Michigan offensive guard Josh Priebe elevated his pre-draft stock at the program this year. The Northwestern transfer brought his talents to Ann Arbor and thrived in a physical, run-heavy downhill scheme. Priebe now enters the 2025 NFL Draft as a more developed prospect.
Priebe recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Priebe discussed transferring from Northwestern to Michigan, playing all three interior positions, his favorite play to run in the Wolverines’ playbook, and more.
JM: Now that you've had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Northwestern to Michigan?
Josh Priebe: I loved the decision. It played out exactly how I wanted it too. I got coached really hard at Michigan. It afforded me opportunities to get better and develop every single day. I built some great relationships at Michigan.
Going to a different place also gave me a new perspective on college football. Things are different at a place like Michigan compared to Northwestern in terms of the landscape of things.
JM: Playing for the Wolverines certainly put you in the national spotlight. The way you handled that pressure, it definitely increased your chances of playing at the next level.
Josh Priebe: I think so as well. I was definitely on a bigger stage, in front of more media and fanbases. At the same time, I was still playing in The Big Ten at Northwestern for four years. I was playing against a lot of the same teams.
At Michigan this past season, I think we ended up playing four or five teams that ended up making the playoff. We also finished against Alabama at the end of the year. We couldn’t have played a tougher schedule. I feel like I performed well in those big games.
I have a high ceiling. I proved I’m still growing and developing.
JM: You did just that. How would you describe your traits and abilities as a guard? Are you agile in space, or a phone-booth blocker? Describe your identity.
Josh Priebe: I think I have the ability to do both. I feel very confident when pulling out in space. I did that a lot at both Northwestern and Michigan, but especially at Michigan. We pulled the guards a ton. We also ran a lot of power and counter in our scheme.
Playing inside, you need to hold your ground against those bigger guys in a phone booth. I definitely feel like I have the ability to do both.
JM: Do teams see you being versatile enough to play center, or has the feedback mostly been at guard?
Josh Priebe: There have definitely been teams that asked me a lot about center. They expect me to play center if they bring me in. I’m definitely getting ready to play all three interior positions.
JM: What was your favorite play to run in the Michigan playbook this past season? Something you got excited about hearing in the huddle?
Josh Priebe: I would probably say our duo play, our gap scheme play. I really enjoyed those downhill runs. We got a lot of double teams on those with our offensive tackles. We had some great double teams on 3-techniques.
JM: It was fun to watch you guys execute those double teams on tape. Have you met with any NFL teams throughout this process, and do you have any meetings coming up?
Josh Priebe: I interviewed with a lot of teams at the Hula Bowl. I did some follow up virtual interviews leading up to Pro Day as well. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet with more than 25 teams. I met with the Raiders recently virtually.
I’ve had really good meetings with the Vikings, Bears, and Eagles. Those stood out.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We've appreciated your time today. Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Josh Priebe?
Josh Priebe: You’re going to get someone who has proven to be a great competitor at a very high level. I started over 40 games in college. I’ve battled through adversity and injuries, different things that came up. I’m going to be a great leader and a smart guy who can execute every play.
