Four Michigan Wolverines named to Bruce Feldman’s 2024 ‘Freaks List’

Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Alex Orji, Will Johnson and Marlin Klein all made Bruce Feldman’s famous top-100 Freaks List ahead of the 2024 season.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman released his annual “Freaks List ” ahead of the 2024 college football season. Unsurprisingly, a handful of Michigan Wolverines made the top-100.

Represented by four juniors, Michigan was led by defensive tackle Kenneth Grant at No. 3, followed by quarterback Alex Orji at No. 13, cornerback Will Johnson at No. 28, and tight end Marlin Klein at No. 90.

Grant’s high placement on this list comes as no surprise to anyone with the power of sight. Look no further than last year when near 340-pound Grant chased down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen from behind.

Somehow, No. 13 feels too low for Orjii. A freak in every sense of the word, Orji is currently embroiled in a hot positional battle to be Michigan’s starter. Perhaps if he can round out the little things required of a starting quarterback, he may top this list next year.

Johnson — a consensus projected 2025 first-round NFL Draft pick — is no surprise either. With elite speed, an all-around game and wide receiver ball skills, Johnson plays corner with an understanding and ease that is rare for rising juniors.

After a big gap, the last Wolverines are not Michigan’s Mason Graham, Jaishawn Barham, Donovan Edwards, or even tight Colston Loveland. Rounding out Michigan on this list is tight end Marlin Klein.

For those unfamiliar with Klein, fear not, and shout out to you for having a life. But for us sickos still breaking down spring game tape, we know Klein is a star on the rise. Unlike previous German transfer experiments, Klein has everything a team could want in a tight end and is one of the favorites to be a breakout star this season.

Here’s what Feldman had to say about the Wolverines

No. 3: DT Kenneth Grant

“The Wolverines have produced more freak defensive linemen in the last half-dozen years than anyone, from Rashan Gary (first-rounder), Kwity Paye (first-rounder), Aidan Hutchinson (first-rounder) and Mazi Smith (first-rounder) to Kris Jenkins (second-rounder). The 6-3, 350-pound Grant is the biggest of all of them. As a sophomore, he helped anchor the nation’s No. 1 defense for the national champion Wolverines, making 29 tackles, 5.0 for loss, with 3.5 sacks; six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery. When Grant arrived in Ann Arbor as a three-star recruit from Indiana, Jim Harbaugh raved about the then-360-pounder running a sub-5.0 40. Anyone doubting Grant’s speed (a max of 18.75 mph on the GPS) only needed to see him run down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen in the open field last year. His ability to fly up Michigan’s reactive plyo stairs test, a series of seven 26-inch-high stairs that players attempt to jump up as fast as possible, is truly freakish. This offseason, Grant pressed a 115-pound dumbbell 34 times on his right and 27 times on his left. He vertical-jumped 29 inches and did a Turkish get-up with a 150-pound dumbbell.

“Watching KG move is like a work of art,” said Justin Truss, Michigan’s director of strength and conditioning. “He plays and trains violent and explosive.”

Grant isn’t the only freak this year on the Wolverines’ defensive line. Junior Mason Graham, a disruptive force at 6-3 and 315 pounds who was first-team all-conference in 2023, clocked a 4.69 in the 20-yard shuttle and could do the Turkish get-up with a 150-pound dumbbell.”

No. 13: QB Alex Orji

“The 6-3, 238-pound Texan got some action for the national champion Wolverines as an occasional change-of-pace option for their ground attack, carrying the ball 15 times for 86 yards with one touchdown. This offseason, Orji ranked No. 1 on the Wolverines’ KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). His time of 2.46-seconds on Michigan’s reactive plyo stairs test was No. 1 of all Michigan’s Big Skill group (TE, LB, QB, RB, edge).

Orji, ranked No. 50 on last year’s list, has elite numbers across the board. This summer, he vertical-jumped 41 inches, broad-jumped 10-7, clocked a 6.62 3-cone drill time and ran 4.06 seconds in the pro agility shuttle. But the most impressive thing about Orji is what Michigan strength coach Justin Tress describes as the big quarterback’s elite balance and mobility reflected in his ability to do pistol squats on an unstable surface using wobbly “SlackBlocks” while showing the precision and focus required to pick up a popcorn kernel off of the ground.

Watch the video, where Orji completed three reps on his right side. Then, watch how everyone else is doing it, in what Tress described as “the traditional way to use the SlackBlock in our program.” (That’s Colston Loveland, Michigan’s freakish tight end, next to Orji.)

The Michigan strength staff came up with the popcorn kernel exercise three summers ago to keep players engaged and to challenge their balance, stability and control.

“Alex just took it to the next level,” Tress said. “Then guys would try to do it but none of ’em could. They’d get down to the bottom and their block would kick out. They all have the strength to do it, but it’s more about stability. He just makes it look effortless.”

No. 28: CB Will Johnson

“The defensive MVP of the 2023 national championship game, the 6-2, 202-pound Johnson had 27 tackles last season along with four interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, to go with eight pass breakups. Johnson had the fastest time this offseason on the team on Michigan’s reactive plyo stairs test at 2.27 seconds. He did the 3-cone drill in 6.57 seconds, displaying his ability to change directions and bend.

The best time during the past two years for corners at the last two NFL combines was 6.62, and the average time for corners at the 2024 combine was 6.88. Johnson’s 20-yard shuttle time was 4.05 seconds, which would’ve been third during the past two years in Indianapolis. (Former Michigan teammate Mike Sainristil did it in 4.01 seconds.) Johnson’s broad jump was 10-8 1/2.

“The grit that he trains with is unbelievable,” said Justin Truss, Michigan’s director of strength and conditioning. “Most DBs, they get the stigma; you have to convince them into doing stuff. Will is putting his nose into the fire and training with tight ends.”

No. 90: TE Marlin Klein

“The aforementioned Colston Loveland is the Wolverines freakish tight end most fans know about, but I hear they’ll probably get familiar with Klein very soon. Since arriving in Ann Arbor, Klein, who began his football career with the Cologne Crocodiles in his native Germany, has turned a lot of heads. Loveland emerged as a matchup nightmare last year thanks to his rangy frame and speed that tops out at 21.25 mph. Klein, now 6-6 and 250, hit 21.75 mph this summer. He broad-jumped 9-7.”