Michigan football defensive line: 'Banged up' Mason Graham, Rayshaun Benny at less than 100 percent, breakout candidates
Michigan Wolverines football junior defensive tackle Mason Graham has been a unanimous pick for preseason All-America honors, but he may not start the 2024 season at 100-percent health. Speaking on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show Monday evening, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale revealed that Graham was hurt during fall camp in preparation for the Aug. 31 opener against Fresno State.
“Mason’s been banged up in training camp,” Martindale said.
A first-team All-Big Ten selection, Graham recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks last season.
Graham, an Anaheim (Calif.) Servite product, played through pain last season. He underwent hand surgery that forced him to miss two games but played at a dominant level upon his return, even with a club on his hand.
Graham’s fellow defensive tackle starter, Kenneth Grant, meanwhile, has been impressive in recent practices, ramping up his conditioning.
“Grant, really, these past 10 days, you can really see him coming into football shape, because I tell him all the time, the only way you get in football shape is you play football,” Martindale said of the 6-foot-3, 339-pound junior. “You can do all the things we have downstairs [with the strength and conditioning staff] — and they do a tremendous job downstairs — and you can pass the conditioning test … you gotta put pads on and play football. That’s when you get into football shape. He’s really jumped out.”
Michigan senior defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, meanwhile, is set to make his return after suffering a foot injury in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl. Since returning to the practice field, he’s had some ups and downs physically.
“It’s been a fight for him,” Martindale said. “It’s been tough for him, and I think it’s still something that he’s working on as we go. The more confidence that he gets with the injury, the better he’ll play.
“But he’s still knocking off some rust. He’ll have a couple good days and then get sore and does some things like that and we’ll have to back him down a little bit and then push him, get him going full strength. Is he 100 percent right now? I don’t think so. But he’s good enough to play, don’t get me wrong.”
Benny — a 6-foot-4, 296-pound Detroit native — registered 27 tackles with 5.5 for loss and a sack last season.
Martindale appears confident in the depth Michigan has accumulated on the defensive line, naming sophomores Enow Etta and Trey Pierce and senior Ike Iwunnah as breakout candidates.
“I think Enow is gonna surprise some people,” the Michigan coach said. “I think Ike is gonna surprise some people. Trey Pierce, he’s been banged up on and off during training camp. Once we get him going, I think he’s gonna surprise some people. It’s gonna be fun to watch. That’s the exciting thing about coaching is seeing some of these younger guys starting to step up and get ready to play.”
At EDGE, senior TJ Guy, who’s notched 2 career sacks, has stepped up. He’s expected to be the primary backup behind senior Josaiah Stewart and junior Derrick Moore.
“With those two guys up front [Grant and Graham], for run and pass, you can still do a lot of big things coverage-wise and you can stay four-man because of those two guys in the middle,” Martindale said. “And those two guys on the edge have had really good camps, and throw TJ Guy in there with D-Mo and Stew.”
