Some insanely high praise for returning Michigan football players

Originally posted on Blue By Ninety | By Chris Peterson | Last updated 3/17/24

Michigan football has done a great job uncovering diamonds in the rough on the recruiting trail. The best recent examples are defensive tackles, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.

Graham and Grant were each three-star prospects when they first committed to Michigan football. Now, they are poised to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL draft. There has been chatter about other teams trying to steal them in the transfer portal, but it would be hard to blame anyone.

Dominant defensive tackles are a game-changer in the playoff and dudes like Grant/Graham rarely enter the transfer portal. It’s so interesting that Graham is so good, he’s made Michigan football fans forget about Walter Nolen. That’s how those good those dudes have been. They are each ranked among the top five in college football at the position among returning players at least according to one PFF Analyst.

Now, that same analyst, Max Chadwick of PFF says that if Graham was available in the 2024 NFL draft, he would be the first defensive tackle selected. Graham had 36 tackles last season, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks. He also made the critical defensive stop in overtime that set up Michigan football’s goal-line stand in overtime.

Mason Graham is ELITE〽️@UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/CFHKyYK5Rc

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 16, 2024

I completely buy that Graham would be an early pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Kenneth Grant would be too. However, those aren’t the only Michigan football players drawing high praise.

New coordinators praise Michigan football players

New DC Wink Martindale met with the media this week and compared Michigan football safety Rod Moore to Eric Weddle, an All-Pro safety for the Chargers and Ravens.

Wink Martindale compares Rod Moore to Eric Weddle “one of the best safeties I’ve ever coached”

— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) March 15, 2024

Moore would have been at least a day-two pick if he declared for the draft in my opinion, so the fact that he returned is huge for the Wolverines. Another key returner is on the offensive line and that’s Myles Hinton.

Michigan OC Kirk Campbell has high expectations for Myles Hinton:

“The sky’s the limit for him. If he goes out there and pushes himself to achieve what he wants to achieve, he has an opportunity to be a first-round pick.”https://t.co/3ubl67yoCl

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) March 16, 2024

He’s getting reps at left tackle or will according to Kirk Campbell, the new offensive coordinator who said that Hinton has first-round pick potential at 6-foot-6, 340 pounds. “The sky is the limit.”

This article first appeared on Blue By Ninety and was syndicated with permission.

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