Rashan Gary is headed to Green Bay.
Gary, the former Michigan defensive end and No. 1 overall recruit, was selected No. 12 overall by the Green Bay Packers during the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday.
In 2016, Gary became the first No. 1-ranked prospect to sign a letter of intent with Michigan in the modern recruiting era, picking the Wolverines over virtually every other major college program in the country.
A player viewed by many as a defensive tackle coming out of Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, Gary began his Michigan career by backing up All-Big Ten defensive ends Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton in 2016. In 13 appearances that season, Gary made 24 tackles (five for a loss) and a sack.
His first shot as a full-time starter came in 2017, when the sophomore broke through with 66 tackles (12 for a loss) and six sacks as one of U-M's most important front-line defenders. Plenty of Gary's job as a strong-side end was to set the edge and create space for others to make plays. Gary accomplished that while getting plenty of his own during a year where he finished as a first-team All-Big Ten player.
His junior year was littered with injury issues, as a shoulder injury flared up prior to the start of the season. Gary missed three games and parts of two others, finishing the year with 44 tackles (7.5 for a loss) and 3.5 sacks.
Gary eventually had a stellar NFL combine, where he posted a 4.58-second 40-yard dash. But his lack of production in college, considering the hype that followed him when he originally signed, caused some pause.
"You thought he would be top five, top 10 based on physical talent and the way he tested at the combine," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said this week. "But then the lack of production. The lack of sack production. Ten sacks in 34 games. That's pushed him (down).
"Some teams may figure once he's in the NFL, we can coach him up and get the sack production. Some others may say 'hey, Chase Winovich was getting production. In the backfield getting production, he was coached by the same staff in the same scheme.' "
