Taylor Lewan, OT

05/21/2013 - 2013 FREAKS LIST: THE 20 CRAZIEST ATHLETES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL: 4. Taylor Lewan, Michigan, OT: A projected top-15 pick by many NFL Draft analysts if he had opted to leave Ann Arbor after last season, the towering left tackle returns this fall to anchor the Wolverines line. The 6-8, 309-pound Lewan, who's known for his both his nastiness and his nimble feet to rival coaches, would've put on quite a display had he went to Indy for the combine in February.

According to Wolverines strength coach Aaron Wellman, Lewan has clocked an electronically-timed 4.8 40-yard dash. The Arizona native has also, despite his long arms, bench pressed 275 pounds 21 times and also squats 550 pounds. In addition, this offseason Lewan improved his vertical jump to 29 inches, up from 26 last year. "He's a great worker and a great leader," said Wellman. "We're lucky he decided to come back. He is so unselfish. He came back to win a Big Ten championship and leave a legacy here."

Wellman said Lewan often will call him or spend time in his office asking him all sorts of questions about training and diet. "The nutrition piece is big for him. Anything related to him becoming a better football player, he asks about." - Bruce Feldman, CBSSports.com

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Despite not playing offensive tackle until his senior year in high school, Lewan was a four-star offensive line recruit out of Arizona and chose Michigan over Oregon, Minnesota and Arizona.

After spending the first few games of his redshirt freshman season as a reserve, he came off the bench and started nine games at left tackle in 2010. Lewan started all 13 games at left tackle in 2011 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore.

He went on to win the Rimington-Pace Award in 2012, given to the top offensive lineman in the Big Ten, and was also voted an AP and Walter Camp First Team All-American while running his streak to 28 consecutive starts at left tackle.

While not considered to be on the same level as former Wolverine Jake Long, who went No. 1 overall in 2008, Lewan has top 32 potential. He is a throwback who early in the 2012 season said technique can only take linemen so far.

"You have to play angry, a little nasty," he said in September.

STRENGTHS: With good height and length, he looks the part and has the frame to play on the left side at the next level, adding nearly 50 pounds since his senior year in high school. Possesses quick feet. A former defensive lineman, Lewan is known as a self-starter with a mean streak and nasty attitude on the field, but also became more of a leader as a junior in 2012.

He keeps his head on a swivel and has the competitive drive to win one-on-one battles. Demonstrates enough lateral agility and balance in his kick-slide to maintain the edge, while also possessing the strength to lock up his opponent.

WEAKNESSES: Needs to stay focused to cut down on penalties and use proper footwork and technique, not simply relying on his natural ability. Struggled with jab-steps and counters back inside when battling South Carolina star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney in the Outback Bowl, and didn't excel in high-profile matchups against Alabama and Ohio State earlier in 2012. Tends to drop his head upon contact.

COMPARES TO: Jake Long, LT, Dolphins: Lewan looks like the second coming of Long wearing No. 77 in the Michigan maize and blue. Lewan, who only made the switch to offensive line as a senior in high school, is certainly behind the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 draft in terms of development, but the size, athleticism and mentality are in place to resume the Wolverines' tradition of churning out quality NFL offensive linemen.

--Dane Brugler & Rob Rang