Tag: Mason Graham

Was Mason Graham disrespected with preseason nod?

Add another chip to that shoulder. #GoBlue

So, first, the good news: Michigan football put three players on the Walter Camp preseason All-American team. The bad news? One was criminally underrated.

Unsurprisingly, Wolverines cornerback Will Johnson, tight end Colston Loveland and defensive tackle Mason Graham made the Walter Camp preseason All-American team in 2024. While the first two made the first team, somehow, Graham was listed on the second team.

He was snubbed in favor of James Pearce, Jr. (Tennessee), Howard Cross III (Notre Dame), Ashton Gillotte (Louisville) and Tyleik Williams (Ohio State).

James Pearce Jr. absolutely makes sense. He’s often been on lists as being a potential top overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. But other outlets — such as PFF — have stated Graham very likely would have been the top-rated defensive tackle and first taken if he had entered the draft in 2024 — as a sophomore.

Michigan football fans will tell you just how dominant Graham was in 2023, as he was a big reason why the Wolverines were able to win the national championship. Those inside Schembechler Hall, however, are likely relishing the perceived snub, as the latest maize and blue teams have enjoyed being underrated and playing with chips on their shoulders.

Steelers land massive DT in new 2025 NFL mock draft

Mason Graham is a massive interior defender who would help the Steelers defensive line.

By the time the next offseason comes around, the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line could be in real trouble. It isn’t clear what Cam Heyward’s future is and the only big-time player on the depth chart aside from Heyward is Keeanu Benton.

The folks at Pro Football Network seem to agree and in their new 2025 mock draft, they addressed this need as well. PFN gave the Steelers Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 14 overall pick.

Here’s what they had to say about Graham:

Mason Graham is a mauler forged in the Michigan trenches who has pocket-pulverizing power and remarkable pass-rush potential due to athleticism that belies his stout 6’3″, 318-pound frame.

The Steelers should have their pick of multiple interior defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL draft and could even opt for another Michigan prospect if they see Kenneth Grant as a better fit. Either way, Pittsburgh couldn’t go wrong with a player like Graham.

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Giants grab an elite defender in PFN’s way-too-early 2025 mock draft

The New York Giants pass on a quarterback and select a top-tier defender in Pro Football Network’s way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft.

The New York Giants aren’t expected to be a playoff team in 2024 and that means they will be in a position to select another top name in the NFL draft.

In Pro Football Network’s latest 2025 mock draft, analyst James Fragoza has the Giants picking sixth overall, which would mean they will have picked in the top 10 eight times since 2015 and in the top 12 nine times since 2014.

In this exercise, the Giants pass on a quarterback in favor of Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.

6) New York Giants: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Were it not for (Kentucky’s Deonte) Walker’s freakishness, Mason Graham would be the DT1 in the class. He consistently wins as a run defender and pass rusher and has few holes in his game.

Michigan likes to rotate its DTs frequently (and the Wolverines have the depth to do so without significant drop-off). But when on the field, offenses feel Graham’s impact.

The Giants naturally have Dexter Lawrence locked up for the foreseeable future but would love to have a more permanent partner to pair with him in the middle.

This season, they brought in veteran Jordan Phillips and will use him in a rotation with Rakeem Nunez-Roches and their Oregon trio (D.J. Davidson, Jordon Riley, and Casey Rogers).

This pick could be moot if one of those players — or UDFA Elijah Chatman — breaks out this season.

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Trio of Michigan football underclassmen getting early 2025 draft attention

Don’t let rivals fool you, #Michigan is still loaded with talent. #GoBlue

Michigan’s 2022 recruiting class might go down as the most talented from the Jim Harbaugh era. Yes, 2021 produced J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Edwards, Junior Colson, and Rod Moore, but the rising juniors are already proving to be special. In fact, a trio of youngsters are already getting hype for the 2025 NFL draft despite their selection day being over a year away.

