The Michigan Wolverines finished the regular season 7-5, with a 5-4 record in conference games and seventh overall in the Big 10. The Wolverines still had a solid defense this season, ranking T-24th in points per game, 14th in total yards per game, 66th in passing, and 3rd in rushing among 134 schools, per College Football Reference.
Michigan will travel to Tampa Bay, Florida, to play against the 11th-ranked 9-3 Alabama Crimson Tide for the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on Tuesday, December 31, at noon ET. Since they missed out on the College Football Playoff, many players will either enter the transfer portal, stick around for another season, or make the most important decision of their careers, declaring for the draft.
The Michigan Wolverines’ elite interior defensive lineman reveals his plans for 2025
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Wolverines’ elite junior All-American interior defensive lineman Mason Graham will opt out of their bowl game against the Crimson Tide, forego his final year of eligibility, and declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. As Schefter points out, Graham hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha to represent him as agents. The expectation is for him to be drafted really high in next year’s draft and, realistically, a top-five pick.
Michigan junior All-American defensive tackle Mason Graham has declared for the NFL draft and hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha to represent him. “We expect Mason to get drafted in the top five picks,” Rosenhaus said. pic.twitter.com/hi4NZ0OOUD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 10, 2024
The future top first-round pick had a phenomenal career in Ann Arbor
Mason Graham committed to the Michigan Wolverines as a four-star recruit for the 2022 season. Graham had a phenomenal career in Ann Arbor, recording 108 tackles, 18 TFLs, nine sacks, and one forced fumble in 39 games played and 27 starts to his name. His accolades include winning Freshman All-American (PFF) in 2022, an All-American Second Team (The Sporting News), All-Big-10 First Team, Rose Bowl Defensive MVP, and a National Champion in 2023, and All-Big 10 First Team, and more, which haven’t been announced for 2024.
Graham recorded 45 tackles, 34 pressures, seven TFLs, 30 pressures, and 3.5 sacks in his junior season. He also posted a 78.9 pass rush, a 92.4 run defense, and an elite 90.6 overall PFF grade, the highest grade of his career.
