The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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18 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2025 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE AND ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan was the talk of Indianapolis during last year's NFL Scouting Combine, sending 18 players to the event, which stands as the record number of invitees by any school. The Wolverines were well-represented with nine attendees in 2025, as well, and plenty of conversation surrounded some of the top prospects. Based on mock drafts, Michigan has a good chance of breaking its program re- cord for the most first-round selections in a single draft. The Wolverines have had three first-rounders on two occa- sions: 1995 (Tyrone Wheatley, Ty Law, Trezelle Jenkins) and 2001 (David Terrell, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus). Most analysts are predicting they'll have four in 2025: defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson. A fifth is also a possibility, though edge Josaiah Stewart is projected to be picked in the second or third round. The Wolverines have had at least one first-round choice in five straight years and seven of the last nine drafts. In nine years under former head coach Jim Har- baugh, U-M had a pick at every single position group, including the special- ist spots such as kicker, punter and long snapper. Harbaugh averaged 7.3 draft picks per year over his nine seasons with the pro- gram. He coached most of Michigan's players who have declared for the 2025 draft, but this is the first event under second-year head man Sherrone Moore. The Wolverines have the opportunity to notch their 10th time ever with eight or more NFL Draft picks. Four of those oc- currences have happened in the last five years: 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2017, 1975, 1974, 1972 and 1948. Michigan's nine players in attendance at the 2025 combine were Graham, Grant, Johnson, Loveland, Stewart, run- ning backs Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, offensive lineman Myles Hin- ton and long snapper William Wagner. Only Edwards and Hinton went through on-field drills, and the former was the one Wolverine who ran a 40-yard dash. The rest, outside of Loveland, who un- derwent offseason shoulder surgery, will wait to compete at U-M's March 21 pro day at Glick Field House. Here's a look at how Michigan's eight non-special teams participants fared at the NFL Combine: DONOVAN EDWARDS Ht./Wt.: 5-11⅜ • 205 Arm: 30" Hand: 10" 40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds 10-yard split: 1.51 seconds Vertical jump: 38.5" Bench press: 23 Edwards entered the event as a fringe draftable talent, but he had one of the better combines of any of the running backs, headlined by a 4.44 official 40- THE NEXT STEP Nine Wolverines Attend NFL Scouting Combine In Indianapolis U-M defensive line coach Lou Esposito (center) met up with his star pupils Mason Graham (left) and Kenneth Grant (right) behind the scenes at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. PHOTO COURTESY LOU ESPOSITO