The first player garnering praise is, of course, Will Johnson. Johnson was a five-star recruit from Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Johnson made a name for himself early in his career with two interceptions in the Big Ten Championship Game as a true freshman. He followed up a promising freshman campaign with a lockdown sophomore season that has draft analysts and NFL scouts alike drooling. The Wolverines have historically produced a ton of great cornerback talents, but Johnson is right up there with any name. After all, wearing the number two at Michigan is no small claim to fame. Now, will Johnson compete for the Heisman as Woodson did? Likely not, but that does not mean he won’t be a top-five selection in one year.

Next up is one of the most menacing defensive tackles in all of college football — Mason Graham. Graham came to Michigan as a mid-four-star recruit but has outplayed his recruitment grade tremendously. There were concerns about his athleticism and length early in his career, but Graham has dismissed all notions of possible shortcomings with his frequent impact plays. The Wolverines heavily rotated their defensive line in 2023 which limited the statistical impact on any individual player, but Graham still totaled three sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss nonetheless. Checking the tape will also quickly reveal that Graham’s impact was felt much further than the stat sheet. He was simply a menace against Ohio State, Alabama, and Washington, and performed exceptionally well in Big Ten play as well despite nursing an injured hand. The expectation for Graham in 2024 is that he competes for a spot on the All-American team and hears his name called early in the 2025 draft.

The final player is Colston Loveland who comes straight from the football Mecca of Gooding, Idaho. Loveland, like Graham, was a fairly sought-after prospect in high school but by no means was expected to turn into the player he is today. Last season, Loveland turned in 45 catches for 649 yards while steadily improving as a blocker throughout the season. Should he continue to progress in the run game, Loveland will no doubt be considered a first-round pick. PFF analyst Max Chadwick already has Loveland as the second-best prospect in the nation after generational talent Brock Bowers, and Loveland hasn’t even hit age 20 yet. Expect the Idaho native to continue creating big plays in the passing game and emerge as the top target at the position nationally.

PFF lists two Michigan football players on 2024 all-returning defense

Should be more than two, IMO. #GoBlue

Many ask the question as to whether Michigan football will be in reloading or rebuilding mode in Sherrone Moore’s first year. But the Wolverines are perhaps more talented than may across college football may realize.

While the offense has a ton of questions — particularly at quarterback, where there is no presumed leader, as well as at wide receiver — the rest of the team is pretty loaded. The offensive line, tight ends, and running backs should be elite.

And that’s not even looking at the defensive side of the ball.

On defense, the Wolverines return a large portion of 2024’s playmakers, despite losing standouts such as Mike Sainristil, Kris Jenkins, Junior Colson, and Mike Barrett. With Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant leading the charge up front, Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham taking over the middle, and Makari Paige and Will Johnson coming back on the back end, there is a lot to like about this new-look defense. So much so that two of the aforementioned made PFF analyst Max Chadwick’s list for his ‘all-returning defensive team.’

According to Chadwick, Michigan has two players on defense that are the best at their position: defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson. So much so that both made his list.

Certainly, safety Rod Moore could have had a claim, also, at his position but he tore his ACL during spring practice. Grant can’t be too far behind Michigan native and Kentucky DT Deone Walker, and the Grant-Graham tandem is likely the best in the country.

While many of the others not listed — including edge rushers Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart — they certainly could find themselves atop the list once the season has concluded.

Michigan football players suggest Wink Martindale’s defense is ‘totally different’ from predecessors

This is certainly unexpected. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The thought when Michigan football brought in Wink Martindale to replace Jesse Minter — who coached under Martindale with the Baltimore Ravens — was that there wouldn’t be much change. That it would be a continuation of the defense that the Wolverines have run under Minter and Martindale.

However, if you ask fifth-year safety Makari Paige, that’s not how he sees it, not one week into spring practice.

WolverinesWire asked Paige on Monday about the similarities and differences between the two defensive coordinators’ schemes, and Paige put it quite succinctly.

“It’s totally different,” Paige said. “It’s totally different. Everything’s different.”

OK, then.

Paige isn’t one to expound much, but we asked him again because it certainly could have been something of an obfuscation. But he insists: no, it’s a much different defense.

“No, I’m being serious — it’s totally different,” Paige said. “The plays, his mindset — not mindset, but philosophy, I guess?”

Well, let’s get a second opinion, then.

