The Wolverine

October 2021

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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OCTOBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 49   COMMITMENT PROFILE M ason Graham thought he had found his future home. The three-star 2022 defensive tackle out of Anaheim (Calif.) Servite commit- ted to Boise State in July after making an official visit there just a month prior. He picked the Broncos over offers from Ari- zona State, Colorado State, Oregon State, UNLV, Utah State and others. However, Graham's recruitment com- pletely changed in late August. After dominating in the first two games of his senior season against top-level compe- tition, Graham notched an offer from Michigan. It didn't take long for the Wolverines to make an impact. Graham decided to make a trip to Ann Arbor for Michigan's game against Washington and left with a lot to think about. After having discussions with his family, Graham made the call and flipped his pledge from Boise State to U-M. "I chose to flip because I felt a connec- tion with the coaches right away," Graham said. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play Big Ten football and be able to have an awesome education that will last for- ever." Graham enjoyed his first visit to Michi- gan and was extremely impressed with the environment and overall vibe in Ann Arbor. "The visit was great because I had never seen Michigan before," he said. "I had never been there. But my favorite parts were meeting the coaches and watching the game in The Big House. It was elec- tric." Graham added that he loved the way the Michigan defense dominated in the 31-10 win over Washington. "The defense played awesome," Gra- ham said. "They stopped the run right off the bat and then got their pass rush going. They controlled Washington very well." Graham noted he was able to immedi- ately bond with the Michigan coaching staff. U-M defensive line coach Shaun Nua made a strong push for Graham, and his ties out West allowed him to reengage with those close to this re- cruitment. On the flip side of the coin, new Michigan director of player personnel Courtney Morgan, an ex-Wolverine and California native, recruited Graham at Fresno State and introduced his film to Nua. "Coach Nua is a great guy," Graham said. "After a few meetings with him, I can tell he is a great coach and knows a lot about the game. Courtney is also awesome. We go back because he was my first offer when he was at Fresno State last year." Graham projects as a versatile defen- sive lineman in Michigan's new scheme under coordinator Mike Macdonald. While he can play the nose, the 6-3, 295-pounder is best suited to play one of the tackle spots thanks to his twitch, get off and explosion. "I could fit in anywhere on the de- fensive line, really" Graham said. "I can play all the techniques that they run be- cause my high school team runs a simi- lar front as them." Servite assistant coach Rudy Cam- bero believes Graham is ready to make an early impact at Michigan and will be looked back at as a steal for the Wol- verines. "He's so twitchy in person. I know you can see it on film, but when you see him in person, he's a lot twitchier," Cambero said. "He's got active hands and moves so well for a guy that weighs 290-295, which is pretty heavy. We like our guys a little thinner here at Servite, but he carries his weight so well. He has no belly. "He's ready to roll. I think he's a plug- and-play guy at the next level. I've had coaches from other top programs here in Southern California — our rivals — use the word 'elite' with Mason Graham." — EJ Holland Defensive Tackle Mason Graham Changed His Mind After Michigan Visit After committing to Boise State in July, Graham switched his pledge to U-M follow- ing a trip to Ann Arbor for Michigan's game against Washington. PHOTO BY NICK LUCERO/COURTESY RIVALS.COM FILM EVALUATION Strengths: A former diamond in the rough, Mason Graham has blossomed into an ultra-productive player in Southern California's Trinity League, which features arguably the best high school football in the country. Graham plays with a relentless motor and is quick off the ball. He has really improved in the weight room, which has given him additional power from a year ago. He provides a pass-rushing presence from the interior of the defensive line and can move around in multiple fronts. Areas Of Improvement: While twitchy, Graham isn't overly athletic. He has added around 30 pounds to his frame, so continuing to get comfortable moving around at his weight will be key. Graham can unlock more flexibility in order to play with better leverage. At this point, he uses his motor and power to simply overwhelm opponents and does not offer much in terms of finesse moves to get around of- fensive linemen. Michigan Player Comparison: Graham is almost the exact same size as 2021 Michigan defensive tackle signee Ike Iwunnah. Like Iwunnah, Graham was mostly unknown in major recruiting circles before really breaking out as a senior. Iwunnah needed development and coaching coming into Ann Arbor, as will Graham. But the ceilings for both players are very high. — EJ Holland Graham "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play Big Ten football and be able to have an awesome education that will last forever."

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