The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2024 BY ANTHONY BROOME W ith Michigan's record sitting at 5-5 on the season, the natural re- action from many is to wonder whether any of the team's star players will opt to shut it down and start preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft. Headlined by midseason injury to All-America cornerback Will Johnson, plenty of noise has surrounded whether or not he has played his last game in a Wolverine uniform. Those in the building, including head coach Sherrone Moore, do not believe we have seen the last of the star defen- sive back, who has been dealing with a lower-body injury in the middle portion of the season. "Will has no plan of just shutting it down or anything like that. Will, if he could go out there, he would go out there in a heartbeat," Moore said. "I know that he'll be back out there at some point this season. Whether it's this week, next week, or whatever it is." According to the Pro Football Focus 2025 NFL Draft big board, Michigan has three of the top seven prospects in next year's class: defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 3, Johnson at No. 4, and junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant at No. 7. Grant said he has no plans of shutting it down and opting out of the rest of the season. Grant said Michigan relishes its op- portunity to play spoiler while improving players' individual résumés. "It's just another opportunity to go out there and put great things on film," he told the media prior to the Indiana game. "Coach told us [our record is] real. We know our record. So, it's just another opportunity to impact our season, but also impact their seasons. I mean, there's still a lot on the line. "It's even more motivation. We know what it is. It's real. You've got to go out there and play and everything. We've got to come up and come ready." Grant said he has no plans to shut it down this season. "No, I'm not sitting out," he said. "I definitely want to go out there and put great things on film. I don't really know my draft status right now. I guess first round, you could say. But I don't really pay attention to that stuff." Grant has played more snaps this year than he did in 15 games last season, which was somewhat expected given Michigan's schedule and lack of depth compared to previous seasons. But it was something he was prepared for. "It's just a testament to my dedica- tion," Grant said. "Just trying to keep my body ready throughout the season, you know. I feel like I have done a great job of that. I'm not falling off or anything. It's just a testament to the coaches, but also testament to me for keeping my body right. "We knew what it was. We're going to have to play more snaps. Just being prepared for that, not just mentally, but also physically." The 2024 season has humbled a Mich- igan program that spent most of the cal- endar year in the glow of last season's national title. The focus at this point has turned to finding win No. 6 and earning a chance to play in a bowl game. It starts with continuing to put the work in behind the scenes. "We just come in and take it one day at a time," Grant urged. "… You can con- trol the future, but you can't control the past. Just keep it one day at a time stay- ing level-headed and just trying to be a better person." So, what could possibly keep Michigan motivated down the stretch? "I think it's just internal," Grant said. "We all know that everything's not per- fect. We're not fine-tuned yet. We're not a finished product yet. So, I mean, prac- tice translates to the game. Game reps ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Defensive Stars Unlikely To Shut It Down Despite Draft Stock Junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, one of U-M's three projected top-10 NFL Draft picks by Pro Football Focus, is focused on finishing out the season at a high level, regardless of the team's struggles. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN