Two Michigan football players projected as First-Team All-Americans by Phil Steele
Phil Steele is known as one of the best college football experts around and it's that time of year again for season previews and other predictions. On that note, Steele recently published his preseason All-Americans for the 2024 season which featured a few Michigan football players.
Although, there weren't as many as I expected. At least on the First Team. Colston Loveland was projected to be a First-Team All-American selection at tigth end. The junior has been projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft and will essentially be the Wolverines No. 1 target this season.
As long as Alex Orji or whoever starts at quarterback can get the ball to Loveland consistently, he should be the best in college football at his position. He was among the best in 2023.
Defensive preseason All-Americans for Michigan football
On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan football had just one preseason First-Team All-American according to Steele. Cornerback Will Johnson made the First Team. Mason Graham, the standout defensive tackle, who some have said would have been the first defensive tackle drafted in 2024, if he was eligible, was selected on the Second Team. Kenneth Grant didn't make any preseason All-American team.
Tyleik Williams of Ohio State and Howard Cross of Notre Dame were selected ahead of Graham. Both are elite players, no doubt. But Graham is the best defensive tackle in college football and Grant isn't far behind. It's baffling he didn't even make Fourth Team All-American in Steele's projections.
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I'm also predicting that Derrick Moore will work his way into the conversation by the end of the season. All in all, the projection is fine but Steele missed on the Michigan football D-line.