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As Michigan prepares for its second matchup against Alabama in 2024—this time in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31—head coach Sherrone Moore faces questions about which of his NFL-bound stars will suit up for the noon kickoff in Tampa.
"I support those guys who've done a lot for this program in their three years, four years here," Moore said Tuesday in Ann Arbor. "Obviously, I want them to play in the game, but support their decisions and their family decisions."
Here's where Michigan's projected first-round picks stand:
Mason Graham
Mason Graham has already made his decision official, with his agent Ryan Matha confirming to the Free Press that the junior defensive tackle will declare for the draft and skip the bowl game. Graham, dubbed "a generational talent inside" by Moore, finished 2024 with 45 tackles (seven for loss) and 3½ sacks, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Kenneth Grant
Kenneth Grant, another highly-rated defensive tackle, posted 32 tackles (6½ for loss) and three sacks in 2024. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound junior, ranked as the No. 2 overall defensive tackle by Pro Football Focus behind only Graham, dominated Ohio State with five quarterback pressures in Michigan's upset victory.
Will Johnson
Will Johnson's status remains questionable after an injury-plagued season. Despite setting a program record with three career pick-sixes early in the year, the star cornerback missed six games total, dealing with shoulder issues and turf toe. "Will is kind of in the same place where he was from an injury standpoint. Getting better. Definitely getting better. So, we'll see," Moore noted.
Colston Loveland
Tight end Colston Loveland's availability wasn't addressed by Moore on Tuesday. The record-setting junior, who missed the final six quarters of the regular season including the Ohio State game, broke Michigan's single-season record for catches by a tight end (53) while leading the team with 582 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The decisions carry extra weight given this junior class's historic success: a 35-6 record, two Big Ten championships, two College Football Playoff appearances, a Rose Bowl victory, a national title, and an undefeated 3-0 mark against both Michigan State and Ohio State.
While this ReliaQuest Bowl matchup may lack the stakes of January's Rose Bowl thriller—won by Michigan 27-20 in overtime—the presence or absence of these future NFL stars could significantly impact Michigan's chances of defeating Alabama.
More must-reads:
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NFL legend Tom Brady unleashes on current climate in college sports
NFL legend Tom Brady isn't happy with the current climate in college sports. Fueled by money — specifically, revenue-sharing and name, image and likeness deals — along with the transfer portal's explosion and ongoing conference realignment, Brady says a reality check is needed in collegiate athletics. "But because we’re just talking about money, money, money, money … that’s the only value in college? Is that what we’re saying? To me, the priorities are a bit messed up," Brady said in a conversation with Fox Sports' Joel Klatt on the "Big Noon Conversations" podcast. College sports, in particular football and basketball, are a big business, and Brady recognizes that. At the same time, given NIL and other factors, there isn't a ton of loyalty in the college game, as players switch schools all the time. Plus, as Brady notes, these players are missing out on the college experience that he had while playing quarterback for Big Ten Conference powerhouse Michigan from 1995-1999, because they're competing for two or three schools. "I didn’t go to three different colleges," Brady, who won seven Super Bowls in the NFL, continued. "I didn’t leave college when it seemed like I wasn’t gonna play. I wasn’t at college to do anything other than have a great college experience, to go to school, to have camaraderie with my teammates and to compete at a high level. That’s really where the focus was. And at a young age, that’s where I think the focus needs to be." Brady doesn't blame the players. They're teenagers or in their early 20s when suiting up for college teams. He says that players' parents have to protect them. It's even more complicated these days (and tempting) because of the money being offered to top-ranked prospects, and some of these young men also have agents now. "It’s very intriguing to get that quick dollar," Brady said. "Look, we had a $400 scholarship check, and it seemed like I was rich. It really did. I’m sure most kids felt like that. We got pizza cards to go to dinner, and we had a training table, and it was an amazing experience. We didn’t think about the money." Brady says his time at Michigan prepared him for the pro ranks. He was in college for four years but didn't become the Wolverines' starter until his junior season. While Brady was a good college quarterback, he wasn't elite. He was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft and used that as motivation to prove that he belonged in the pros. What then transpired was Brady evolving into the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. He says young players today are too quick to move to a different school if they're not getting enough playing time. "The lessons I learned in college — and certainly about competition — those traits transformed my life as a professional. I was ready to compete against anybody, because the competition in college toughened me up so much that I had a self-belief and self-confidence that whatever I was faced with, I could overcome that," Brady said. Brady isn't saying that money isn't important. But he is saying what many others are thinking. The emphasis on money in college sports is concerning and problematic. "We’re valuing the wrong things," said Brady.
