The Rose Bowl just means more to Mason Graham, for a few reasons

It’s a homecoming for the #Michigan Star. #GoBlue

Mason Graham is finishing his sophomore season at Michigan. The impressive underclassman has posted 55 total tackles, five and a half sacks, and nine tackles for loss so far in his career. Graham has been a part of two Ohio State victories and two playoff runs. Of course, this also means that he was on the losing end of last year’s heartbreaking game against TCU.

Graham thinks this year has a different feel, however. “We’re taking the stuff from last year and kinda just fine-tuning everything,” Graham said. “Knowing the expectation of what it’s like to be here and what it means to play in this game.”

Graham and his fellow teammates who were a part of last year’s loss (or even the year before that as well) are out for blood this time around. The fact that the opponent is Alabama just makes the fruit sweeter as well.

In addition to the heightened stakes, this game strikes home for Graham because, well, it is home. Graham played his high school football for Southern California powerhouse Servite High School, whose campus is located less than 45 minutes away from Rose Bowl Stadium.

“It feels good,” Graham noted. “Just a lot of family, friends reaching out. Just excited to see me play in this game.”

Though Graham is originally from the area, he was not an avid watcher of the game. “I watched this game a few times, but I wasn’t like too tuned into it.”

Graham should finally be fully healthy for the matchup as well. He suffered a hand injury early in the year and has been playing with a cast for much of the season, but that will change against Alabama.

Pustell’s Pick: Who takes home MVP against Minnesota

One player stood above the rest last week! #GoBlue

Mason Graham wanted revenge. Not against Minnesota in particular, just against the world of football for keeping him out of two games with a hand injury.

It just so happened that the Gophers were stuck in the wake of his fury.

Graham, of course, had a terrific performance. He led the team with six tackles, registered a dominant sack, and had two crucial TFLs (one of which was against the opposing QB and could have counted as a second sack). Graham also contributed to the stat sheet. He was the lead blocker for Will Johnson’s touchdown and caused major issues for the Minnesota offensive line all night long.

More than Graham’s on-field dominance was the clarity that he is one of the team’s emotional leaders. It’s obvious that his teammates, offense or defense, look up to him as a spark plug. When things are going well, Graham is there to celebrate. When someone makes a mistake, Graham is there to encourage them. There are a number of players at Michigan who demonstrate these same traits, but the fact that Graham has accomplished such status as just a Sophomore is special.

So why not not anyone else? Firstly, I do not consider QBs for this award. If I did, McCarthy would almost default a victory barring a legacy performance elsewhere, or uncharacteristic mistakes. Johnson has a convincing case as well, but I felt that Graham provided a more consistent game-changing presence.

The expectation is that Graham will continue to be a dominant force up front, and should find himself in more of these articles as the season moves on.

Michigan football defender on opposing offenses: ‘We know at some point they’re gonna break’

As Joel Klatt often says nowadays, ‘Good luck with #Michigan!’ #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football’s starters haven’t even played much in the fourth quarter — and have often been out in the middle of the third. But that’s because they’ve not just done their jobs efficiently in the early going, but they’ve broken other teams’ wills.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt likened the Wolverines to a boa constrictor, noting that they’ll squeeze the life out of a team. It was a notion that Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck echoed on Saturday.

So what is it about this Michigan team that wears out other teams? Do the players notice in-game? Sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham says they do.

“Yeah, I just see, like, we wear and tear on them,” Graham said. “And as the game goes on, we know they can’t hang with us for four quarters. So you know at some point they’re gonna break.”

While many thought that the Wolverines would look like Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford and San Francisco 49ers teams in a hurry, it took a little longer for the maize and blue to become a reflection of their head coach. But in the last three years, it’s been evident that this is, indeed, a team that squeezes the life out of their opponents.

Graham says that they’re just a reflection of their head coach, his philosophy, and his in-game demeanor. And that’s why we’re seeing teams tapping out early every game.

“I feel like that’s something that Coach Harbaugh preaches,” Graham said. “I feel like that’s the motto of our team, something he always leans on. So just I feel like that’s reflected on us.”

One of the reasons that the maize and blue have been so good on that front is conditioning. Anyone near the program will sing the praises of strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert unabated. But the Wolverines’ physicality also has to do with how the team prepares each week on the field, as physical practices against some of the best players in the nation help prepare the team to outwork their opponent every week.

“Yeah, I mean, Coach Harbaugh, he says the best way to get better is playing football. So that’s really what we do here,” Graham said. “We do it in practice, we do it all the time. So, reps and reps and we’re gonna get the best of the best so it just gets us ready for all the games.”

Michigan football DT Mason Graham compared to legendary Marvel villain

We have to make Mason Graham’s new nickname stick! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No injury was going to keep Michigan football defensive tackle Mason Graham down for long.

The sophomore missed two weeks but returned in Week 6 and led the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks, despite having a club on his hand. His fellow teammates took notice.