We also got a chance to hear from junior defensive tackle Mason Graham, and while he didn’t go into great detail, he did note that there are different ways that defenses can be run — even if they’re spiritually similar. As Graham tells it, there are nuances, but perhaps not wholesale changes.

“I mean, everyone just has their mix, their splash of their little ideas that they bring,” Graham said. “So I feel like Coach Minter and Coach Wink have different philosophies still within the same structure, but they just have their little differences on defense.”

It’s difficult to know for sure what the truth is here, but it adds intrigue to the defense moving forward.

Fans will at least be able to get a first glimpse on April 20 when Michigan football hosts the annual spring game at The Big House. It will take place at noon and will be broadcast nationally on Fox.

The Michigan football QB that’s impressing DT Mason Graham

He’s going to be a handful for opposing defenses. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There are a lot of open spots for Michigan football this spring, but none are more high profile than that of the quarterback position.

Vacated by J.J. McCarthy who entered the NFL draft with a year of eligibility remaining, the Wolverines don’t have an heir apparent to the former five-star, but they have multiple candidates who are vying for the role of starter. Among the top contenders is junior signal caller Alex Orji.

On Monday, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham was asked which quarterback has particularly impressed him a week into spring ball and he noted that Orji, thanks to his ability to scramble or outright run, has really gotten his attention in practice.

“I’d probably say — I mean they’re all doing a good job — but Alex Orji can make plays with his legs,” Graham said. “So he’s a really big threat when it comes to that. He keeps us on edge. You don’t know what he’s doing, even when he doesn’t have the ball because he’s a weapon. Creates opportunities.

“I feel like everyone’s playing really good, presenting challenges throughout the spring so far. So, good competition.”

What is it about Orji’s ability to move the pocket and take off running that’s impressed Graham the most? Well, it’s the fact that he’s never quite sure what he might do on any given play.

In a game, Graham says, that presents challenges to any defensive line. Because a more stoic, pocket-passer is a bit more dead-to-rights, whereas a player like Orji keeps rushing linemen on their toes a bit more. And that can weigh on them.

“Especially from a defensive lineman standpoint, you’re rushing the quarterback and when a quarterback’s not very mobile or can’t move as well, you’re more confident in what you’re doing and you can do,” Graham said. “But when there’s somebody back there that can just run at any given time and you’ve gotta chase him down, it’s in the back of your mind throughout the game.”

Fans will get a chance to see Orji and the other quarterbacks in action in the annual spring game, which takes place on April 20 at noon at The Big House. The spring game will be broadcast nationally on Fox.

Michigan football DT Mason Graham shoots down transfer rumors

There was never anything to any of this. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If you scour the internet, particularly social media, you often find rumors about players leaving their current program in favor of a newer, flashier one.

It’s the new era of college football, where name, image, and likeness mixed with the transfer portal have created a new atmosphere across the sport. A position coach or head coach leaves? There are rumors that the star players are leaving. A player emerges from obscurity? Well, get ready (via rumors) that they will seek out a new program.

As for Michigan football, ever since Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, despite only losing one starting-caliber player to the transfer portal in backup safety Keon Sabb, there have been rumors that all of the star players are on their way out. These rumors are exacerbated by rival fan accounts that are doing more wishful thinking than anything.

Take star defensive tackle Mason Graham, who has been the subject of said rival fan rumors. Ever since Sherrone Moore was hired as the new head coach, Graham has been subjected to conjecture that he’ll eventually be headed elsewhere. However, WolverinesWire asked Graham about this gossip on Monday and he says that it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Man, I just feel like there’s always going to be rumors,” Graham said. “Michigan’s where I want to be, Michigan’s where I’ve been for the past two years. I’m comfortable here, I wanted to stay with all the guys that we went through battles with. So that’s where it all came down to — the teammates I’ve played with. And the program’s in good hands with Coach Moore.”

A big reason why, as Graham suggests, he’s not looking around is due to the culture built in Ann Arbor over the past few years. Unlike other programs that have been built on being transactional in the new college football environment, the Wolverines have built a strong base culturally where players are more likely to stick things out due to the brotherhood as well as the expectations of the program. That may have appeared to have reached a nadir following the national championship, yet the players who remain (and haven’t departed via the NFL draft) insist that the culture has only gotten stronger.

