According to Kyle Meinke, a Michigan football beat reporter with AnnArbor.com, wide receiver Junior Hemingway said he interviewed with the Cincinnati Bengals at the NFL Combine this weekend. Other teams he interviewed with includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.
Hemingway led the Wolverines in receptions and yards receiving this year, posting 34 receptions and 699 yards. Of his four touchdowns during his senior season, one was scored against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the regular season finale and two during the AllState Sugar Bowl.
Our own Joe Goodberry writes: " I don't have Hemingway as a draftable player. Didn't look very fast and not very big. Ran in 4.5s today. I've seen some late round grades on him."
Scout Inc. lists Hemingway as the 34th-best wide receiver in the draft, with serious questions about his durability.
Missed 2007 Notre Dame game with an injury. Slowed by shoulder injury early in the 2008 season. Diagnosed with mononucleosis after four games and granted a medical red shirt in 2008. Missed 2009 Notre Dame game with an ankle injury. Missed 2010 Notre Dame and Connecticut games with a hamstring injury. Missed 2010 Ohio State game with an injury.
It would be foolish to take this as as an indication of who this team will draft. Rather as much as they're interviewing potential draft picks, the Bengals are likely taking stock of possible undrafted free agents after the NFL draft this year.