Tag: Mason Graham

Michigan star Mason Graham hopes to make Miller Moss throw the ball

Mason Graham very clearly said that he wants USC to throw the ball, and that he wants to force the Trojans to throw the ball in order to beat Michigan.

Mason Graham is a centrally important player on Michigan’s defense. Heading into this Saturday’s big game against USC, Graham was asked about what Michigan needs to do when the Trojans have the ball. Wolverines Wire collected Graham’s comments, which dealt with USC quarterback Miller Moss.

Graham said about Moss, “I just feel like he’s doing a good job, protecting the football, doing good things, playing within their offense, getting the ball to playmakers, letting them make plays,” Graham said. “And just feel like they’ve been able to run the ball consistently. So I feel like that’s something where we need to stop them and make them throw the ball and make them beat us throwing the ball.”

It’s true that if USC can run the ball, Michigan is in deep trouble. That might be why Graham is focusing more on run defense than pass defense. However, USC’s passing game is very capable. It made the big plays which led to a win over LSU. Miller Moss throwing the ball is not a bad thing for USC, provided he gets enough time in the pocket. We will see if Mason Graham’s analysis holds up.

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USC knows it will need to have an answer for Michigan’s Mason Graham

If USC can contain Mason Graham when it has the ball on Saturday, the chances of the Trojans beating Michigan will rise considerably.

When the USC Trojans line up against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, they know that when they have the ball, Michigan’s Mason Graham will try to cause chaos for the Trojans’ offense. Lincoln Riley discussed Graham heading into this game. Wolverines Wire passed along Riley’s quote on Graham:

Tremendous player was one of the guys that we attempted to get in on right when I got the job, really enjoyed him and his family. It was just one of those things. It was, it was too it was just too quick. There wasn’t enough of a relationship there, and he was far enough around down the road with those guys that, you know, it’s one of those things that things been earlier. Maybe it would have been different. Maybe it wouldn’t have but a ton of respect for him. I enjoyed the time I had with him here right when I got hired. And no surprise to me, to see the kind of player he’s become.

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Michigan defense focused on righting wrongs from Week 2 against USC in Week 4

The D will need to step up this week, big time. #GoBlue

The fear from Michigan football fans entering 2024 was that new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale would be a newer version of former embattled DC Don Brown.

The similarities don’t exist much outside of their penchant for pressure, as they’re schematically much different and Brown had some limitations within, whereas Martindale’s a bit more complex. However, we saw similar issues, particularly in Week 2 against Texas. Martindale is pressuring much more than his predecessors and that has caused some issues, but there have also been execution issues, players not being in the right places, et cetera.

Junior defensive tackle Mason Graham is confident that Martindale is scheming things up correctly on a per-game basis and that the blitz rate is contingent upon the opponent.

“I feel like it changes every week, depending on who we’re playing, it’s kind of goes week to week,” Graham said. “If he feels like he wants to blitz and we’re going to blitz and feels like that’s what’s up best for us, then that’s what we’re going to do. So, we have trust in him, supporting him. All the defense guys rally around each other, whatever, we all play together. So it’s kind of just trying to get the job done at the end of the day.”

The blitz rate is up about 20% from what it was last year, at least through three games. But given that there are multiple things to clean up defensively, sophomore edge rusher Cameron Brandt says that the onus is on the defense being better in terms of execution and that there isn’t pressure to rise back up to the defense’s lofty expectations.

“No, I wouldn’t say really pressure,” Brandt said. “Just making sure we’re again, setting our standard, making sure that’s all good, making sure (we’re) maintaining our pillars throughout everything. Feel like, yeah, maintaining our pillars, keeping things the same.”

Graham agrees, the pressure isn’t necessarily on to perform defensively. USC does provide both a test and an opportunity as it’s a high-flying offense that is the cornerstone of a highly-ranked team. If Michigan loses again, the chances that the Wolverines will make a fourth straight College Football Playoff appearance goes down significantly.

So there might not be pressure on one hand, but at the same time, lose on Saturday and the Wolverines’ goals in 2024 likely go out the window.

“I don’t think our backs are against the wall,” Graham said. “We just know, like, one more loss, we might be sitting on the couch watching TV if you lose another game. So that’s really not what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to get back to where we were last year. So just kind of coming in here every day with that mindset and winning the next game.”

Michigan and USC will kick off at The Big House at 3:30 p.m. EDT and the game will be nationally broadcast on CBS.