Naturally, even openly debunking these rumors will add fodder for the rival fan bases that insist ‘the hammer is coming down’ and ‘all of Michigan’s players are transferring.’ But the likelihood of either happening is scant, at best.

PFF says Mason Graham would be the best DT in draft this year

He’s so freaking good. #GoBlue

When Michigan football dipped into Anaheim (Calif.) Servite to nab a then-three-star prospect in Mason Graham, it knew it had pulled off something of a coup.

The wrestler-turned-football star was somewhat off the radar, but it didn’t last long. After flipping from Boise State to the Wolverines, Graham started getting some attention from the recruiting services and ended up as a four-star prospect. And once he arrived on campus as an early enrollee, it was obvious he’d be an early contributor, and he made good on his potential by having a solid role as a backup in his freshman year.

But in year two, he truly shined. So much so that PFF believes that Graham is the best player at his position — right now, even going back to last year.

Graham has another year before he’s eligible for the NFL draft, but if he were able to have declared as a sophomore, PFF analyst Max Chadwick says that he could have been the first defensive tackle selected in April.

That’s pretty high praise. PFF does have him as the top returning defensive tackle across the sport with his frontline compatriot Kenneth Grant listed as the No. 7 returning DT. The duo was so dominant that otherwise well thought of interior linemen — such as Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning group — looked pedestrian against them.

Michigan football players push back on sign stealing scandal before championship game

Why is this still even a question? #GoBlue

Every time you think the Michigan football sign-stealing narrative has come to a close, it manages to pull itself up by its bootstraps.

Despite Connor Stalions having not been with the program since late-October, the Wolverines have kept winning — even without Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines for the three toughest regular season games to end the season.

Many critics reversed course about the severity of the allegations after Michigan beat Ohio State, and many of the holdouts finally gave in after the maize and blue took down the Crimson Tide on Monday. However, that doesn’t mean the questions aren’t persisting.

On Wednesday morning, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham was asked about how annoyed the players are that the narrative persists. Because as the players have insisted, the allegations negate all of the hard work and film study that the Wolverines do while they didn’t have any knowledge of any illegal scheme or anything pertaining to it.

“I’d kind of just start it off, more the allegations are coming on the defensive side of the ball,” Graham said. “I feel like we just kind of watch film and we get tendencies from other teams, just like Trevor (Keegan) was saying, and we kind of just pick up on it. I feel like we just have a high football IQ here at Michigan. We go over specific situations multiple times a week, just kind of learning more about the game every day, every meeting, just kind of just building that IQ and being starter football players all around so we pick up on things faster, even if it’s in-game adjustments.

“I think little stuff like that, film study really helped us this year.”

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy agrees.

The junior star noted that conventional sign stealing is legal and that Michigan’s changes on that front were in reaction to a rival having all of the Wolverines’ signals. Beyond that, McCarthy reiterated the team really goes all-in when it comes to watching film and preparation, and that it’s not peculiar for teams to take advantage of what other teams’ tendencies are based off film study.

“Yeah, and I also feel like it’s so unfortunate because there’s probably — I don’t want to say a crazy number, but I’d say a good number, 80% of the teams in college football steal signs. It’s just a thing about football. It’s been around for years,” McCarthy said. “We actually had to adapt because in 2020 or 2019 when Ohio State was stealing our signs, which is legal and they were doing it, we had to get up to the level that they were at, and we had to make it an even playing field.

“I just feel like it sucks, just because like Mason said, we do work our butts off. We do watch so much film and look for those little tendencies and spend like 10, 15 minutes on one clip alone just looking at all the little details of the posture, of the linebackers or the D-ends, the safeties off levels, the corner to the field is press but the corner to the boundary is off, little stuff like that where it’s like, you could say it’s all sign stealing, but there’s a lot more that goes into play, and a lot of stuff that gets masked, a lot of work that gets masked just because of the outside perception of what sign stealing is all about.”

Michigan football can put all of this full to rest on Monday if it can beat Washington in the national championship game in Houston.