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Mason Graham

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Mason Graham
refer to caption
Graham with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024
No. 94 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (2003-09-02) September 2, 2003 (age 21)
Mission Viejo, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:296 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:Servite (Anaheim, California)
College:Michigan (2022–2024)
NFL draft:2025: 1st round, 5th pick
Career history
Roster status:Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Mason Graham (born September 2, 2003) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was a two-time All-American playing college football for the Michigan Wolverines, including unanimous All-American honors in 2024. In 2023, he won a national championship and was the Rose Bowl defensive MVP. Graham was selected by the Browns with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Early life

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Graham was born in Mission Viejo, California on September 2, 2003, the son of Allen and Kimberly Graham.[1][2] He attended Servite High School in Anaheim, California and was a two-way starter for his football team, playing on the defensive line and as a tackle on the offensive line.[2] He was also a star wrestler at Servite.[3][4]

In December 2021, he was selected by the Los Angeles Times as the High School Football Player of the Year and named an All-American by MaxPreps. As a senior, he recorded 60 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss and 14 sacks on the season.[5] Graham was rated as a four-star recruit, and ranked as the No. 162 overall player in the country.[6]

After watching Michigan play Washington in Ann Arbor on September 16, 2021, Graham committed to the University of Michigan.[7][8]

College career

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Freshman season (2022)

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Graham enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2022, and saw extensive playing time as a true freshman.[9][10] Graham appeared in all 14 games, totaling 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks. His first career sack came in his first career game, versus Colorado State on September 3, 2022. After the season, he was named to the True Freshman All-America team by Pro Football Focus.[11]

Sophomore season (2023)

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Graham (No. 55) in the 30–24 victory over Ohio State in 2023

In 2023, Graham was named as a second-team All-American by The Sporting News, and a first-team All-Big Ten selection.[12] He appeared in 13 games for the Wolverines, totaling 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.[13] Graham was named the Defensive Player of the Game in the 2024 Rose Bowl, following a four-tackle performance in the victory against Alabama.[14] The following week, Michigan won the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship in a 34–13 victory over the Washington Huskies.[15]

Junior season (2024)

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Entering his junior season, Mason Graham was ranked as the best interior defensive lineman in college football by the media.[16][17][18] He was widely considered to be an early first round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.[19][20][21] In week four against the USC Trojans, Graham recorded six tackles and his first sack of the season.[22] In week five against Minnesota, he followed up his performance with four tackles and a career high two sacks.[23] In week six versus Washington, Graham blocked a field goal, had two tackles and his third straight game with a sack.[24] Graham finished the season with 45 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.[25]

In November 2024, Graham was named as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player in college football, and the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman (offensive or defensive). He was the fifth player in Michigan football history to be a finalist for the Nagurski and the sixth for the Outland.[26][27] Graham also received unanimous All-American honors, named to the first-team by each of the five officially recognized NCAA selectors.[a] He was the 29th unanimous selection all-time for Michigan Wolverines, and the 27th individual player.[b][28]

On December 10, Graham declared for the 2025 NFL draft, forgoing the ReliaQuest Bowl and his senior year.[29] Graham finished his three year career at the University of Michigan with a 35-6 team record, two Big Ten championships, All-American honors twice, a Rose Bowl MVP, was a national champion, and finished 3-0 against both rivals, Michigan State and Ohio State. He appeared in 39 games, starting 27 times and recording 108 career tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and nine sacks.[30]

College statistics

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Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck FF FR Yds TD Int Yds TD PD
2022 Michigan 14 2 27 14 13 2.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2023 Michigan 13 13 36 23 13 3.0 1 1 12 0 0 0 0 1
2024 Michigan 12 12 45 23 22 3.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Career 39 27 108 60 48 9.0 1 1 12 0 0 0 0 3

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m) 		296 lb
(134 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[31][32]

Graham was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.[33] The Browns traded down three spots with the Jacksonville Jaguars before selecting him.[34] Graham was the first defensive tackle taken in the draft (second defensive lineman).

Notes

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  1. ^ The American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation
  2. ^ The Michigan Wolverines have had two players who were recognized as unanimous All-Americans twice

References

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  1. ^ McMann, Aaron (December 10, 2024). "Michigan DT Mason Graham hires agent, declares for NFL draft". mlive. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Mason Graham". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Jared Greenspan (October 14, 2022). "How Mason Graham's wrestling background set the stage for Michigan breakout". The Michigan Daily.
  4. ^ Biggins, Greg (January 9, 2024). "From late bloomer to star, it's been quite a journey for Michigan DL Mason Graham". 247Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (December 19, 2021). "L.A. Times high school football player of the year: Mason Graham". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "Mason Graham Recruiting Profile". Rivals.
  7. ^ Brown, Brandon (September 16, 2021). "Defensive Tackle Mason Graham Has Committed To Michigan". SI.com. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Eric Sondheimer (October 20, 2022). "Servite's Mason Graham will be a Michigan man after local recruiters passed on him". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Spencer Raines (September 16, 2022). "Mason Graham isn't just another freshman". The Michigan Daily.
  10. ^ John Niyo (December 26, 2022). "Freshman Mason Graham wasted little time becoming big piece of Michigan defense". The Detroit News.
  11. ^ Treash, Anthony (November 29, 2022). "2022 PFF College All-True Freshman Team: Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins, Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison and more". PFF. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Three Michigan Football Players Named Sporting News All-Americans". Wolverines Digest - Sports Illustrated.
  13. ^ "Mason Graham College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Soto, Andrés (January 2, 2024). "'We've got one more to go.' Rose Bowl MVPs J.J. McCarthy, Mason Graham crave a title". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  15. ^ "Michigan does it at last, powering through Washington for first national title since 1997". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Chadwick, Max (March 11, 2024). "College Football: Top 10 returning interior defensive linemen for the 2024 season". PFF. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  17. ^ "Ranking the Top 30 College Football Interior Defensive Linemen for 2024". Sports Grid.
  18. ^ "Top 5 for 2024: Interior Defensive Lineman Edition". Mike Farrell Sports.
  19. ^ Brockermeyer, Blake (April 15, 2024). "Why Michigan's Mason Graham is college football's top 2025 NFL Draft-eligible DT". 247Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  20. ^ Fornelli, Tom (January 22, 2024). "Early look at the top 20 NFL draft-eligible college football players taking the field in 2024 season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  21. ^ Hole, Isaiah (April 29, 2024). "PFF predicts 4 Michigan football players to go in first round in 2025 NFL draft". Wolverines Wire. USA Today. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  22. ^ "Michigan v. USC (2024)". ESPN.
  23. ^ "Michigan v. Minnesota (2024)". ESPN.
  24. ^ "Michigan v. Washington (2024)". ESPN.
  25. ^ "Mason Graham". Sports Reference (CFB).
  26. ^ "Nagurski Trophy Tabs Graham as Finalist". University of Michigan Athletics.
  27. ^ "Graham Recognized as Finalist for Outland Trophy". University of Michigan Athletics.
  28. ^ "Graham Earns NCAA Unanimous Consensus All-America Honors". University of Michigan Athletics.
  29. ^ "Michigan DT Mason Graham, potential top-5 pick, enters NFL draft". ESPN.com. December 10, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  30. ^ Garcia, Tony (December 10, 2024). "Michigan DT Mason Graham outs out of bowl game, prepare for NFL draft". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  31. ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Mason Graham Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  32. ^ "Mason Graham College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  33. ^ "Browns select Mason Graham with No. 5 pick in 2025 draft". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  34. ^ Simmons, Myles (April 25, 2025). "Browns select DT Mason Graham at No. 5 after trade down". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
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