David Molk : All posts

Michigan's David Molk not changing lifestyle after signing 4-year deal with San Diego Chargers

David Molk was a no-nonsense kind of player while becoming an All-America center for the Michigan football team, and doesn't intend to change now that he's in the NFL.

So what does he plan to do with the small financial windfall he's set to receive, after signing a four-year deal Tuesday with the San Diego Chargers?

"Not a whole hell of a lot," Molk said in an interview before the signing, which was reported by Chargers.com. "I'm cheap. Always have been. I think I get it from my dad.

"I’ll probably just live in a studio."

Former Michigan football players Junior Hemingway and David Molk were late-round steals, says Mel Kiper Jr.

The Michigan football program didn't have a whole lot of quantity in the 2012 NFL draft.

That doesn't mean there was a lack of quality.

During a conference call with reporters Monday, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. tabbed ex-Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway and former Wolverine center David Molk as a pair of seventh-round steals.

"I was really surprised Hemingway went as late as he did, he went in the seventh round and he was gaining a lot of momentum," Kiper said. "I think Junior Hemingway is going to be a real good pick for the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I thought (Molk) would be a fifth-round pick, and (San Diego) got him later than that. When you're talking about the seventh round, the 226th player taken, a kid who was a dominant player at times. He was a neutralizer. ... I think he'll be a nice fit."

Updated: Michigan center David Molk falls to Chargers in final round of NFL Draft

This story was updated at 7:20 p.m.

David Molk was a first-team All-American last year, and won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in the country.

But that didn't make him the best pro candidate in the country. Size and injury issues led analysts to project the former Michigan football captain to land in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft -- and he fell even later than that.

Molk's wait finally ended Saturday when the San Diego Chargers selected him with the 19th pick of the draft's seventh and final round.

With 1st round drought expected to continue, here are Michigan's most likely NFL draft choices

It has been four years since Jake Long became the second No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in Michigan football history.

Since then, the Wolverines have landed only one player, Brandon Graham, in the opening round -- and that rut will not end Thursday night, when this year's draft kicks off with first-round selections.

Michigan's Brandon Graham was the 13th pick overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2010 NFL draft. With no Wolverines projected to be selected Thursday night, Graham would remain the program's lone first-round selection over the past four years. That hasn't happened since 1987-90.

Associated Press

Defensive tackle Mike Martin is Michigan's top pro prospect, but isn't projected to be taken until the second or third rounds. Those air Friday, with the fourth through seventh rounds scheduled for Saturday.

The Wolverines have several strong draft candidates, a class headed by Martin. Center David Molk and receiver Junior Hemingway are pegged for the middle rounds, with tight end Kevin Koger a possible late-round selection.

As the pageantry of the draft gets under way Thursday in New York City, Michigan, once a leviathan in this event, will be noticeably absent from the opening round for the third time in four years.

That hasn't happened in 22 years, when quarterback Jim Harbaugh was the lone first-rounder from 1987-90.

This class of Michigan draftees finished their careers with a flourish. They went from posting the worst season in school history as freshmen to going 11-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl in their final acts as collegians.

But their pro stock is hurt by an inch here, or a second there, in the fiercely competitive NFL Draft pool.

A look at where these players are expected to go, and why:

Michigan's David Molk trying to buck trend of small centers slipping in NFL Draft

At 6-foot-1, former Michigan center David Molk (50) is one inch taller than quarterback Denard Robinson (16), and smaller than all but six of the 61 centers in the NFL last season.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

David Molk was a four-year starter for the Michigan football team, and became a consensus All-American as a senior. He won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center.

Yet, he's projected as a mid- to late-round pick in this week's NFL Draft, which begins Thursday.

Why?

"It's because of one reason, and one reason only," Molk said during a recent interview. "I'm short."

Wisconsin's Peter Konz says David Molk's criticism doesn't bother him, 'cause I'm sexy and I know it'

Former Michigan football captain David Molk recently said he thinks he is the NFL draft's top center — and that included Wisconsin's Peter Konz, who is the consensus top prospect at the position.