Mason Graham stresses Michigan defense getting back to pillars vs. USC

This is gonna be a fun matchup! #GoBlue

Mason Graham knows a little something about playing football in both Southern California and in the state of Michigan.

Graham was a four-star recruit from Anaheim (Calif.) Servite, just 28 miles from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where Michigan’s next opponent, USC, plays their home games. But this week, the Trojans will come play in Graham’s adopted home, and it’s a matchup he’s very much looking forward to.

“It’s pretty cool,” Graham said. “USC is a historic program a little different than coming from the West Coast to the Midwest. I know it was different for me, so it’s gonna be different for those guys as well. But I played against some of the guys growing up, familiar with their program, and it’s gonna be a good game, just trying to be 1-0.”

The Michigan defensive front hasn’t been quite as advertised this year, looking dominant in Week 1 but struggling against Texas in Week 2 and being pretty good in Week 3, but without much stats to make fans ooh and aah. The USC offensive line isn’t on the same level as that of the Longhorns, but it is a good group, and one that Graham knows will be tough to penetrate.

“Yeah, I feel like they work well together,” Graham said. “Obviously a great group. Their offense goes a lot with how they do. They have a lot of playmakers on their side of the ball, and obviously we need to do a good job containing that and playing Michigan defense and executing our pillars.”

While USC is also working in a new quarterback, it’s been a much more seamless transition for the Trojans compared to that of the Wolverines.

Michigan will be starting Alex Orji for the first time but Miller Moss will be starting in his third game, his second this season. Taking over for former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, Moss has eclipsed more than 300 in his first start of the season — a neutral site game against LSU — picking up where he left off in the bowl game against Louisville a year ago.

Graham says that the biggest thing for Moss is that he doesn’t turn the ball over (he’s thrown one interception compared to 11 touchdowns in his college career) but it will be incumbent on Michigan to contain the run game and force Moss to beat the Wolverines passing the ball.

“I just feel like he’s doing a good job, protecting the football, doing good things, playing within their offense, getting the ball to playmakers, letting them make plays,” Graham said. “And just feel like they’ve been able to run the ball consistently. So I feel like that’s something where we need to stop them and make them throw the ball and make them beat us throwing the ball.”

Michigan and USC will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday with the game being nationally broadcast on CBS.

Texas-Michigan scouting preview: Big matchups to watch for the 2025 NFL Draft

Texas and Michigan each have many good 2025 NFL Draft prospects, and several will be facing off against one another in Saturday’s big matchup

One of the most anticipated college football matchups of the season will kick off on Saturday afternoon when the Texas Longhorns make their first-ever visit to the state of Michigan to play the host Wolverines in Ann Arbor. All 32 NFL teams are expected to be in attendance to watch the second-ever meeting between the two powerhouse programs, the only prior one coming in the 2005 Rose Bowl.

This one is a scouting bonanza, with several prominent 2025 NFL Draft prospects set to take the field against one another. Texas has 16 players featured on the preseason Senior Bowl watchlist. Michigan touts 14 on the same list.

Some of those top prospects will face off against one another on Saturday. Here’s some of the key draft scouting matchups to watch when Michigan and Texas get it on.

Isaiah Bond vs. Will Johnson

Two potential first-rounders square off on the outside with Bond, an Alabama transfer, coming off an impressive Texas debut. He caught five passes in the Longhorns’ romp over Colorado State, smartly working the middle of the field and showing off nice short-area quickness on the outside. Bond had no trouble getting open last week, though he did have one drop.

Johnson might be the best coverage corner in the country. His size, physicality and ball skills are all elite. Interestingly, Fresno State went at him a little and found some success early on comeback routes. Johnson made them pay with a game-sealing pick-six that showed his anticipation and closing burst, traits that have Johnson almost universally regarded as a top-15 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bond’s quickness and spritely physicality for a smaller wideout make him a compelling challenge for Johnson.

Quinn Ewers vs. Rod Moore and Makari Page

Ewers is the man throwing the ball to Bond, and he looked very good in the opener. Going into the season, I had concerns about Ewers’ handling pressure and willingness to let it fly with his rifle of a right arm. He didn’t face much pressure, but against the Rams, I thought Ewers saw the field well and showed some chutzpah in staying with his best read.

Moore and Page are a seasoned safety tandem that comfortably works together. Moore is a potential Day 2 pick who considered declaring for the 2024 draft. Page is more of a Day 3 prospect but one with versatility, capable of playing deep coverage or lining up as a slot corner. They’re both smart and sleek in coverage, presenting a difficult test for Ewers as a pocket passer.

