Michigan football is known to produce NFL-caliber players year after year through its incredible football program. Just last year, there were 13 U-M players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, which surpasses the previous school record of 10 players selected in 2017. Producing players like QBs Tom Brady and former coach Jim Harbaugh, let’s take a look at a few players that might be following in their footsteps next draft.
Will Johnson
Will Johnson is a cornerback in his Junior Year and a Michigan native. With two interceptions this year, both being returned for touchdowns, he demonstrates his ability to turn defense directly into offense. He’s got an advantage most other defensive backs don’t with his 6’2” frame, allowing him to cover more space and reach more passes than most. Johnson could make a big difference on teams like the Baltimore Ravens or Jacksonville Jaguars, who have given up the most and second most passing yards this season respectively.
Colston Loveland
At 6’5” and 245 pounds, Colston Loveland is a guy that defensive backs hate seeing running routes outside the numbers. Loveland, a junior tight end, has 11 touchdowns on 117 receptions with 1,466 yards in his career with the Wolverines. He also led the team in receiving yards this year with 582, having the most yards for the team in 8 of the 12 games played. The Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers, along with most teams, could give their QBs another great option if they’re able to select Loveland.
Mason Graham
Totaling 108 Career Tackles, 46 of them coming in 2024, DT Mason Graham is a force to be reckoned with for Michigan football. His natural ability to get around the O-Line combined with skillfully reading the ball carriers movements in the backfield have carried him to the 3rd most tackles on the team. With so many teams in the NFL struggling on defense this year Graham would be a good fit anywhere he goes, but if he were to go to the Bengals or Patriots, he could possibly be the missing piece to turn those teams into future contenders.
These three players were able to help Michigan football to a 7-5 record, which would be considered a good season by most, but far below the expectations fans had remembering the last few seasons.
This record was still good enough to get them an invitation to the ReliaQuest Bowl, against #11 Alabama on December 31st, 2024. Head Coach Sherrone Moore has his work cut out for him the next few years following in the footsteps of the great Jim Harbaugh, and if he can keep getting high-caliber recruits like Johnson, Graham, and Loveland, he’s got a good shot.