University of Michigan defensive standouts Aidan Hutchinson and Daxton Hill were selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night (April 28), held at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

Hutchinson was chosen by the Detroit Lions with the second overall pick and Hill earned a selection by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 31st pick. The annual player selection meeting continues through Saturday (April 29).

Hutchinson became the 11th Wolverine to be selected in the top five of a professional football draft and the highest pick since OT Jake Long was the No. 1 overall selection of the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft. He also became the highest-drafted defender in school history. He is the fifth Wolverine to be chosen first or second in a professional draft, joining OT Jake Long (No. 1, Miami Dolphins, 2008 NFL), OT Tom Mack (No. 2, Los Angeles Rams, 1966 NFL), end Elmer Madar (No. 1, Miami Seahawks, 1947 AAFC) and RB Tom Harmon (No. 1, Chicago Bears, 1941 NFL).

Hutchinson is the 33rd Wolverine to be drafted by the Lions franchise, which used very little of their allotted time to keep the Plymouth native and Divine Child High School product close to home for the foreseeable future. He is the third player to be chosen in the first round by the organization, joining OT Jeff Backus (18th pick, 2001 draft) and RB Bob Westfall (5th pick, 1942 draft).

A two-time captain (2020-21), Hutchinson leaves Ann Arbor as one of the most decorated players in school history. He helped create a culture and atmosphere that allowed Michigan to capture the Big Ten Championship in 2021 and become the first team to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, receiving a bid to the Orange Bowl against eventual national champion Georgia. The Wolverines finished the year ranked third in both national polls.

On the field, Hutchinson led the defensive line with 62 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups during the 2021 season. He was the Big Ten leader and was third nationally in sacks per game (1.0 avg.). In the biggest game of the season, Hutchinson dominated Ohio State to the tune of three sacks and a record 15 quarterback pressures.

Hutchinson was runner-up for the 2021 Heisman Memorial Trophy, becoming just the fourth defensive player in the 87-year history of the award to finish first or second in the final voting. A 2021 consensus first-team All-American, Hutchinson won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Rotary Lombardi Award, Ted Hendricks Award and was the co-recipient of the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year. He earned All-Big Ten first team honors and collected the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Hutchinson was voted as the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player of the 2021 team.

Academically, he graduated with a degree in applied exercise science. Hutchinson was a 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-American first team and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors three times (2019-21). He was selected as a 2021 National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy presented to the top student-athlete in college football.