The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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38 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2025 TALENT GALORE 2022 Class Produces Four Top-50 Draft Picks BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M ichigan hit it big with a star- studded 2022 class, which ranked ninth in the nation at the time but has since proven to be even better. ESPN.com reranked the class in January 2025, and the Wolverines' haul checked in No. 1. Four members of the group have be- come top-50 NFL Draft picks, each of them leaving U-M after their junior campaigns: defensive tackle Mason Graham (No. 5, Cleveland Browns), tight end Colston Loveland (No. 10, Chicago Bears), defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (No. 13, Miami Dolphins) and cornerback Will Johnson (No. 47, Arizona Cardinals). Michigan's 2022 class has done plenty of winning, going 36-6 over the last three seasons, playing a key role in deliv- ering a national championship and two Big Ten titles, and suffering only one loss in their first two seasons. Recruiting Name Pos. Stars ZEKE BERRY S HHHH A 2024 honorable mention All-Big Ten se- lection, Berry began the campaign as the starting nickel back but moved to outside cornerback late in the season and thrived at both positions, posting 34 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 pass break- ups, 1 forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Appearing in 25 career contests, Berry played a backup role, totaling 4 tackles, in 13 games from 2022-23. DARRIUS CLEMONS WR HHHH The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder caught 4 passes for 40 yards in two seasons at Michigan be- fore transferring to Oregon State. In 2024, he reeled in 25 grabs for 292 yards and 2 scores for the Beavers. JAYDEN DENEGAL QB HHH Transferred to San Diego State this offsea- son, after appearing in four games in three seasons for the Wolverines. He completed 4 of his 5 passes for 50 yards as a depth player in 2023. DAMANI DENT S HHH Spent one season at Michigan (2022) and one at Charlotte (2023), and is currently in the transfer portal searching for a new pro- gram. He saw time in one game at Charlotte. ANDREW GENTRY OT HHHH The projected starter at right tackle for BYU this season, Gentry departed Michigan fol- lowing his junior campaign. The 23-year-old played in 15 outings with two starts in Ann Arbor. He was originally a member of the 2020 class, having signed with Virginia, but took a two-year church mission, reconsidered his col- lege choice and came to U-M in 2022. MASON GRAHAM DL HHHH The Anaheim (Calif.) Servite product was a two-time All-American (unanimous first team, 2024; second team, 2023) and All-Big Ten (first team, 2023, '24) selection, and ap- peared in 39 games with 27 starts across three seasons. He racked up 107 tackles, including 17 for loss and 9 sacks, in his career. Graham recorded 45 stops with 7 for loss and 3 sacks as a junior in 2024 and was selected No. 5 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. KENNETH GRANT DL HHHH The No. 13 overall draft choice of the Mi- ami Dolphins this spring, Grant was a two- time All-Big Ten performer (second team, 2024; third team, 2023), having played in 41 contests with 17 starts. He also earned second-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press in 2024. The program's 2022 CLASS REVIEW REPORT CARD Players in Class: 23 Rivals Industry Ranking: 9th Players Still At Michigan: 5 Seventeen of the 23 mem- bers of the 2022 class have departed the program, including four to the NFL. Those still on campus are ex- pected to make big impacts as seniors in 2025, though, including edge Derrick Moore, cornerback Zeke Berry, linebacker Jimmy Rolder and tight end Marlin Klein. Those Wolverines have turned into team leaders, and they're hungry to have a suc- cessful campaign this fall. A+ Cornerback Will Johnson entered Michigan as a five-star recruit in 2022. He earned Defensive MVP honors in the CFP national championship game in January 2024, lost half his junior season to injury and still became the No. 47 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL