The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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26 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2024 U -M sent 13 players to the 2024 NFL Draft, setting a program record in the event. Many analysts believe the Wolverines could have as many as four first-round picks next year, headlined by cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackle Mason Graham. Pro Football Focus put out its first big board for the 2025 NFL Draft class with Johnson, Graham, tight end Colston Loveland and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant all included. Graham leads the way on PFF's board, coming in as the No. 2 overall player be- hind Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. in the initial ranking. "Graham took his game to a whole new level as a sophomore," PFF's Max Chad- wick wrote. "He was the fourth-most valuable defensive tackle in the nation according to PFF's wins above average metric and was sixth in that same group with a 15.9 percent pass-rush win rate. Graham was one of only two interior de- fensive linemen in the country to finish with top-10 grades as both a pass rusher and run defender. The other was Texas' T'Vondre Sweat." Just behind Graham came former five- star recruit Will Johnson. PFF rates him as the No. 4 overall player in the 2025 class and states he would be a top corner re- gardless of draft class. "He has all the physical traits you'd want in a corner at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds with excellent speed, footwork and ball skills for the position," Chadwick said. "If he was eligible to be selected in 2024, he'd be the first corner off the board. In fact, he would've been the first one taken in 2023 as well. Johnson has the makings of a special cornerback prospect who'll likely be a top-five pick next April." On the offensive side of the ball, Love- land ranks as the No. 16 prospect in the class and top-ranked tight end. "Loveland went from a promising freshman to one of the nation's best tight ends as a sophomore," Chadwick wrote. "He finished as the fourth-most valuable FBS tight end this past season according to PFF's wins above average metric and was fifth among them in receiving yards (649)." Rounding out the list was Grant, just outside the top 32 at No. 36 overall. There was no writeup on his skill set, but his size (6-3, 339) and rare athleticism likely will have him pushing for first-round consid- eration when all is said and done with the 2024 season. — Anthony Broome ROD MOORE UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL KNEE SURGERY Senior safety Rod Moore underwent successful surgery on his left knee per- formed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the player announced April 25 on social media. Moore wrote that "all went great" with the procedure. Based in Los Angeles, ElAttrache is the lead physician for the Los Angeles Rams and Dodgers, according to his website. A third-team All-Big Ten selection last season, Moore reportedly went down with his knee injury in late March. While specifics haven't been disclosed by the program, defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan confirmed Moore was hurt and raved about his involvement in the pro- gram despite being out. "The guy gets injured; the next day he's the first guy in the front seat in ev- ery meeting," Morgan said April 10. "He's unbelievable. That's the culture that we have here." The 6-foot, 198-pounder recorded 38 tackles and 1 interception in 12 outings in 2023. The Michigan squad has dealt with other injuries this spring, though the rest of them are believed to be minor. Graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle, for instance, missed spring practices while recovering from an injury, but he's set to be cleared for summer workouts, accord- ing to position coach and offensive coor- dinator Kirk Campbell. Senior defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny also is slated to be available for fall camp after missing the spring while re- habbing his lower left leg, which he in- jured in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, per position coach Lou Esposito. Graduate safety Quinten Johnson also sat out the spring while recovering from a hamstring ailment he suffered last post- season. Sophomore defensive tackle Trey Pierce went down with an undisclosed injury this spring, but Esposito said he was just "dinged up." Pierce missed the April 20 spring game, as did two projected starting offensive linemen — graduate left guard Josh Priebe and senior right guard Giovanni El-Hadi. Priebe split his lip in half — Campbell ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Four Make PFF's Top-50 Big Board For 2025 Pro Football Focus lists junior Colston Loveland as the No. 16 prospect in the nation and its top- ranked tight end for the 2025 NFL Draft. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL