WATCH: Michigan DT Mason Graham, RB Kalel Mullings talk preparation for season-opener
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football junior defensive tackle Mason Graham and senior running back Kalel Mullings met with the media Tuesday night ahead of their team’s game against Fresno State. Watch Graham in the player at the top of the screen and Mullings in the embed below.
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Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said this week that Graham was “banged up” during fall camp, but he said he’s planning to play Saturday.
“I feel good,” Graham said. “I was full speed today, so just doing everything I can.”
Graham and his Michigan teammates will take the field under the lights against Fresno State, with kickoff set for 7:34 p.m. ET on NBC.
“It’s just a different atmosphere, obviously,” Graham said of night games. “My personal favorite is 12 o’clock, but it’s good to mix in a few night games, good atmosphere.”
Graham is a unanimous pick for preseason first-team All-America honors, but he’s not focused on that hype.
“Just the same thing I’ve always done,” the Michigan lineman said of how he’s handled it. “I’ve always gotten praise. Everyone on our team gets a lot of praise. Our team gets a lot of praise. Just handling it like we have in the past, and me personally, just being humble and keeping my head down and working as hard as I can every day.
“I mean, it’s all the same. I’m really not looking to prove other people right, just proving this team and myself and all my teammates right.”
Graham and Mullings talked about what they’ve seen from the Bulldogs on offense and defense, respectively.
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“I feel like just their base offense is kinda similar to us,” Graham said. “They do a little bit of everything — downhill runs. They’re a good group. Yeah, we’re ready for it.”
“I’d definitely say they play hard, they run to the ball,” Mullings added. “You definitely see the effort on film, 1,000 percent. They definitely have a lot of older guys that really give their all to the program and are excited to play and step onto that field every day. Definitely expect them as an opponent.”
Mullings is excited for the Michigan running backs to show their complete skill sets Saturday and this season.
“All of the backs in the room are dynamic backs, and all of us are able to carry the rock on the ground and also catch the ball as well,” Mullings said. “Mix that in with the different build of guys in the room, coming from being a defensive player, it’s hard to keep up with different guys that have different skill sets that do different stuff or they do the same thing just a little bit differently. Because of that, I believe, just like those other guys, that we’ll have a lot of success running the ball and in the air, as well.”
