WOLVERINES

Rashan Gary making fast time impressing NFL scouts

Angelique S. Chengelis
The Detroit News

Ann Arbor — Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary will be entering his sophomore year this fall, but his former teammates already are projecting he will be a high first-round NFL pick in a few years.

Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton, Michigan defensive linemen who worked out for the 32 NFL teams during Michigan’s Pro Day on Friday, referred to the 6-foot-5, 287-pound Gary as a “freak” athlete and said he will continue to make an impact on the defense.

Gary was clocked in the 40 at an impressive 4.57 in Michigan’s recent “spring combine.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Charlton said Friday of Gary’s time. “He’s the real deal when it comes to athleticism. I’m excited to see what he can do the next two years. He’ll be a top-10 pick in my mind just seeing what he’s done the first year. I wouldn’t be surprised if that (time) was accurate. Rahan Gary is a freak athlete, so when you have that kind of athleticism, I wouldn’t put it past him.”

Gary will be among those returning on the defensive line who is anticipated to be a vocal leader. He had five tackles for loss and a sack last season.

“Rashan, I told him if I come back I two years and they’re not talking about you top-10, top-5 pick, I don’t think you’re doing what you’re supposed to do,” Charlton, who is projected as a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, said Friday. “He’s a guy who stands out every time you watch practice. I’m trying to coach him up on film, because I think he could be great in the future, an NFL-caliber player.”

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Wormley said Michigan fans should not be concerned even though so much is gone from last year’s team on the defensive line. Maurice Hurst, Bryan Mone, Chase Winovich and Gary are expected to be the starters.

“Besides Mo and Rashan, Chase Winovich, that kid works his butt off,” Wormley said. “He didn’t play much, but he was very productive. He had five sacks and only played mostly third down. He works his butt off and his second year playing D Line he’ll learn a lot more. Spring ball is going to be big for him.

“I’m excited for this D line. I think it’s going to be a lot different than last year’s D Line but very productive. I’m athletic but Rashan is a freak and Mo is different than (Matt) Godin and Mone is bigger and stronger than (Ryan) Glasgow and Chase is 6-2, 240 and the tackle is 6-6, 270. They’re going to be more athletic, 100 percent.

“I’m excited to see what they can do.”’

Adding some reps

Nose tackle Ryan Glasgow improved on his bench press from the NFL Combine and had 24 reps of 225 on Friday at Glick Field House. He benched 20 reps at the combine. That’s the only test he did Friday, opting to stick with his numbers from the combine.

Glasgow said he met with the Saints, Giants and Ravens on Thursday and expects to meet with the Eagles on Monday. The Illinois native will participate in the Bears local day.

His message to NFL teams has been clear.

“If they ask me what I’m going to bring to a team, I just say I’m going to bring a guy who’s going to play with unbelievable effort, unmatched intensity and I’m going to stop the run and get after the pass,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow admitted he did not listen to older brother Graham’s advice on the combine and pro day. Graham Glasgow played center for Michigan, went through this process a year ago and now plays for the Lions.

“He told me Pro Day is going to be pretty intense,” Glasgow said. “Basically, he warned me about everything, and I didn’t listen. ‘Oh, he’s exaggerating. It can’t be that bad.’ He basically did warn me about stuff, and I was just like, it can’t be that bad.”

He thought he had a good day in front of the 32 NFL teams.

“I think I did well,” he said. “I think I proved I can move a little bit.”

Getting in a run

Wormley didn’t run at the NFL Combine because of a hamstring issue, but he said he ran about a 4.82-4.83 on Friday.

“I was pretty pleased with it,” he said. “Just proving to everyone a 300-pound man can move pretty well. Just being that athletic guy, big guy that I think a lot of teams are looking for, so that’s just what I was trying to prove, that I’m the player everyone is looking for.”

He has tried his best not to check out what draft analysts have said about him, but he can’t help himself so he keeps tabs. Most put him in the second-round range.

“Versatility, that’s what I’m trying to sell to all 32 teams,” Wormley said. “I can play any scheme, 4-3 or 3-4, and I can play inside and outside. I think it’s working pretty well. I think I showed teams I’m a versatile player and I can do a lot of things.”

Wormley’s favorite team as a kid was the Steelers, with whom he met Thursday night.

“That was a pretty cool experience,” he said. “I felt like a little kid at some points, but it’s a job interview essentially, so you have to be professional.”

Playing hurt

Charlton wasn’t healthy nearly the entire season because of an ankle injury. He said Friday that he arrived in Miami for the bowl game last December wearing a boot after the ankle got “roughed up” in the Ohio State game.

“It was kind of like a battle all year because I needed to play, but every game just trying to play with that injury I never really gave it time to heal,” Charlton said. “After the season, giving it time to heal, I felt healthy. Indiana, Ohio State and that Florida State game was the best I felt all season.”

He said he was fully healthy about a month after the bowl.

“I got my ankle right to where I didn’t need to be taped up, but I could cut again,” Charlton said. “I think (teams) can see my potential, how I will be in the future. They were impressed with the way I did play. It’s only going to continue to get better once I was healthier.”

Allen getting in his kicks

Kenny Allen was a weapon as a punter for the Wolverines last season — he handled all the kicking duties — and is hoping to make an NFL team as a punter.

Allen averaged 43.3 yards per punt last, had a long of 67 yards and had 24 punts inside the 20-yard line. He’s trained in California and Arizona to prepare for a pro future. Allen said he has spoken to a few NFL teams and the next step is to get some workouts in for them.

“Pro day went really well,” he said.

angelique.chengelis@detroitnews.com

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