2023 Season Countdown: #9 Mason Graham

2023 Season Countdown: #9 Mason Graham


August 27, 2023
Mason Graham (image via Rivals)

Name: Mason Graham
Height: 
6’3″
Weight: 
318 lbs.
High school: 
Anaheim (CA) Servite
Position: 
Defensive tackle
Class: 
Sophomore
Jersey number: 
#55
Last year: 
I ranked Graham #63 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating:
 84

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said last year that one of Michigan’s freshman defensive tackles was “a gift from the football gods” and that guy turned out to be Kenneth Grant . . . or Mason Graham. There was debate about which one he meant. It doesn’t really matter, though, because Graham turned out to be excellent for a freshman, and Grant should be pretty darn good by the time all is said and done, too. Graham had 1 sack each against Iowa and Nebraska, and even though he didn’t record any tackles for loss that weren’t sacks, he was consistently eating up double teams or otherwise creating problems for opposing offensive lines. His technical expertise and motor were impressive, especially for a freshman.

Now Graham is a sophomore and, for better or worse, he’s 26 pounds heavier than he was listed last year. Hopefully that doesn’t affect his quickness or persistence, and just judging by what we’ve seen from him over the past couple years (in high school and as a freshman), odds are that he will continue to wreak havoc. Graham is likely to start at nose tackle next to Kris Jenkins, Jr., which is a very formidable starting duo, with Rayshaun Benny and Grant backing them up. It’s likely to be another very good season for Graham.

Prediction: Starting nose tackle; 45 tackles, 4 sacks

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