Kevin Koger : All posts

Ex-Michigan tight end Kevin Koger coaching at Saline while preparing for the NFL

Former Michigan tight end Kevin Koger, left, is working as an assistant coach at Saline High School under his former coach, Joe Palka

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

Luckily for the former Michigan football captain, his former high school coach has been able to help keep him involved in the game.

Joe Palka, who coached Koger at Toledo Whitmer (Ohio) High School, was hired last year to be head coach at Saline High School. Palka brought on his former star wide receiver as an assistant coach when Koger's goal of playing professional football was put on hiatus.

“My number one goal is still to make it to the NFL and I needed something to do in the meantime,” Koger said. “I asked coach if there was any way I could help. It worked out for the best.”

Former Michigan captain Kevin Koger remains upbeat despite suffering 'freak' injury

With his NFL Draft prospect dashed when he partially tore his left Achilles tendon, former Michigan tight end Kevin Koger's draft day consisted of his commencement ceremony (above), lunch with family and a nap. "It's been a hard road, but I've had a smile on my face the entire time," he said.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Kevin Koger was jumping up and down off a box, a plyometric exercise he's done thousands of times in his athletic career.

Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down.

But on one March morning, a month before the NFL Draft, that familiar cadence was interrupted by the sound pro hopefuls most dread: Snap.

Jordan Kovacs hopes to fill Michigan football leadership void left by Kevin Koger, other seniors

Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs, shown during a press conference before the Sugar Bowl in January, was named one of three Spirit Award winners at a Bob Ufer Quarterback Club banquet on Monday. Quiet by nature, he hopes to step into a leadership role with the Michigan football team next season.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Kevin Koger was one of the Michigan football team's three captains last year, and perhaps its most vocal leader. Who will fill that void now that he's departed the program?

That's what the Wolverines are sorting out right now. Jordan Kovacs intends to be in the mix, and he seemingly has all the ingredients to do so.

The senior safety is Michigan's second-most experienced player with 33 starts logged, a notable feat considering he required two student-body tryouts just to make the team.

He's also credited for his high character, which helped him to be named one of three Spirit Award winners Monday night by the Bob Ufer Quarterback Club. Hockey captain Luke Glendening and basketball captain Zack Novak were the other winners.

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:

With draft looming, Michigan's Kevin Koger sidelined 6 to 8 months with injury

Former Michigan tight end Kevin Koger suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon last month during a workout for the NFL Draft. How it impacts his pro stock remains to be seen.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Kevin Koger was a terrific tight end for the Michigan football team. He started 31 career games and became a captain as a senior.

But his chances of being selected in this week's NFL Draft took a hit last month when he partially tore his left Achilles tendon during a low-intensity training exercise at BarwisMethods. He has trained there with former Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis since the conclusion of the season.

Koger's agent, Chicago-based Rick Smith of Priority Sports, said Koger had surgery March 27 to repair the tear and will be sidelined for six-to-eight months. That confirms an earlier report by draftinsider.net.

Ryan Van Bergen draws rave reviews at Michigan football pro day; Kevin Koger limited by hamstring

Former Michigan defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen was limited in his preparations because of an injury, but still impressed NFL scouts during a pro day in Ann Arbor on Thursday.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Ryan Van Bergen was lauded for playing through a painful ligament sprain in his foot during the Sugar Bowl. But as the euphoria from the BCS victory wore off, reality set in.

The injury was going to prevent him from being at full strength for his NFL workouts.

Ha.

Instead, the former Michigan defensive lineman ran better than ever in front of 41 scouts from 29 NFL teams during the school's pro day Thursday at Schembechler Hall.

Combine snub helps fuel ex-Michigan tight end Kevin Koger as pro day looms

Former Michigan tight end Kevin Koger (86) hopes to improve his NFL draft stock with a strong performance at the school's pro day on Thursday.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Kevin Koger started 31 times at tight end for the Michigan football team. He appeared in all but three games in his four-year career, and became a captain last season as a senior.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. now ranks Koger among his 10 best tight end prospects, and projects him as a fifth- or sixth-round pick in next month's draft. CBS Sports pegs him the No. 8 tight end and a fifth-round pick.

And yet, where was Koger during last month's NFL Scouting Combine?

His couch.

Koger wasn't among the 14 tight ends invited to Indianapolis. Instead, he watched the combine from his Ann Arbor apartment, which he shares with former teammates Elliott Mealer and J.B. Fitzgerald.

"I was more disappointed than anything else," Koger said of the snub during a phone interview this week. "I forced myself to sit down and watch it, even though that was probably the last thing I wanted to do at that time.

"But, I just thought it was important to sit down and not only use it as motivation, but see where I fit in among the top tight ends in the country."

Michigan's Kevin Koger, Steve Watson no longer heading to regional combine this weekend

Former Michigan tight ends Kevin Koger and Steve Watson no longer will compete in a regional combine this weekend in Chicago, as they had originally intended.

The NFL hopefuls, who are working out with former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis, instead are focusing on the Wolverines' pro day March 15. Watson said he also will participate in a regional combine March 17 in Cleveland.

Michigan's Kevin Koger out to prove to NFL scouts he's among country's top tight ends

Tight end Kevin Koger had 23 catches for 244 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Things didn't exactly go according to plan.