Ewers can also run a little, and that puts an onus on the Wolverines safeties to not abandon their responsibilities there, too. The Michigan interior DL tandem of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, both likely first-round picks in 2025, figure to flush Ewers out of the pocket. Ewers will tuck and run, but he does have the arm strength to unleash a deep throw outside the pocket too.

Kelvin Banks vs. Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore

Banks pitched a shutout at left tackle in Texas’ win over Colorado State, but Michigan brings two potential ’25 draftees to the pass rush party. Josaiah Stweart bagged two sacks in Michigan’s win over Fresno State, while Derrick Moore tallied five official QB pressures from PFF’s metrics.

Both Moore and Stewart move around the formation. That means Banks will face different styles and speeds of pass rushers in the game game, a great test for the potential first-rounder. For Moore, it’s an opportunity to show his game is growing by facing off against an accomplished blocker like Banks. Stewart, the better-regarded of the Wolverines prospects, needs to show he can handle Banks’ considerable size in the run game.

It figures to be a great atmosphere and scouting matchup for fans of any team to watch at noon on Saturday.

 

Vikings get secondary help in latest 2025 Mock Draft from PFF

The Minnesota Vikings secondary remains a question mark for the defense heading into 2024, despite the signing of Stephone Gilmore.

The Minnesota Vikings secondary remains a question mark for the defense heading into 2024. Despite the signing of Stephone Gilmore, there is a lot to be desired with the cornerbacks. They have pieces but lack someone who can be the leader of the group for years to come.

One way the Vikings can solve it is by taking advantage of what is projected to be a high draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

One of the solutions was mocked to the Vikings by Connor Rogers on PFF’s NFL Stock Exchange podcast. They had their first mock draft of the season and projected cornerback Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame to be their selection.

Players like Mason Graham, Will Johnson, and Travis Hunter who all play at positions of need were unavailable. Worth mentioning though, Graham was taken one spot before their mock by the Cardinals.

Pro Football Focus projects the Vikings to finish with the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Enow Etta ‘is ready to excel’ with expanded role for Michigan football

He’s been the biggest hype beast all offseason. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There are few players who have gotten more hype for Michigan football in and around Ann Arbor than second-year defensive tackle Enow Etta.

Etta was the talk of spring and those accolades behind the scenes have continued into fall camp. Once an edge rusher, Etta bulked up and prepared to move inside this season, and he’s learning from the best that the Wolverines have to offer.

“Enow is doing a lot of good stuff,” junior defensive tackle Mason Graham said. “I feel like he’s going to be a player for us that is going to get a lot of snaps, and I feel like he’s ready to excel and show what he’s done this offseason the whole time he’s been here.”

Graham would know how much Etta has improved. Not only is he a star player in his own right, but he’s taken him under his wing.

Defensive line coach Lou Esposito likes the way that Etta is being proactive and professional about his business this offseason. Even though he’s all but ensured that he’ll be in heavy rotation this fall, he’s seeking out more knowledge and information — from both his teammates as well as his coaches.

“The last two weeks of camp, he came over and met. I didn’t ask him, didn’t say anything. He just came over and met with me and met with me and met with me,” Esposito said. “Came in yesterday before class, met with me. Meets with Coach Lewis. He’s becoming a sponge, football-wise.

“And I really think the most impressive thing was, we talked about Mason, there was a day in practice where Mason and I walked in the D-line room, and Mason and Enow were in there with the door shut, and they were just watching film. Mason was coaching him and Enow was, like, writing notes down, writing notes down, writing notes down. And Mason was saying the same message.

“He handled it pretty good,” Graham said. “He latched on to a lot of us, older guys, the coaches, and really invested a lot of his time and wanted to role inside. So that’s what he chose to do.”

According to Esposito, that attention to detail and yearning for knowledge should pay off greatly this year. That’s what the best do, in Esposito’s eyes, as they’re more than physical specimens — they’re students of the game.

“He wants to learn football,” Esposito said. “Those young guys, I talked about the football IQ, about the guys here. The older guys that have played in games, their IQ is up here. The young guys, we got to keep moving it up. And even the older guys, there’s still room to improve. But the willingness to do that is second to none. That’s why they’ve been successful. One of the many reasons why they’ve been successful here.”

Fans will get their first opportunity to see Etta in action on Saturday when Michigan takes on Fresno State in the season opener.

Four Big Ten players crack PFF’s top 10 players in college football entering 2024

The Big Ten has some of college football’s top players in 2024:

ProFootballFocus’ recently-released ranking of the top players in college football reached its conclusion on Friday. The top 10 of the list includes four Big Ten athletes.

