5-11, 213
Peppers was a three year player for the Wolverines who saw time on offense, defense, and on special teams. He has played in the secondary and at LB, and has also seen time as a RB and as a WR.
He was first team All-Big 10 in 2015 and in 2016, and was named the Big Ten LB of the Year last fall as well.
As a freshman, he recorded eight tackles, and returned one punt for six yards, but his season was cut short due to a leg injury.
As a sophomore, he finished with 45 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 10 PBUs, rushed for 72 yards on 18 carries, posted a line of 8-79-0 as a receiver, returned 17 punts for 194 yards (11.41 per return), and returned eight kicks for 223 yards (27.88 per return).
As a junior in 2016, he finished with 71 tackles, 15 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, seven QB hurries, one forced fumble, and on offense, he rushed for 167 yards on 27 carries with three TDs, he caught two passes for three yards, returned 21 punts for 310 yards and a score (14.76 per return), and returned 10 kicks for 260 yards (26 per return).
The Good
Super athletic type who has played just about everywhere.
Rock solid against the run, and will sell out to make the play.
Can fit into multiple uses in multiple coverage packages. You can use him wherever.
Hits with a good deal of violence.
Gets from sideline to sideline very nicely.
Very disruptive defender in the opposing backfield.
Can cover TEs or receivers, or hang back to take on backs on passing routes.
Gets a good pop on receivers to disrupt routes out of the snap.
Game changer as a return man.
Can line up anywhere on offense, and could be a huge red zone multi-use weapon.
The Bad
Ball hawk numbers are negligible as a defender in the secondary.
Does not have a solid understanding of what offenses are doing, and is slow to react.
Does not play center field well in coverage, and reacts poorly to the ball.
Played his best at LB in college, and will never be a LB in the league.
Gets screwed up on play action.
Does not seem to be an intelligent defender at all, and is all physical and minimal mental about the game.
Terrible technique on tackles, and will miss many with the way he hits rather than wraps.
Seems too raw wherever you can line him up, and does not fit where he is best qualified to play.
Seems to be a special teams guy rather than an every down anything.
Final Overview
Peppers is sliding in this draft because of the fear that many teams have with him, which is simply in regards as to where he fits. He is a square peg in a round hole kind of player, and he may be one of these guys who was a very decent college player who just does not translate to the pros. I don't think that the Michigan staff did him any favors by bouncing him all over the field rather than just honing in his talents where it mattered. He is a developmental prospect right now wherever he ends up, and I just would not spend an early round draft pick on him, and that is starting to be a sentiment echoed around scouting circles.
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