Michigan WR Roman Wilson 'a big winner' on Day 1 of Senior Bowl practices: 'He can fly!'
Michigan Wolverines football has six standouts at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, all on the National Team: EDGEs Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell, offensive linemen Trevor Keegan and LaDarius Henderson, tight end AJ Barner and wide receiver Roman Wilson. Naturally, on the NFL Network broadcast of Tuesday’s practice, analyst Daniel Jeremiah pointed out that there were “a lot of winged helmets out there.” Among them and everyone else participating, Wilson stood out and was one of the top players on the first day in Mobile, Ala.
“Roman Wilson from Michigan can absolutely fly,” NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano said at the beginning of practice, setting the tone for much of the conversation surrounding Wilson throughout the rest of the day.
“One of my favorite things from these practices is that my phone always blows up from buddies with [NFL] teams that are here,” Jeremiah said after practice. “I just got a text that said, ‘I feel pretty good about my Roman Wilson grade.'”
Jeremiah added that he believes the over/under for a 40-yard dash time for Wilson at the combine should be set at 4.33 seconds.
“He might go south of that,” Jeremiah said. “He can fly. Fly!”
Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy told NFL Network earlier in the day that his comparison for Wilson is Seattle Seahawks wideout Tyler Lockett. Jeremiah said he agrees with the comparison but added that Wilson is “faster,” but “maybe not quite as polished.”
Players began with one-on-one drills, and that’s when Wilson made his first big play, getting himself wide open on a post route to the end zone that was completed.
“That’s way too much separation,” Jeremiah said, lamenting the cornerback’s performance. “That’s Wilson there, leaning and then once he leans on you, he breaks to the post. There’s 10 yards of separation. He’s gonna fly at the combine.”
In the team period, Wilson impressed with a catch on a deep crossing route from Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Heisman Trophy runner-up who Michigan faced and beat in the national championship game. Wilson began the play in the slot left and made the catch for an 18-yard gain along the right sideline.
“Roman Wilson, you saw it in the one-one-ones, you saw it there: His game is all about speed,” Jeremiah said. “Those crossers, he can separate. Nice job of using his hands to extend and grab that one — and a beautiful throw by Penix, taking a little off that.”
Wilson made another big grab, this one on a post route from Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman that would’ve gone for a touchdown.
“I think he can run a little bit,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said, understating the obvious.
Jeremiah, meanwhile, compared Wilson to former Michigan State and current Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed, who had a big week at the Senior Bowl last year and was picked No. 50 overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
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“He’s giving me a little Jayden Reed vibes from what we saw from him at this week of practice [last year]. One of the fastest players on Michigan. Once he gets you to settle your feet, he can restart a lot faster than you can.”
“He’ll be a hero forever for the big catch against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals, but the pros are going to like the rest of his game, as well,” Davis chimed in.
“So far today, Roman Wilson is a big winner.”
Toward the end of practice, Jeremiah exclaimed: “They haven’t covered him all day long.”
Here’s a look at how other Michigan players performed:
EDGE Braiden McGregor
McGregor and Henderson (left tackle) lined up against each other in one drill, and the former Michigan edge rusher got the better of his teammate. Jeremiah pointed out that Henderson had made some mistakes to that point.
“Henderson struggled,” Jeremiah said. “He’s the one that got popped with the pad and went to the ground [in an earlier drill]. He’s gotta get his cleats in the ground.”
EDGE Jaylen Harrell
Harrell went through drills at defensive end but didn’t generate much conversation.
OL Trevor Keegan
Keegan worked at both center and left guard during practice. In the team period, though, he played the latter, where he started 37 games at Michigan.
Here’s a nice rep from Keegan where he controlled his block on a double team and allowed his left tackle to work to the second level. Barner
OL LaDarius Henderson
Despite the aforementioned rep against McGregor, it wasn’t all bad for Henderson. SB Nation’s Matt Wilson said that Henderson looked “really good,” and according to Bleacher Report analyst Brent Sobleski, Henderson has the biggest hand of anyone at the Senior Bowl.
TE AJ Barner
Kansas State reporter Kevin Fielder posted that Barner “moved well on routes on air, especially for a guy at his size. USA Today’s John Crumpler was also impressed with Barner, writing: “Michigan TE AJ Barner moves really well. Explosive in his routes and catching the ball pretty easily here in Mobile. Standing out amongst his Big 10 peers on the National Team at this first practice so far.”