PFF ranked Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham No. 3 overall, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson No. 4, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs No. 8 and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins No. 10.

Colorado star receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter came in at No. 1 overall on the list, while Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II followed at No. 2.

Graham, who enters his third season in Ann Arbor, earned an All-American second-team selection as a sophomore for the Wolverines. On the interior, he registered 36 tackles, 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Johnson, meanwhile, earned Defensive MVP of the 2023 National Championship Game during Michigan’s triumph over Washington. The game-wrecker was both a first team All-American and consensus first team All-Big Ten selection with four interceptions across 12 appearances.

Ohio State’s Downs transferred to the Buckeyes after a spectacular freshman season with Alabama. The safety earned Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year honors and was pinpointed as the SEC Freshman of the Year by its coaches.

Judkins also transferred to OSU ahead of the 2024 slate. Unlike Downs, he played his college ball at Ole Miss before the move. He enters the Big Ten as a 2023 All-SEC First Team member.

Three Wolverines get preseason honors from Big Ten

Well-deserved honors! #GoBlue

The 2024 season is kicking off unofficially on Tuesday with the beginning of Big Ten media days in Indianapolis. And with that, the conference is honoring 12 players before the season, and among them are three Michigan football players.

It should be no surprise who those three are, given the offseason hype following the national championship year. All three entering their third year in college football, big things are expected of cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackle Mason Graham, and tight end Colston Loveland. And in the eyes of the Big Ten, that trio are among the 12-best players in the entire conference.

Michigan has the second-most honorees, with Ohio State leading the charge with four players on the 12-man list.

Notable omissions include senior running back Donovan Edwards and junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.

Here is the full release:

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2024 football preseason honors on Tuesday ahead of the start of Big Ten Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium. A media panel selected the 12-member preseason list.

Six different schools placed students on this year’s preseason honors list, led by four honorees from Ohio State. Four of this year’s Big Ten preseason honorees — Iowa’s Jay Higgins, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Ohio State Emeka Egbuka, Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai — are scheduled to attend Big Ten Media Days this week in Indianapolis.\

The full list of Big Ten football preseason honorees is as follows:

2024 Big Ten Preseason Honors

LB Jay Higgins, IOWA

DT Mason Graham, MICH

DB Will Johnson, MICH

TE Colston Loveland, MICH

QB Dillon Gabriel, ORE

WR Tez Johnson, ORE

SAF Caleb Downs, OSU

WR Emeka Egbuka, OSU

RB TreVeyon Henderson, OSU

DE JT Tuimoloau, OSU

DE Abdul Carter, PSU

RB Kyle Monangai, RU

Three Michigan football players make latest ESPN NFL draft mock

There will be more than these. #GoBlue

Though many expect Michigan football to take a step back in 2024, the Wolverines aren’t perhaps as devoid of talent as many like to surmise.

Coming off of a national championship, despite breaking the team record with 13 draft picks in 2024, there was only one former player who went in the first round. But as the season approaches, ESPN expects that Michigan will hear three players called on Thursday evening in the 2025 NFL draft. (subscription required)

Matt Miller projected the 2025 first round, even though there’s still a whole season ahead of all college teams. Still, there’s a pretty good chance that, regardless of anything, these three players will be first-round draft picks, barring a catastrophic season.

Pick Team Pos. Player
3 Denver Broncos CB Will Johnson
7 Minnesota Vikings DT Mason Graham
14 Indianapolis Colts TE Colston Loveland

The Broncos aren’t a team that often selects Wolverines and the last two players who have appeared in Denver were Graham Glasgow (via free agency) and friend of the site, Jake Butt, who was a fifth-round pick.

If the Vikings pick Graham, he would be the second-consecutive former player to come to Minneapolis via the first-round of the draft, with J.J. McCarthy being the first-round selection in 2024.

The Colts have picked one Wolverines, with Kwity Paye being a first-round pick and Cam McGrone having come home to Indianapolis via free agency.

There are three notable omissions, of course. DT Kenneth Grant seems like another obvious first-round selection but it appears analysts are waiting to see how he performs in his junior year. RB Donovan Edwards, after a disappointing 2023, is poised for a big rebound year, and given his skill set as a pass catcher, very well could find himself picked early in the draft. Though an off-the-beaten-path pick, some inside Michigan circles believe that LB Jaishawn Barham, the transfer from Maryland, possesses the traits that could also allow him to be picked on day one of the draft.