NFL Comparisons for five Top 100 Michigan signees

On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings, Charles Power recently offered NFL comparisons for the top 100 players in the 2022 On300 rankings, with detailed comparisons for the 32 five-star prospects, including Michigan cornerback signee Will Johnson.

Power noted that “it is important to note that these comparisons are stylistic in nature and not career projections. Many variables are at play when projecting a career arc in addition to the impossible odds that every top-rated prospect ends up maximizing their potential.”

Here are Power’s NFL comparisons for Will Johnson, Derrick Moore, Jimmy Rolder, Darrius Clemons and Keon Sabb.

Five-star cornerback Will Johnson

NFL comparison: Justin Simmons (Boston College/Denver Broncos)

Power’s take: “Justin Simmons and Will Johnson both were 6-foot-3 defensive backs who showed high-end ball skills while lining up at safety and receiver. They also both played basketball – Simmons averaged a double-double at Stuart (Fla.) Martin County as a 2012 prospect. Simmons ultimately settled in as a safety at Boston College before becoming one of the better players at the position in the NFL. It remains unseen where Johnson will end in the secondary up long-term.”

Power has held the belief Johnson’s ceiling is higher at safety and I tend to believe he could convert to safety as well before his Michigan career is over. Both Simmons and Johnson have high-end ball skills. Johnson specifically looks like a receiver playing defensive back at times. Similar measurables and versatility, with great hands and add value in run support. Simmons is considered one of the top defensive backs in the league and Johnson can reach a similar ceiling if all goes according to plan in his time at Michigan.

Four-star EDGE Derrick Moore

NFL comparison: Carlos Basham (Wake Forest/Buffalo Bills)

Coming out of Wake Forest, Carlos Basham was seen as a more compact, powerful edge rusher at 6-foot-3, 281lbs that plays with great technique. He was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Moore is slightly bigger than Basham, listed at 6-foot-4, with a little more bend and burst off the line. Both win off the edge converting speed to power, with Moore possessing a little more athleticism. Basham can slide inside to the 3-tech in specific situations and with a little time in the weight room, Moore can do the same. Moore will likely begin his Michigan career as a standup edge rusher but can put his hand in the ground if needed.

Four-star linebacker Jimmy Rolder

NFL comparison:  Pete Werner (Ohio State/New Orleans Saints)

Perhaps my favorite comparison on the list. Werner is a fundamentally sound linebacker that’s great in space. Remind you of anyone? Both Rolder and Werner play with consistent great technique and high effort, driving through tackles and making plays all over the field. Both struggle getting off blocks at time and though both are physical tacklers, both have to improve physicality when maneuvering through traffic. Werner was a three-year starter at Ohio State and went on to be drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His role in the Saints’ defense grew as the season went on and he finished his rookie season with 56 tackles. Rolder is relatively “football young” and will have to improve upon the mental side of the game, but projects to be a quality Big Ten linebacker who projects to play a similar role to Werner in his time at Ohio State.

Four-star wide reciever Darrius Clemons

NFL comparison: D.J. Chark (LSU/Jacksonville Jaguars)

From a pure measurable perspective, Clemons and Chark are very similar players. Chark is listed at 6-foot-4, 198lbs with a recorded 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Clemons is listed at 6-foot-3, 205lbs with a recorded 4.37 40-yard dash. Chark is a bit more violent and explosive coming out of breaks and at the top of the route, while Clemons is a bit more smooth as a route runner. Chark never built upon his long frame at LSU or in the league, while I hold the belief Clemons will add 10-15 more pounds to his frame, allowing him to be a more physical, complete reciever, something Chark has yet to develop into. Coming out of LSU, Chark was seen as a speedy, long receiver that can win early on shot plays and could eventually. That’s how I see Clemons, except that’s what he is coming out of a high school, should win early on shot plays but could evolve into something more as he continues to develop and add mass to his frame.

Four-star safety Keon Sabb

NFL comparison: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama/Green Bay Packers)

Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix had a successful career at Alabama from 2011-2013 before being drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Clinton-Dix starred for the Packers for five seasons and had brief stints with the Washington Football Team, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos. He’s currently a free agent. Both Sabb and Clinton-Dix are 6-1/6-2 defensive backs that play bigger than their size. Both downhill in a hurry and are very fluid movers for their size. Stylistically, they’re very similar safeties and a look at Clinton-Dix’s career at Alabama shows what Sabb could be in Michigan’s defense.