Konz brushed off the remarks artfully in an interview with WISC-TV in Madison, Wis.

"That's OK — Taylor Swift said, 'People throw rocks at things that shine,'" Konz told the station Wednesday. "As far as I know, everybody likes me ... 'cause I'm sexy and I know it."

Michigan's David Molk believes he is draft's top center, blasts critics who say otherwise

INDIANAPOLIS -- David Molk doesn't pay attention to draft projections. That's not to say he doesn't hear what is said about him.

He hears, and he disagrees. Strongly.

Most analysts rank Molk, the former Michigan captain who won the Rimington Award last year as the country's best center, somewhere between No. 3 and No. 5 at his position. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as high as No. 2 and CBS Sports pegs him as low as No. 6.

Molk is believed to be a mid-round pick. He is of a different opinion.

"The fact they could consider any center better than me is pretty stupid," Molk said during an interview at his Indianapolis hotel during the NFL Scouting Combine.

A look at how 3 Michigan football players upgraded their draft stock at the NFL Combine

INDIANAPOLIS — Three former Michigan football players went to Indianapolis with specific goals for wooing NFL scouts at the combine.

And they more or less did it.

Here's a look of what Mike Martin, David Molk and Junior Hemingway did for their draft stock at the combine, with Michigan's pro day looming next week. Each is expected to make an appearance, although participation levels will vary.

Michigan's David Molk talks about overcoming injury to post strong combine, create buzz

INDIANAPOLIS — David Molk had his fellow NFL prospects buzzing after he posted an impressive 41 reps Friday in the 225-pound bench press.

It was a breathless display of strength on the first day of physical drills at the NFL Scouting Combine, as no other offensive lineman came within seven reps of him. In fact, it's the best mark by an offensive lineman since Arkansas' Mitch Petrus reached 45 in 2010.

It's the best performance by a center since online records began being kept for the position in 2005.

And what was Molk's reaction as he rose from the bench at Lucas Oil Stadium?

"I came off the bench, and I was pissed off," the former Michigan center said. "All the other guys were just like, ‘Oh man that was incredible.’ I was just like, ‘(to hell with) them, it was too easy. Shoulda got way more than that.’

"Everyone thought I was crazy, but it's true because I was slipping around on the bench. I ended up sliding and sliding and sliding all over the place, which killed me, because the more stuck you are on the bench, you can do way more reps.

"It’s driving me nuts."

Michigan's David Molk impresses with weight gain, combine-best 41 reps in bench press

INDIANAPOLIS -- David Molk fell short of his goal. He did not fall short of doing what he came here to do.

Impress.

The former Michigan football center said because right foot surgery has cut his NFL Scouting Combine to just the bench press, he poured most of his preparation into breaking the record in that event.

The results are in: Molk posted 41 repetitions of 225 pounds Friday, well short of Stephen Paea's record 49 from last year.

The caveat: It's "by far the most of anyone so far" at the combine, according to Shawn Zobel of draftheadquarters.com.

NFL Combine gets under way today, with David Molk among the first-day arrivals

Mike Martin, David Molk and Junior Hemingway endured some dark years with the Michigan football program.

Now, they're two months from the NFL, the pinnacle of their sport. Martin said he thinks every day about what it will be like to have his name called from that stage in New York City. To get his new jersey. His new locker. New life.

For Martin, it's not a matter of if he'll be drafted, but when. And this week is the last big platform he has to boost that standing.

For Molk, he was named the country's top center after his senior season, but is facing size and injury questions — questions he'll address this week as he tries to fight into the early rounds.

For Hemingway, he's on the outside looking in on most draft boards, but is a big receiver at a time when big receivers are in vogue. If he tests well this week, he could leap into the draft picture.

This week, of course, is the NFL Scouting Combine, and Michigan's contingent has a lot at stake.

8 storylines to watch at this week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis

The Michigan football team will be represented by three players at the NFL Combine, each of whom could rise in the draft with a stirring performance.

Or fall, with a flat one.

