The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
The Wolverine's Top 25 Players By School School Offense Defense Total Ohio State 3 5 8 Michigan 2 3 5 Oregon 4 0 4 Penn State 1 1 2 USC 2 0 2 Iowa 0 2 2 Minnesota 1 0 1 Rutgers 1 0 1 Top 25 Players In The Big Ten 1. CB Will Johnson, Jr., Michigan Johnson is a potential top-five pick as early as the 2025 NFL Draft and brings the height, athleticism and ball skills that every team covets at the position. He's a true lockdown No. 1. 2. DT Mason Graham, Jr., Michigan Another potential defensive first-rounder in 2025 for Michigan, Graham has an advanced game that contin- ues to evolve each time he takes the field. 3. DB Caleb Downs, So., Ohio State* The former five-star recruit and member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is elite in almost every sense of the word and could be the piece that takes the OSU defense to the next level. 4. TE Colston Loveland, Jr., Michigan U-M has questions at QB, but it might also have the best tight end in the country. 5. QB Dillon Gabriel, Sr., Oregon* Gabriel has big-game experience having played at Oklahoma last season and is the most proven signal-caller among Big Ten contenders. 6. WR Tez Johnson, Sr., Oregon* The Troy transfer had no issues proving himself last year, racking up 86 catches for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns. 7. LB Jay Higgins, Gr., Iowa Death. Taxes. Iowa taking the field with elite linebacker play. Higgins had 171 total tackles in 2023, setting a school record. 8. WR Emeka Egbuka, Sr., Ohio State* Should be the clear-cut No. 1 target in Columbus and will look to rebound and match his 74-catch, 1,151- yard and 10-touchdown season from his sophomore campaign in 2022. 9. DT Kenneth Grant, Jr. Michigan To move as well as he does at 6-3, 339, while still being disruptive makes him a unicorn in college football. He single-handedly set a tone for U-M in its national title win. 10. LB Abdul Carter, Jr., Penn State First-team All-Big Ten selection started all 13 games, making 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an INT, a forced fumble, 5 passes defended and 5 QB hurries last season. Penn State junior Abdul Carter is making a position switch from linebacker to defensive end in 2024 and is still projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL 11. RB Nicolas Singleton, Jr., Penn State 12. EDGE Jack Sawyer, Sr., Ohio State* 13. DT Tyliek Williams, Sr., Ohio State* 14. EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Sr., Ohio State* 15. CB Jabbar Muhammad, Sr., Oregon* 16. OL Donovan Jackson, Sr., Ohio State* 17. OL Aireontae Ersery, Sr., Minnesota* 18. RB Quinshon Judkins, Jr., Ohio State* 19. RB TreVeyon Henderson, Sr., Ohio State* 20. OL Connor Colby, Sr. Iowa 21. RB Donovan Edwards, Sr., Michigan 22. WR Zachariah Branch, So., USC* 23. OL Jonah Monheim, Sr., USC* 24. RB Kyle Monangai, Sr., Rutgers 25. OL Josh Conerly Jr., Jr., Oregon* *on Michigan's schedule in 2024 THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 117 Best In The Big Ten By Position QB – Dillon Gabriel, Oregon* RB – Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State* WR – Tez Johnson, Oregon* TE – Colston Loveland, Michigan OL – Donovan Jackson, Ohio State* DL – Mason Graham, Michigan LB – Jay Higgins, Iowa CB – Will Johnson, Michigan S – Caleb Downs, Ohio State* *on Michigan's schedule in 2024