Michigan may be on the brink of bowl eligiblity, but Mel Kipers updated NFL Draft Big Board has four Wolverines in the Top 25 and more in the top 10 of their positions. Read more:
There are only two remaining regular season games on the schedule for the Michigan Wolverines , and that leaves a max of three contests left for the maize and blue if they become bowl-eligible. Despite a 5-5 record, many NFL Draft analysts across the country still suspect several NFL prospects to come from this Michigan roster.
In fact, ESPN’s Mel Kiper may be the most notable NFL Draft analyst in the game and has four Wolverines on his Top 25 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 2 Overall: CB Will Johnson
Kiper’s notes:
Johnson is so instinctive in coverage, and his ability to read quarterbacks jumps out when you watch him. He has great quickness in his transition, allowing him to make plays on the ball. Johnson has returned both of his interceptions this season for touchdowns, and you can see those instincts throughout his first pick-six back in Michigan’s opener against Fresno State — when he jumped a screen and took the ball 86 yards to the house. He now has nine career picks.
No. 5 Overall: DT Mason Graham
Kiper’s notes:
I love Graham’s technique. His leverage gives him an advantage at the point of attack, and interior offensive linemen struggle with his power and quickness. Graham has strong and active hands, and he has proven effective against both the run and pass from inside. He had 5.5 sacks in his first two seasons at Michigan, and I’d like to see him step up as a pass rusher to close this season. His two sacks against Minnesota helped his cause.
No. 15 Overall: DT Kenneth Grant
Kiper’s notes:
Grant started only five games before this season, which means 2024 should be huge for his draft stock. Considering his size, he has terrific athletic traits and explosion. His instincts stand out, too — he’s an extremely alert football player. And while he might not rack up sacks (3.5 last season), he is adept at batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, recording five pass breakups in 2023 and three more this year.
No. 24 Overall: TE Colston Loveland
Kiper’s notes:
If you are looking for a tight end who can consistently stretch the deep middle part of the field, Loveland is your guy. He has averaged 8.4 air yards per target over three college seasons. The QB play has been subpar for Michigan, which has limited Loveland. But he is a difficult matchup for defenses, and he is averaging nearly nine targets per game.
Loveland came in as the No. 2 tight end in the class behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren, but the margin is thin. Warren was Kiper’s No. 23 overall player and the two have extremely similar numbers despite Penn State having much better quarterback play than Michigan. The Nittany Lions have played one less game, but Loveland did miss the USC game due to injury. Warren has two more catches, 75 more yards, and the same amount of touchdowns as Loveland.
Graham and Grant are at the top of a defensive tackle prospect list. On the edge, Josaiah Stewart is the No. 6 outside linebacker. Meanwhile, Will Johnson comes in as the No. 1 cornerback with Kiper assuming that Travis Hunter, his No. 1 overall prospect, will be slotted in at receiver. Hunter would be behind Johnson as the No. 2 corner if he plays on the defensive side, or both ways, at the next level. Last but certainly not least is the kicking machine Dominic Zvada who Kiper has as the No. 2 kicker and the No. 4 overall special teamer.
A notable absence is Donovan Edwards. Many across the country considered Edwards to be one of the best backs in college football this season. However, he is one of the few returning starting-caliber players from the national title team last year who has disappointed. Edwards has 577 total yards in 10 games this season, recording only four touchdowns with two fumbles.
The rest of the Big Ten is well represented: Washington’s Jonah Coleman (No. 2), Ohio State Quinshon Judkins (No. 4), Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (No. 5), Oregon’s Jordan James (No. 7), Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton (No. 8), and TreVeyon Henderson (No. 9). That’s six of the top 10 running backs in the country coming from the conference.