Edge rusher Josaiah Stewart has gotten to see Graham in action for a short time as a transfer from Coastal Carolina this year, but he’s inspired by Graham’s willingness to go out and play, not just while having an impediment, but to the level he did against Minnesota. His play helps bolster the whole team.

“I feel like this little injury he has, it’s just a little roadblock and he’s showing us that no matter what’s in his way, he’s gonna go right through it,” Stewart said. “And that’s the type of guy he is. That’s just his mindset. He’s not gonna get beat by nobody no matter who’s out there. Playing with one hand he’s gonna give us his all.”

Considering that Graham has a big cast on his left hand protecting his broken thumb, it led Stewart to work out a new nickname, inspired by a legendary Marvel Comics villain who was known for having the infinity gauntlet, also on his left hand.

“I tried to call him Thanos because he has that big club on,” Stewart said. “He just laughed it off. Hopefully, it sticks. Hopefully, he likes it.”

While Stewart is pleased with the nickname he’s donned Graham with, Graham himself isn’t too sure whether or not that will be one that continues past his injury.

“Yeah, no, I don’t know if everyone called me that. I think it was just him,” Graham said. “So maybe he got a little kick out of it. It was pretty funny.”

Given Thanos’ all-powerful, brute strength to go along with the infinity stones he wields, it’s not at all an impractical nickname. Graham should lean into it — at least while he continues to wear the club on his left hand.

Mason Graham details injury that had him miss two Michigan football games

The beast that is Mason Graham can play through whatever you throw at him! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was something of a surprise three weeks ago when Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham was a scratch from the Rutgers game in Week 4. After missing two games, he returned to action in Week 6 at Minnesota and thrived.

Despite having missed the time and having a ‘club’ — a large cast — on his left hand, Graham led the team with six tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss against the Gophers.

On Tuesday, Graham said that the club is, indeed, an impediment, but eager to get onto the field, he was willing to play through the pain.

“Obviously, I felt limited. But you’ve just got to do it,” Graham said. “You got to do it is what it is. Just trying to get more comfortable every day in practice so I can be more comfortable in the games.”

With a wrestling background, Graham knew he could play through the pain. But what happened? What is his injury exactly?

Graham says that he got hurt in Week 3 against Bowling Green, and immediately had to come out of the game.

“Yeah, I knew, like I came off the field. And my hand was throbbing and I knew something was wrong,” Graham said. “Just went to the trainers and then shortly after the game, checked it out, checked up on it, and then took some X-rays and found out (I had a) broken thumb.”

He hopes to back to full strength in a couple of weeks. And, while he’s wearing his club, he has no pain — it’s just to protect him from furthering any damage as he heals.

On Monday, his fellow defensive tackle Cam Goode joked that he also wanted a club because Graham could use it as a weapon. However, Graham says that has not been his intent, and it’s not how he’s played with it on.

“I don’t know, some people always come up to me are like, ‘Do you hit people with it?'” Graham said. “I’m like, ‘I try not to I just try to play as if I would have two hands still.’ Just not thinking about it so I could just play freely.”

Fans will get their next chance to see Graham in action on Saturday when Michigan football hosts Indiana for a noon game on Fox.

5 takeaways from Michigan football’s win over Minnesota

What a win! #GoBlue

It wasn’t ever in question, not for a moment.

Michigan stormed into the Gophers’ home and retained possession of the most important jug in all of football. Michigan dominated in a 52-10 performance that showed the college football world the Wolverines have a very strong case to be ranked first nationally.

The result was expected, but dominant wins will always feel good. Every part of the game was humming soundly. The passing attack hit its shots, all three backs looked good and the defense put on another great performance.

Let’s take a look at five things Wolverine fans can take away from Saturday’s win.

Jim Harbaugh addresses Mason Graham injury timeline

Good news in here. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If you tuned into Michigan football’s Week 4 contest against Rutgers, you may have been confused to not see starting defensive tackle Mason Graham not out there.

Hours before the game, the Wolverines released, via the Big Ten, their injury report, and Graham was reported as out. When he arrived with the team, he had some sort of protective covering or cast on his left wrist and hand area.

Regardless of Graham’s unavailability, it was a big news day for the maize and blue, with Jim Harbaugh returning to the sidelines after his three-game suspension, along with cornerback Will Johnson and safety Rod Moore getting back into the game after not playing previous to Saturday (Johnson played one series in Week 2).

RELATED: Things you may not have known about the win over Rutgers, ‘Cool Jim’ is now Jim Harbaugh’s alter ego

After the game, Harbaugh addressed those who returned from injury and also downplayed the severity of Graham’s seeming banging up.

“Maybe you thought me, Will and Rod Moore, we’re on a milk carton somewhere, you couldn’t find it, but we’ve been found!” Harbaugh said. “And we’re back playing. And great player, Mason Graham. should only be out for maybe another week and then he’ll be back. But I thought guys really stepped up without him there. I knew (Kenneth Grant) would have a big game. It’s awesome.”

While Graham appears to be unavailable for the upcoming game, next, Michigan football will travel to Nebraska to take on the Huskers. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on Fox. He should, if he stays on schedule, be eligible to return for another road game, that time at Minnesota.

