movement.  He is a very hard worker who has good football intelligence and plays hard on every play. Thompson might work well on special teams and then into a role as a full time starting fullback somewhere in the NFL.  He probably will go undrafted.

LaMarr Woodley-DE-274/6'2-Woodley came to Michigan as one of the top recruits in the nation and now stands on the cusp of making some big money in the NFL and possibly being an All-Pro at some point in his career.  When you look at Woodley, the first thing that you will notice is his size.  He is a monster at the outside linebacker position and thus might be better suited for the defensive end position.  He is strong and plays very tough which will bode well in the NFL and can play on the line, which is a big, plus for his position and he could get after the quarterback easily.  He is also good at stopping the run and keeping the edge contained.  Woodley projects to be someone who can help contain plays on the edge and keep containment on the quarterback.  His height might be the only drawback and he would really work best in a 3-4-type defense.  Woodley's success at Michigan should carry over into the NFL and it's very possible that he could have a ton success in the NFL as well.  It appears as if he would go to a team with a 3-4 defense but could work well in a 4-3 defense also.  Right now, barring any major disaster during workouts, it appears as if Woodley could go anywhere from the top of the 2^nd round to mid 3^rd round in the 2007 NFL Draft.