As the losses pile up for Michigan football, so do the questions.
One of the most pressing, with just three games left in the regular season: How many of the Wolverines’ stars with NFL futures will continue to suit up?
The trend in college football in recent years has been for top prospects to sit out at the end of the season — albeit primarily bowl games — o preserve their health and status for their professional careers. As for projected first-round selection Kenneth Grant, that’s not even an option.
“I mean, nah, I’m not sitting out,” the defensive tackle said Tuesday evening. “Definitely want to go out there and put great things on film. I don’t really know my draft status right now, I guess, first-round you could say, but I don’t really pay attention to that stuff.”
RAINER SABIN:Shades of 2020 disaster are becoming increasingly visible with Michigan football
Grant is one of five Wolverines to appear in a recent first-round draft projection by College Football Report. The list has defensive back Will Johnson (No. 5, Jacksonville), defensive tackle Mason Graham (No. 11, Cincinnati), Grant (No. 13, Dallas), tight end Colston Loveland (No. 20, reunited with Jim Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers) and defensive end Josaiah Stewart (No. 21, Atlanta). Of the quartet, only Stewart has played four collegiate seasons.
Johnson, of course, has missed the past two games with a foot injury, while Loveland missed U-M’s game against USC and Stewart sat out against Minnesota.
Of the five projected picks, only Grant and Graham have played all nine games this year. Still, for Grant, when he returned to Ann Arbor as a national champion, he did so with the intention of finishing what he started.
“It’s another opportunity to go out there and put great things on film,” said Grant, who has 13 tackles — including five for loss — two sacks and two fumble recoveries. “Whatever my draft status is, I’m never satisfied with that. Never satisfied until I’m No. 1, that’s my mentality.”
It’s a mindset Michigan will need to bring into its game against No. 10 Indiana, one of the most surprising stories in college football this season.
The Hoosiers, under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, are undefeated through nine games for the first time in program history. On Tuesday night, when College Football Playoff selection committee chairman Warde Manuel (also U-M’s athletic director) unveiled the initial CFP rankings, the Hoosiers were slotted at No. 8.
IU’s rapid ascent underscores how quickly things can flip in the days of the transfer portal and NIL payments; just last year, U-M hammered the Hoosiers, 52-7. Now, U-M enters as a 14½-point underdog.
“After watching film, I don’t think it’s really surprising,” defensive back Zeke Berry said of IU’s turnaround. “That’s a good football team. Got a good offense, good defense, good guys in receiving core, experienced quarterback.”
ON THE HARDWOOD:Michigan basketball season-opening masterclass feels like just the start
Berry, who has started much of the season at nickel back, had to move to cornerback for Saturday’s 38-17 loss to Oregon., thanks to the absences of Johnson and sophomore Jyaire Hill. Although Hill appears likely to play this week, according to head coach Sherrone Moore, Johnson is less so.
As for Berry, he was informed last Tuesday of the likely start he’d receive at corner. In early practices this week, he has worked at both spots as U-M installs its plan. No matter who is available, the secondary has a tall task against a passing offense that is No. 19 among Football Bowl Subdivision teams, at 284.3 yards per game, and No. 2 in scoring (46.6 points).
It’s far from the first time Michigan has seen a prolific passing offense this year; the Wolverines have already seen Oregon (No. 11 in total offense), Texas (No. 16 in total offense) and Washington (No. 24 in passing offense).
“I mean it’s college football, anything can happen,” Grant said of Indiana. “It’s a testament to them — they’re undefeated, so just another great opportunity to go out there.”