It should make for an interesting weekend.

The Wolverines will host a pro day March 15, but the combine will be the last chance for center David Molk, defensive tackle Mike Martin and receiver Junior Hemingway to audition for all 32 NFL teams. (Not to mention a national TV audience and several hundred credentialed media members.)

Here is a look at eight storylines we'll be tracking this week from Indianapolis:

Top 5 players Mike Martin, Junior Hemingway, David Molk will battle for position at NFL Combine

The Michigan football team will send three players to this week's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, none of whom is locked in as a high-round draft pick.

One is fighting just to be drafted.

Here is a look at the three, and the top-five players with whom they are jockeying for position:

Michigan's David Molk responds to issues hurting his NFL stock: Size, injury history

An injury will limit former Michigan center David Molk, above with coach Brady Hoke, at the upcoming NFL Combine.

David Molk won the Rimington Trophy last season as the nation's best college center. It's clear he's not considered such by NFL scouts.

Once ranked the No. 2 pro center prospect by ESPN, the former Michigan football star has fallen to No. 5. He's No. 6 at the position according to CBS.

Molk even is slotted behind Wisconsin's Peter Konz and Ohio State's Mike Brewster, both of whom he beat out for Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors last season.

David Molk opens up about playing through a torn tendon, rehab and proving his doubters wrong

David Molk

Center David Molk had severed a tendon in his right foot during the opening moments of the Michigan football team's Sugar Bowl warmups. Doctors didn't know that at the time. All they knew was Molk had hurt his foot badly, and they figured he could hurt it more by playing.

Molk was supposed to begin training for the NFL draft the next day. The Senior Bowl loomed after that, and an invitation to the combine in February.

And so, sitting on a Superdome training table, the team's medical staff asked him if wanted to play, risking further injury that could imperil his draft stock, or sit out, and miss the culmination of his decorated five-year college career.

He was advised not to play.

He played.

Ex-Michigan football stars Mike Martin, David Molk invited to NFL Combine; others to compete in pro day

Former Michigan football star Mike Martin said he and David Molk have been invited to participate in the NFL Combine.

The combine is a week-long showcase for more than 300 of the country's best college players to perform mental and physical tests for NFL personnel. It will be held Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis.

The NFL Draft is April 26-28 in New York.

With Video: Michigan football team honored during basketball game at the Crisler Center

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson smiles as he exits the floor with teammates after the football team was honored during a timeout at the Crisler Center on Wedensday.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

One of the loudest ovations inside the Crisler Center on Wednesday was awarded to the Michigan football team.

The Wolverines were honored during the first half of the Michigan basketball team's 66-64 win over Northwestern, taking a collective bow with the 2012 Sugar Bowl trophy in hand.

Notebook: One good leg is enough for Michigan center David Molk and more Sugar Bowl notes

NEW ORLEANS — The Michigan football team’s offense never got untracked during its 23-20 Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech Tuesday night.

And it could have been worse if senior captain David Molk wasn’t able to shake off a pre-game injury.

Loss of David Molk will hurt, but Michigan football team has options at center next year

The multiple awards that David Molk (50) has won over the past couple weeks is a reminder that Brady Hoke and the Michigan football team must replace a very good player next season.

David Molk still remembers pulling into a local gas station early in his Michigan football career, long before he had become the nation's top college center.

He was an unproven underclassmen, where every player has to start. The expectations for him were high, and the pressure great.

A news team was there, and asked him what he did.

"Oh, well, I play football here," Molk said. "I play center."

"Oh, great tradition of centers here -- I hope you can uphold it," the reporter responded.

“Yeah, me too!” Molk said, acknowledging what lay before him.

David Molk is Michigan's first AP first-team All-American since Jake Long

Michigan senior David Molk won the Rimington Trophy as the country's best center, but had been left off several first-team All-America lists.

The Associated Press did not forget him.

Molk was named the AP's first-team All-America center Wednesday afternoon, becoming the first Michigan player to receive the honor since offensive lineman Jake Long in 2007.