Jalen

Mayfield

Mayfield (6'5/326) posted a 40-time that is on the low-end of where he wanted to be, but his 7.86 three-cone and 4.91 shuttle are solid marks. You can forgive the hulking tackle for only posting a 28.5" vertical, but his 96" broad jump would have ranked near the very bottom of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine offensive linemen. His average testing results likely means the Michigan tackle will be a Day 2 selection.

Mayfield (6'5/320) is a young player, but he is already one of the best tackles in the country. As a first-year starter in 2019, Mayfield held his own against the Big Ten’s best, as well as against Alabama’s pass-rushers in the bowl game. He played well enough to feel comfortable initially declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft this offseason. Of course, with the Big Ten now set to come back, Mayfield is also returning to play, but it is impressive that he was already in position to prepare for the pros. Mayfield’s return is also a boon for a Wolverines team that already lost a number of other key linemen this offseason, including left tackle Jon Runyan, who was selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. This season will be a great opportunity for Mayfield to propel himself from Day 2 status into the first-round discussion.

Mayfield (6'5/319) had been battling it out with Andrew Stueber for starting honors in preseason camp, but fate opted to give him the starting gig, here, as Stueber has been knocked out of the competition with a torn ACL suffered in practice. While Mayfield may have won the job essentially by default, he’s not lacking for merit, with UM HC Jim Harbaugh saying that “he’s ready.” Mayfield initially signed with the Wolverines as a three-star recruit last winter.

Mayfield (6'5/245) and sophomore Andrew Stuefer are competing for the open starting job at right tackle. McMann does not believe a victor will necessarily emerge outright this spring. Outside of that right tackle spot, Michigan returns its starters along the offensive line for the coming season.

Mayfield already checked in on January 29 with another Big Ten outfit in Michigan State. He will be taking in Minnesota and Iowa on their junior days, which will fall on February 19 and March 5, respectively. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder indicated that he has no current timetable for making a commitment. While he has potential as both a defensive and offensive lineman, Scout.com is viewing him as a tackle at this juncture.

Arizona, Cincinnati, Iowa and Michigan State were among those chasing Mayfield’s commitment prior to his announcement on Tuesday. While Rivals currently views the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder as a three-star recruit, Scout.com is higher on his collegiate prospects, assigning him a four-star rating while landing him on their 2018 master list at No. 221. The latter outlet refers to Mayfield as a "[l]ean athletic kid who bends and moves very well.” He will need to fill out his frame and add bulk before he is physically ready to play a role with the Wolverines.