John Harbaugh says Michigan, Alabama products have advantage entering NFL

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says that payers from the Alabama and Michigan football programs are more NFL ready.

The Baltimore Ravens have held a reputation for years upon years of being the best drafting team in the NFL. Sure enough, their 2022 class has received near-universal praise, as the team looks to return to the playoffs after missing it last year.

When speaking with the media, head coach John Harbaugh says that there are athletes from two programs in particular who hold an advantage at easily making the transition to the NFL — Alabama and Michigan.

“There are certain college football programs that are built like NFL programs,” Harbaugh said, h/t Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk. “Alabama is one, Michigan is the other one. The two top ones, I would say. Those are the ones I’m thinking of off the top of my head. So those guys generally come in and they know what to expect. It’s a little flatter for those guys in terms of practice and understanding how it works.”

John Harbaugh: Alabama, Michigan athletes are more NFL ready

Sure enough, the Ravens did select a Crimson Tide and a Wolverines player in this year’s draft. One being Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo and the other being Alabama cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis. Ojabo in particular is in a favorable situation. He was originally set to be a first-rounder, but he tore his Achilles at Michigan’s Pro Day. He fell to the second round and will get to reunite with former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who now holds the same position in Baltimore.

Alabama has shown over the years since Nick Saban has taken over that they are the top program with its numerous National Championships and its propensity to recruit the top players in the country. Then there is Michigan, which has had some great players make the jump from college to the NFL. Harbaugh’s Michigan comments are interesting, especially since his younger brother Jim is running the program.

This year, in particular, Alabama had seven players drafted, while Michigan had five.

Of course, Harbaugh naming Alabama and Michigan will cause debate among college football fans.

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