Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill could give Detroit Cass Tech 2 NFL draftees
This may be quite the weekend for Thomas Wilcher.
The Detroit Cass Tech football coach helped build his school into a state power, winning three state titles since 2010.
But this weekend may be the first time in his tenure that Cass has two players drafted into the NFL in one season.
Michigan’s All-America cornerback Jourdan Lewis is expected to be drafted as early as the second round Friday.
Michigan's second-team All-Big Ten safety Delano Hill could be a fifth- or sixth-round pick, having boosted his stock with a blazing 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in early March.
“It’s going to be a very big day,” Wilcher said of the draft. “I’m extremely excited because Delano and Jourdan have worked so hard. I always knew they had it. They had that it factor. I think that when you have kids and they really go out and do what you needed them to do and they really focus and do all the right things, it’s just a blessing. It’s what they deserve to have. So I want to see those kids really flourish.”
Lewis and Hill were integral pieces to Cass’ 2011 and 2012 state title teams and became essential as Michigan resurrected the program the past two years.
They’re vastly different personalities: Lewis the verbose confident leader, a technician overcoming his size; Hill the quiet intimidating physical presence, eager to attack the ballcarrier.
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What thrills Wilcher most is the city of Detroit’s imprint remained important to the pair, even as they became key figures with the Wolverines.
“I’m so proud of Jourdan Lewis and how he handled everything in college,” Wilcher said. “He always came back to Detroit and gave back. You’ve got Delano who’s a role model for the kids too, he comes back to the school and talk to the kids. They work out with kids. They go out to Belleville, work out the kids at Belleville.
“The most important thing is that Jourdan Lewis has always figured out a way to keep giving back to the community. He wants to come back and do something. I’m excited for those guys because they’re going to have a platform they can really build upon and catch the attention of all young people.”
Despite its on-field success, the Cass program is only now beginning to have players in the NFL.
Prior to this season, the draft appearances have been inconsistent.
Three prominent Cass players have been drafted the past decade – defensive lineman Vernon Gholston at No. 6 overall in the 2008 draft, offensive lineman Joe Barksdale in the third round of the 2011 draft and defensive lineman Will Campbell in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. Only Barksdale is still in the league.
Gholston set the draft path coming out of Ohio State, even though his NFL career lasted 45 games. He became an example for Wilcher.
“When Vernon went that high, I said hey, a lot of kids can turn it around in college and make it happen,” Wilcher said. “Vernon came out, struggled a little bit in college and the light clicked on he became this fantastic player, he became this great player. I was so proud of him, I wanted to always let him know he was special. He set the trend, he started people going on. You can always go back and see where it started, it started with him. You don’t have to come out of high school being the greatest player. But you have to believe in yourself, do what you could and make yourself the best possible player you could be. That’s what he did, Vernon. Kept going.”
As a former college player himself at U-M, Wilcher understands how rare it is for a player to be an NFL draft pick, which is why he’ll savor this weekend.
“I love the (astronomical) numbers,” he said. “To make it is very difficult. … At Cass Tech, that should be a vision, that should be your goal, that should be your dream. … When you can sit there and visualize who you want to be one day and make it happen regardless of where you come from, regardless of the situations, regardless of the struggles, regardless of all the things you have to fight through to get there, that’s where you stand tall.”
Wilcher is hoping to be able to be with Lewis and Hill when they’re drafted, because he understands how quickly they'll be immersed in the NFL life.
“As soon as they hit that call, they’re out of there,” he said. “That’s going to be a great thing.”
Something to celebrate because he knows, when they have the chance, they’ll be coming back.
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Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!