Michigan fullback Max Bredeson is joining older brother Ben in the NFL.Max Bredeson, a two-time captain and the younger brother of Tampa Bay offensive lineman Ben Bredeson, who also was a two-time captain for the Wolverines, was selected in the fifth round by Minnesota at No. 159 overall on Saturday during the final day of the NFL Draft.He was the second Day-3 pick joining linebacker Jimmy Rolder, who was picked by the Detroit Lions. Michigan did not have a first-round NFL Draft selection for the first time since 2018, but had three players picked on Day 2. Edge Derrick Moore was the first Michigan player taken in the draft, selected No. 44 overall by Detroit.
Tight end Marlin Klein went late in the second round, No. 59, to Houston. Edge Jaishawn Barham was selected in the third round by Dallas with the 92nd overall pick Friday night.Bredeson was a fiery leader for the Wolverines and was appealing to NFL teams in part because of his special teams play.“(He’s got) the ability to do a lot of different things,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said during a recent video conference with reporters. “He's kind of a roster saver, because you can use him as a tight end, you can use him as a fullback, you move him all over the place.
Special teams will be his deal. Got to prove that he can be a little bit more involved in the passing game.”In the final regular-season road game, Bredeson suffered a foot injury. He had been in a boot and on a scooter, tried to play against Ohio State, but ultimately missed that game and the bowl game.Former Michigan tight ends coach Steve Casula, who coached Bredeson, was asked late last season about Bredeson’s NFL potential and said he had “a million percent” chance of making it.“He’s the make-it-right guy,” Casula said of Bredeson late last season.
“Whatever the most difficult job we would ask someone to do, that’s who we ask to do it. He plays his own position. Max Bredeson competes each and every week for playing time with the call sheet, with who we’re playing, with how well he practices.
We play Max Bredeson in the role that he’s in because we have Max Bredeson. So, yes, we play with a fullback. That’s how we use Max.“Sometimes the nature of the game will change, where maybe he doesn’t get as many opportunities.
That hasn’t been the case. I mean, this is the most he’s probably ever played in his career consistently on offense. Max Bredeson plays a lot because of how good he is.
So what his role is, he helps us run the ball. He helps us protect the passer and then does the most difficult tasks playing on the perimeter that we would ask somebody to do. Blocking on the perimeter, sealing the edge on a naked, whatever it may be.”achengelis@detroitnews.com@chengelisThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan's fiery fullback Max Bredeson heads to Vikings in NFL Draft