The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536962
THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 137 1. MASON GRAHAM, KENNETH GRANT DOMINATE THE BUCKEYES The surest bet to win The Game is to not only outrush your opponent, but to stop the run, too. The Buckeyes tried to prove how tough they were by running into the teeth of a defense that featured two first-round picks at de- fensive tackle, ending the day with 77 yards rushing on 26 carries. Graham and Grant combined for 11 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in the contest, with many other impactful plays that do not show up on a box score. All-America cornerback Will Johnson had 2 pick sixes in 2024, including an 86-yarder in the home opener against Fresno State. He finished his U-M career with a record 3 interceptions returned for touchdowns. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL TOP 3 INDIVIDUAL PLAYS 2. WILL JOHNSON'S 'ANGRY PICK SIX' SEALS OPENER Things got a little sketchy in the first game of the Sherrone Moore era against Fresno State. With the visitors down 23- 10 and facing first-and-goal at the 10- yard line, Will Johnson jumped a route and picked off now-Michigan quarterback Mikey Keene, returning it 86 yards for a touchdown. It was an instant 14-point swing and what some teammates called "the angriest pick six of all-time" after Johnson had a few long passes com- pleted over him in the contest. 1. MULLINGS SETS UP ANOTHER OSU WIN Few are happier to see Mullings graduate than the Buckeyes, who were victims of a trick play jump pass in 2022 and then a legacy-mak- ing run on third-and-6 to spring Michigan to an upset in 2024. Mull- ings was nearly stuffed at the line of scrimmage — just outside field goal range with 3:23 to go — before bouncing off and heading down the right sideline for a 27-yard run all the way to the 15-yard line. His remarkably tough run set up a game-winning field goal from Dominic Zvada with 45 seconds left. 3. AAMIR HALL PICKS OFF WILL HOWARD OSU's offense was all out of sorts in its 13-10 loss to Michigan on Nov. 30, headlined by turnover issues from quarterback Will Howard. The most painful came via an interception hauled in by Wolverine defensive back Aamir Hall at the OSU 13-yard line, which he returned down to the 2 to set up Michigan's only touchdown of the contest. The former FCS All-American from UAlbany started in place of Will Johnson, who missed the second half of the season with a lower-body injury. TOP 3 PERFORMANCES 2. KALEL MULLINGS CALLS GAME AGAINST USC Mullings ran for 153 yards on 15 carries with 2 touchdowns the previous week against Arkansas State, which created a conversation around who should be the team's lead back, him or Donovan Edwards. Mullings answered the call again in a bigger moment against USC, going for 159 yards on 17 carries with 2 scores, including a 53-yarder early in the game and a 63-yard run in crunch time that set up the victory. The fourth-quarter scamper came on a third-and-1 rush from the U-M 21-yard line, eluding a USC defender near the line of scrimmage, stiff arming and rolling out of a tackle from a second defender and busting through around midfield for a long run up the right sideline. Mullings put the team ahead for good with his second score with 37 seconds remaining. 3. DERRICK MOORE STEPS UP AGAINST 'BAMA Moore tied Josaiah Stew- art in quarterback pres- sures in 2024 with 37 but did not have the sack num- bers to show for it. He made up for that as the No. 1 edge rusher in the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama, recording 5 pressures, 2 sacks, a quarterback hit and 2 hurries in one of the best games of his career.