Veteran Center Rejected Knicks Offer
The New York Knicks imagine themselves as a championship contender, and those dreams looked like they may be rapidly approaching reality in last season's run to the Eastern Conference Finals. They've spent much of this offseason patching holes in their roster, requiring significantly more firepower from their bench to scare their opponents with a well-rounded rotation that they lacked in 2024-25. They're not looking to burst at the seams with reserve bucket-getters, but have done plenty to consolidate their backup guards and bigs with a summer of moves that's still continuing. Though their most recent on-court developments have provided the Knicks' hopes with real wind behind their sails, those wishes to bolster the frontcourt aren't new. New York reportedly tried to woo a veteran center in Daniel Theis over to last season's situation, but failed to seal the deal. Theis, now playing for AS Monaco, could have joined the Knicks mid-season last year before opting for a European return, according to BasketNews.com. He spent the first leg of the 2024-25 campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans, the sixth team that the 33-year-old's suited up for in the last five seasons. New York's offer gave Theis yet another chance to fill in as a role-playing big on another contender, but he chose to bet on himself. "I could have gone to the Knicks, for example, but it was more for insurance that Mitchell Robinson came back from a long injury," Theis said on a recent Euro Insiders podcast. "And then I talked to Tom Thibodeau and he said, 'Yeah, you will be like insurance in case he can't play and this and that.' It's like what I did with P.J. Tucker. "For me, it was like, 'Okay, if I sit for the rest of the year, what are my chances in the summer?' So if I’m like, 'Okay, I go overseas to Europe and play great, I might have a better chance.' That was my whole intention and thought behind it — just consider Europe and see what it is." Robinson did indeed manage to remain healthy when it counted, seeing the floor in all 18 Knicks playoff games after playing in just 17 during the regular season. His reliability as a defender and rebounder up front would have negated Theis' presence, as he would have spent all but a few garbage time minutes occupying the same seat on the bench that Tucker took in the postseason. Though he would've likely been constrained to a minimum contract that would've expired at season's end alongside other role playing veterans like Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne and Precious Achiuwa, he'd have been a little more playable than some other deep-cut Knicks as a rim-rolling center, and that's the sort of job that New York's looked to fill in the months since. Theis chose his path, and the Knicks stayed young in building a roster that's expected to blow every other 21st century Knicks team out of the water.
Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season
A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's season is already over. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Rondale Moore is being placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury that he suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans this past weekend. It is a devastating blow for Moore, who is now being sidelined for an entire season, before it even begins, for the second year in a row. Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency with the Vikings this offseason in the hopes he could return from a different injury that cost him the entirety of the 2024 season. Moore was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. This is now two different teams that Moore has been a part of, but will never play a game for them due to injuries. Moore was injured while returning a punt. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards over three seasons before being traded. He was never going to be counted on to be a key contributor for the Vikings offense this season, especially given the superstars they already have at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he still had a chance to be an interesting depth player. Now it is fair to wonder what the rest of his career might even look like. Missing two full seasons due to two different leg injuries is going to be a brutal thing to try to come back from. Missing two seasons for any reason is difficult, but when you add the leg injuries to the equation, it makes the obstacle even steeper.
Rising rookie Commanders overlooked is turning camp into his own showcase
It was clear soon after the 2025 NFL Draft concluded that the Washington Commanders were locked in on Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall. However, one prospect who went a few picks later is already filling people around the league with immense regret. Adam Peters faced a nervous wait for Conerly. The general manager thought his primary offensive tackle target might go a lot higher, and he didn't hesitate to pull the trigger when given the chance. It's been a rocky transition for the Oregon product so far, but nothing to overly concern. Conerly's starting to put it together en route to potentially securing the starting right tackle job. Even if he achieves this objective, there will be some growing pains based on what fans have seen from the first-year pro so far. Josh Simmons is already making Commanders (and everyone else) pay for overlooking him Things are going a lot better for Josh Simmons, who was taken No. 32 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was widely considered among the most prolific tackles in this class, but a serious knee injury suffered during his final season at Ohio State saw his stock take a major hit. Simmons immediately silenced his doubters. He's shown no ill effects from the complication this summer. He's instantly locked down the starting blindside role in Kansas City, and his performance in their preseason opener only raises optimism further about what he could be capable of long-term. This didn't go unnoticed by Andy Reid. The Chiefs' head coach was suitably impressed by Simmons' contribution, crediting his exceptional work ethic and ability to take on coaching without fuss as reasons behind his early surge. I wasn't screaming at him, so I figured he did okay. He looked like he had a solid day, especially for his first game; he's been working his tail off. That kid never complains about anything; he just goes.Andy Reid via USA Today If Simmons continues with the rapid ascent, he could become Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector for the rest of his career. There were legitimate reasons for other teams, including the Commanders, to look at alternatives. However, they were not based on his athletic ability and consistency on the biggest stages. The Commanders had conviction in Conerly. Hopefully, he'll end up having a profitable career in Washington. But if he and other draft picks don't meet expectations, Peters won't be the only one kicking himself about passing up the chance to take Simmons. Time will tell. But make no mistake, there's a long way to go and a lot of football to play before those judgments can be made. More Commanders news and analysis
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