Instead, he spent three years in the spread-option of former coach Rich Rodriguez — an offense that de-emphasizes the tight end — and his final year transitioning to the spread-West Coast.

Now, he's trying to prove to NFL scouts and coaches that he's the same guy who was a top-five tight end coming out of high school.

Denard Robinson, J.T. Floyd 'have unfinished business' to address at Michigan

Senior captain Mike Martin on J.T. Floyd, above, who along with quarterback Denard Robinson announced they'd return to Michigan for their senior seasons: "He had a pretty good season this year, but he has so much room to improve and get better."

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

Mike Martin is glad quarterback Denard Robinson and cornerback J.T. Floyd elected to return to the Michigan football team because they can take care of what he never could.

Beat Michigan State and win a Big Ten championship.

"Those guys, they have unfinished business," Martin said in an interview Friday. "I wish I could be a part of it, but I was a part of taking a huge step closer to it and they just got to tie up the loose ends -- and that’s something they want to do, and know they have to do.

"They’re not going to let us down, and I think Coach (Brady) Hoke is going to have a hell of a second season at Michigan."

Kevin Koger, Junior Hemingway listed on roster for East-West Shrine Game

Junior Hemingway and Kevin Koger have concluded their careers with the Michigan football team, but they have one college game left in them.

Hemingway, a receiver, and Koger, a tight end, are listed on the roster for the East-West Shrine Game. The all-star event, open to seniors who have exhausted their eligibility, will be held Jan. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Quarterback Denard Robinson named Michigan football team's MVP in a close player vote

LIVONIA -- Denard Robinson has been described as a selfless leader by teammates and coaches.

That might help explain why the junior quarterback was named the Michigan football team's Bo Schembechler MVP, and why he did not prepare an acceptance speech.

"I thought Dave Molk or Mike Martin would win it," Robinson said.

Notebook: Michigan loses the turnover battle, in turn, loses the game Saturday against Iowa

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson fumbles in the first quarter. Iowa recovered the ball.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

For most of the season, the Michigan football team's defense has been able to overcome turnovers by the offense.

Against Notre Dame, the Wolverines coughed the ball up three times, but picked up five turnovers of their own. Against San Diego State, Michigan lost the ball four times, but took it back three.

The same was true against Northwestern, when the Wolverines threw three interceptions but forced the Wildcats into a fumble and a pick.

Michigan played with fire again Saturday against Iowa. But this time, it got burned in a 24-16 loss.

"Turnovers always hurt," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said. "The thing we missed today, though, is we didn't get any back."

Video: Michigan football coach Brady Hoke recaps SDSU, TE Kevin Koger impersonates Denard Robinson

After viewing the film of the San Diego State game, Michigan football coach Brady Hoke explained at Monday's press conference that the Wolverines started out strong, but shot themselves in the foot due to turnovers.

In addition, senior tight end Kevin Koger touched on the passing struggles of Denard Robinson, and gave his best impression of Robinson's Florida drawl.

with video: Michigan football captains Molk, Martin and Koger honored to lead Wolverines in 2011

When he first got to Michigan in 2007, fifth-year senior center David Molk wasn’t sure what it meant to have his name on the captain’s wall inside Schembechler Hall.

He just knew it was a collection of people he one day wanted to be associated with.

On Sunday, that hope became reality when Molk, along with senior defensive tackle Mike Martin and senior tight end Kevin Koger were selected by their teammates to represent the Wolverines this season as team captains.

Michigan football players vote seniors Kevin Koger, David Molk, Mike Martin as their captains

The Michigan football team's 2011 captains are, from left, Kevin Koger, David Molk and Mike Martin.

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has emphasized during fall camp the role senior leadership would play in the Wolverines successfully bridging coaching regimes.

On Sunday, his players responded by voting three seniors as their captains: Tight end Kevin Koger, center David Molk and nose tackle Mike Martin.

Michigan football team's Kevin Koger on Mackey Award watch list

Michigan senior Kevin Koger is on the Mackey Award watch list for the second consecutive season, which is awarded annually to the nation's top tight end.

Q&A: Michigan's Kevin Koger feels at home at tight end

Kevin Koger's job title and the responsibilities that go along with it haven't changed.

But talk to the Michigan sophomore tight end about his effectiveness in a multi-tasking role and he'll explain that his levels of comfort and confidence are completely new. He no longer over thinks like he did as a freshman. He just plays, taking as much pleasure in his improved blocking as he does in the increased number of times he has touched the ball this season.

Meandering through the maize (and blue): Justin Feagin charged, Molk back, Top 10 point guards

The problems continue for former Michigan football player Justin Feagin.

The 20-year-old former wide receiver was arraigned in Ann Arbor on Monday for his role in a failed drug deal that ended up being part of the reason he was booted from the Michigan football team. He was charged with conspiracy to deliver and possession of less than 50 grams of cocaine. He could face a maximum of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge.

Opinion: Unanswered questions remain for unbeaten Michigan football team

The Wolverines hadn’t finished filing off the field Saturday before the questions about the Spartans began.

They hadn’t finished singing “The Victors” in the northwest corner of the end zone after beating Indiana, and it was already time to talk about the state rivalry.