2013 NFL Combine--what it means for Michigan

In a couple weeks, the NFL Combine held in Indianapolis will be upon us and NFL teams, front offices, and fans will begin to salivate over who they're going to select. Now keep in mind that the Combine is an invite-only event. Denard Robinson is the only Michigan player to have received an invite so therefore, he will be the only Michigan player represented there. Take it with a grain of salt really--I know there are 4 Spartan players invited (Adams, Sims, Bell, and Gholston) but just because you're invited to the Combine assures nothing of draft placement (Maurice Clarett bombed his Combine and NFL career, Raiders draft the best speedster every year, etc..)  Look at any sportswriter's mock drafts for the next few months and there are no "sexy" players to go in the first round, or at least the Top 5. At the Combine, they'll have to everything from running 40 yd dashes to benching 225 lbs, to the infamous Wonderlic test.  Here's the schedule and a couple different ways to look at it.

Combine workout schedule: 

» Saturday, Feb. 23: Tight ends, offensive linemen, special teams 

» Sunday, Feb. 24: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers (Denard)

» Monday, Feb. 25: Defensive linemen, linebackers 

» Tuesday, Feb. 26: Defensive backs

1. Denard might be the only Wolverine invited, but that doesn't mean he'll be the only one drafted. I've looked up the Pro Day list and although Michigan isn't listed on it, I was told that theirs will be held on March 14th which is on the same day as Georgia Tech, Tulsa, UNLV, West Alabama, and West Virginia. Now, will all of Michigan's seniors be there to showcase their abilities to NFL scouts? I doubt it. I'm sure even Denard will be there even after participating at the Combine. I've read that he could go anywhere from the 2nd round all the way down to the 7th (his performance at the Senior Bowl honestly didn't help). So he would benefit from participating in both cases, and we all know by now he'll be there as a WR. Also he'll be WR26--they go by alphabetical order there.  I'll do more on the pro day when it gets closer.

2. What really is concerning to me is that Michigan only has one player invited to the Combine. I think it's a sign of the way things have been going downhill in terms of future NFL players since Carr left and RichRod took over. Of the players that Rich had recruited, only 3 are still in the NFL (Martin, Molk, and Schilling). I know it may be a misleading number since Rich hasn't been gone long, and he wasn't in charge of Michigan very long either. Sure there have been a few other players drafted in the lower rounds, and even some that went undrafted by eventually picked up by other NFL teams only to be cut again...but the end result is still jarring. I know things will go back to the ways of old with Hoke in charge--multiple players chosen in the higher rounds. We as fans just have to give it time.