Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Mason Graham is officially off to the pros, as he announced on Tuesday that he is forgoing his final season of college to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
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
It’s rare for a defensive lineman — especially an interior lineman — to make an instant impact for any college football program, but that’s exactly what Graham did. As a true freshman, Graham participated in all 14 games for the Wolverines and compiled 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Pro Football Focus named him a freshman All-American, and he earned Defensive Freshman of the Year honors by the program.
Graham followed that up with a dominant sophomore campaign. He racked up 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was named a Second Team All-American by The Sporting News, First Team All Big Ten by the coaches and Third Team (somehow?) by the media. He also earned Defensive MVP honors for his performance in the Rose Bowl, which was highlighted by a crucial tackle for loss in overtime against Bama.
2nd down - Mason Graham blows by the LG for the biggest TFL of the year.
3rd down - Bama tests Josh Wallace again and again, Josh Wallace shows who’s boss. pic.twitter.com/hpeo1zjDYR
— Due# (@JDue51) January 3, 2024
Graham was just as impactful as a junior. In 2024, he totaled 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and one blocked field goal.
Originally committed to play for Boise State out of high school, Graham flipped his commitment to Michigan, and fans should be thankful he did. Graham is a sure fire first-round draft pick in the spring, and could very well be a top-10 selection. He turned into the most dominant defensive tackle of the Jim Harbaugh era, and possibly of all time, which is crazy to think about.
Mason Graham will forever be known as a Big Ten champion, a hero in the most epic Rose Bowl of all time, a national champion, and a Michigan legend. We wish him all the best as he pursues his NFL dreams.