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2023 Season Countdown: #9 Mason Graham

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

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 0

FORMER PLAYERS

CB George Johnson III (UMass): Johnson made 1 catch for 22 yards in a 41-30 win over New Mexico State.

CB Andre Seldon (New Mexico State): Seldon made 3 tackles in a 41-30 loss to UMass.

Hit the jump for more.

Ex-Wolverine Player Updates: Pre-season 2023

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FORMER PLAYERS

TE Erick All (Iowa): All is now a Hawkeye and might play second fiddle at tight end to Luke Lachey, but Iowa uses multiple tight ends on a regular basis, so he should get plenty of playing time. Last year’s second tight end was Lachey, who had 28 catches for 398 yards and 4 touchdowns behind Sam LaPorta, who is now with the Detroit Lions.

WR Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma): Anthony is slotted in as a starting receiver for the Sooners this fall. He’s listed as a 6’1″, 192 lb. junior.

QB Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State): Bowman is in a battle for the starting quarterback job at one of the “other” OSU schools.

OG Zach Carpenter (Indiana): Carpenter is a redshirt senior who is expected to start at center for the Hoosiers.

S Damani Dent (Charlotte): Dent is a 5’11”, 196 lb. redshirt freshman at Charlotte.

CB Darion Green-Warren (Nevada): Green-Warren is a redshirt sophomore who is expected to be a backup for the Wolfpack in 2023.

TE Louis Hansen (UConn): Hansen is expected to start for the Huskies at tight end this fall. He’s listed at 6’4″ and 238 pounds.

Hit the jump for more.

2023 Season Countdown: #10 Zak Zinter

Name: Zak Zinter
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 322 lbs.
High school: North Andover (MA) Buckingham Browne & Nichols
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #65
Last year: I ranked Zinter #7 and said he would be the starting right guard. He started all fourteen games.
TTB Rating: 76

Zinter is yet another lineman, just like Trevor Keegan, who had an outstanding season in 2022. Zinter was a First Team All-Big Ten player who could have gone to the NFL after the year. He had a great year overall, but he especially earned some acclaim for some of his blocking against Ohio State, launching Donovan Edwards for a couple 75+ yard touchdown runs on the way to the 45-23 win.

There’s no reason to expect anything less from Zinter in 2023. He’s still entrenched as the starter at right guard. Michigan is so deep on the offensive line that the Wolverines should be able to manage an injury or two during the year. Of course, we hope everyone stays healthy, but those big guys are hitting and getting rolled on nearly every single play. Luckily, for Michigan’s sake, there are guys like Giovanni El-Hadi, Raheem Anderson, and others who would be starting on a lot of Big Ten teams but are backups in Ann Arbor. Depth is not quite so available at other positions, which is why a potential All-American is ranked at #10.

Prediction: Starting right guard

2023 Season Countdown: #11 Trevor Keegan

Name: Trevor Keegan
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 320 lbs.
High school: Crystal Lake (IL) Crystal Lake
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #77
Last year: I ranked Keegan #17 and said he would be the starting left guard (LINK). He started eleven games at left guard.
TTB Rating: 81

Keegan was a man mountain at left guard last season, moving people with regularity. He battled some injuries, but still managed to start eleven games, and he was well respected enough around the conference to be named First Team All-Big Ten. He was named Offensive Player of the Week twice, including against Penn State, when Michigan ran for a whopping 418 yards (Michigan’s highest total since running for 481 yards in the 78-0 win over Rutgers in 2016).

Keegan is a highly valuable player and has been named a captain for 2023, but Michigan has such depth on the offensive line that it’s tough to hold any of them in too high of esteem. If Keegan were to go down with injury again, there are a variety of offensive line concoctions that could hold up, including inserting Giovanni El-Hadi, shuffling La’Darius Henderson to guard, or inserting someone like Karsen Barnhart if Trente Jones is starting at tackle. It’s a testament to the amount of talent on this team that a returning First Team All-Big Ten player and possible All-American is hanging out at #11 on the countdown.

Prediction: Starting left guard