Additionally, Mike Sainristl hobbled to the medical tent near the end of the game, but he said afterwards that he’s fully healthy still and available for the next game.

Mason Graham didn’t learn he was Jim Harbaugh’s ‘gift from the football gods’ until April

He’s certainly proved that moniker to be true. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — At Big Ten media days in 2022, Jim Harbaugh exclaimed that he had two first-year players who were ‘gifts from the football gods.’ It didn’t take long for fans and the media to realize he was talking about the two freshmen defensive tackles: Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.

The funny thing about it is — it took nearly a year before Graham had even heard about that.

Grant played sparingly in 2022 but has been a big factor on the defensive line in 2023, thus far. Graham saw himself playing in key moments throughout the season, particularly standing out making fourth-down stops against Iowa and Michigan State. But it was in May that he finally heard what his head coach said about him, appearing at a name, image and likeness event with Harbaugh and several teammates.

“Yeah, I’ve always heard that, people telling me that phrase, and I’m like — I was kind of confused at first, but we went to like this little NIL thing with the Wolverine (boot company). And like, we’re in front of a group and (Coach Harbaugh is) like, ‘Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — gifts from the football gods,'” Graham said. “So, that’s when I really started to notice.

“I mean, that’s obviously a compliment to be called, me and (Grant). Obviously, we do a lot of work together, so it’s pretty cool.”

Now that he’s in his second year, Graham is feeling a lot more comfortable in his role.

The fourth-leading tackler with eight through two games, he also has 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack to his name. He says that’s a product of having a better idea of what the goals of the defense are.

“Yeah, it’s just getting more comfortable in the scheme,” Graham said. “Knowing the defense more like what we’re looking at, some defensive calls. Just being more comfortable with that, stuff like that.”

But how did Graham see the field early a year ago and be so productive? He credits fall camp and practice, going up against his own offensive line. Due to that quick acclimatization period, once he lined up against other teams, it wasn’t quite so mesmerizing.

“Some of those games warmed me up for those big moments, but I feel like going against our offense, I feel like that’s the biggest thing for me,” Graham said. “(It’s) the best O-line in the country, so it just prepares me for the best competition. So when I faced the Penn States, Ohio States, Michigan States like that, it just comes like clockwork.”

Graham will be in action again this Saturday when Michigan football hosts Bowling Green at The Big House. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. EDT and the game will be televised on Big Ten Network.

LOOK: Michigan football DT so athletic, he slam dunks in IM basketball game

Impressive. Most impressive! #GoBlue

Mason Graham already built an incredible reputation for athleticism before he arrived in Ann Arbor. The former wrestler used those skills to get on the field early and often, looking like a seasoned vet in the process.

Yet, football and wrestling don’t fully encapsulate his athletic ability.

Graham posted to Twitter on Sunday a clip of him playing intramural basketball and apparently, he’s got enough hops to throw down, getting his first slam dunk in the process. For someone his size, it’s a pretty impressive feat to be able to get up and dunk.

Watch below, though please be advised there is foul language in the clip.

Michigan football defense eager to prove it can shut down TCU’s run game

Love the confidence! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football will be the best defense that TCU and its vaunted offense will have faced thus far this year. And while the Horned Frogs are eager to show off their pass game, it isn’t a team that shies away from running the ball like many other Big 12 teams.

RB Kendre Miller was no slouch this season, rushing for 1,342 yards — No. 18 in the country. TCU has the No. 25 passing offense and rushing offense, so there is some balance to what the Horned Frogs are trying to do.

Wolverines freshman defensive tackle Mason Graham thinks that’s given them an advantage against defenses primed to stop the pass in the Big 12, but against Michigan, he isn’t so sure that that approach will be as successful.

“The Big 12 is known as a passing type of league but I feel like TCU really wants to try to run the ball,” Graham said. “And I hope they try to test us with that so we can make like a statement that they’re not gonna run the ball on us.”

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For the Wolverines, the confidence comes not just from being the nation’s third-best rushing defense while playing in a run-heavy conference, but also because the defense has had to contend with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards on a weekly basis in practice.

Graham believes that greatly helps whenever Michigan sees a team that has an enigmatic rusher.

“Just knowing that we’re going against the best of the best every day in practice,” Graham said. “You know this is what you’re getting, you know what you’re gonna get in the game from other teams.”

Graham’s confidence isn’t any kind of evidence that Michigan is taking TCU lightly — it’s the exact opposite, actually.

The Wolverines know that it has to get past the Horned Frogs if they want the big prize of a national championship. So the confidence comes more from knowing what the maize and blue have and what they’re capable of, and less of just expecting to win because they’re the favored team.

“I feel like this team is really determined to take TCU seriously,” Graham said. “Obviously, everyone’s talking about looking ahead and stuff like that, but (we’re) really locked in on TCU right now. We know we have the opportunity to win the national championship at the end when it’s all said and done.”

The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl kicks off at 4 p.m. EST on Dec. 31 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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