The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537777
24 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2025 2024-25 YEAR IN REVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS R arely is a collegiate defen- sive player so dominant that he's his team's most valuable player. Those hon- ors are usually reserved for the star quarterback or running back, maybe an elite wide receiver, or in the case of 1997 Heisman winner Charles Wood- son, a two-way (three, counting special teams) standout. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, though, qualified last year, and we'll say it — during his three-year ca- reer he was the most dominant interior lineman we've seen at U-M. He defied all logic the minute he stepped on cam- pus, not really looking the part despite his 6-foot-3, 320-pound frame … a bit doughy when he arrived, not ex- actly chiseled. When it came to making plays, though, he was in a class of his own. He first burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2022, earning his teammates' respect as an early enrollee with his brute strength and ability to hold up against veteran offensive linemen several years older than him. His performance in the spring game opened eyes, and he earned playing time and by year's end, was named the team's defensive freshman of the year. Year 2 was his breakout season. In addition to earning first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-America hon- ors, Graham was involved in some of the most important plays in the biggest games. He and fellow lineman Jaylen Harrell applied the pressure on quar- MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR MASON GRAHAM DOMINANT DEFENDER Mason Graham Made An Indelible Mark At Michigan Graham, who was named a unanimous first-team All-American in 2024, finished his stellar three- year Michigan career with 108 total stops, 17 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble and 1 punt block. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL