Michigan's Taco Charlton picked No. 28 by Dallas Cowboys
Taco Charlton's breakout senior season has paid off.
Charlton became a first-round NFL draft pick Thursday night, being selected No. 28 overall by the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the second U-M player drafted, following Jabrill Peppers, who went to Cleveland.
That made it the first time Michigan has had multiple first-round picks since 2005, when Braylon Edwards and Marlin Jackson were selected.
Charlton had a vibe from his visit to Dallas and, speaking on 105.3 FM in Dallas late Thursday night, he said he felt at the time "they had a lot of interest in me."
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On the visit, he met with coach Jason Garrett and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
He also saw a familiar face in former U-M defensive backs coach Greg Jackson, now in the same position for the Cowboys.
"They're definitely going to see a guy who can get to the quarterback in multiple ways," said Charlton, who said he'll wear No. 97. "I can speed rush, I can spin, I can pass with long arms and I'm only getting better. You watch on film and I'm only getting better with time and under coach Marinelli he'll definitely make me into the player I want to be."
He told the radio hosts that the Cowboys' 4-3 defense can fit him on either side because at Michigan players were moved around and in his career he played in multiple defensive front having three defensive coordinators.
It was a major leap for the former Michigan defensive end as his 9.5-sack senior year turned him from a potential mid-round selection -- NFLDraftScout.com had him as the No. 14 end in the class a year ago -- into a first-rounder as the No. 4 defensive end picked.
Charlton's long arms and extended frame were always appealing but his on-field production never matched up with 9.5 sacks spread over his first three years.
But in 2016 he was a motivated player.
"With more opportunity, I became better," he said. "The more opportunity I got, the better numbers I put up and the better I became. Like I said, my best football's ahead of me."
Given the chance to start on an NFL-caliber defensive line, he was injured in the season opener and didn't return until Week Four. When he did, Charlton was focused.
He had 10 sacks in U-M's final 10 games, as his injured ankle continued to improve week by week. As the competition improved, so did Charlton, with 5.5 sacks in the final four games, including showing his skills against NFL level talent on Ohio State and Florida State in the final two games.
That's what intrigued many teams, seeing that there could be a higher level with Charlton as the 2016 finish was just the start of his impact.
Coming out of Pickerington, Ohio, as the nation's No. 133-ranked player in the 2013 class, he has exceeded those projections.
Now, he'll get a chance to do the same in the NFL.
"The chip is definitely there," Charlton said. "I'm ready to go to work and ready to prove myself. I definitely think I'm a better player than where I was drafted but I'm happy to be in Dallas and happy to play for coaches who do believe."
Michigan's last first-round pick was Taylor Lewan in 2014. It's last defensive player/defensive end in the first round: Brandon Graham in 2010.
Michigan's Taco Charlton confident he stands out to NFL scouts
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