Brandon Graham excited 'to answer every question' at the Senior Bowl
While many top draft prospects are quick to turn down invitations to the Senior Bowl, Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham jumped at the chance to play in the Mobile, Ala., all-star game next month.
Why?
"Because I just want to answer every question that everybody has about me and know that I’m a competitor and that’s what I like to do," Graham said. "Every drill that they want to do, I know it’s going to be all eyes on us so I want to be the one to come out victorious."
Rated the No. 19 overall prospect by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Graham is projected as a late first- or early second-round pick in most mock drafts. He led the NCAA with 26 tackles for loss this season and shared the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football Award as Big Ten MVP.
To lock up a first-round grade, Graham must prove to scouts he can be an every-down defensive end at his size - he's listed at 6-foot-2 and 263 pounds - or be effective in pass coverage as an outside linebacker.
In a week's worth of practices under prying eyes at the Senior Bowl, that's what he expects to do.
"I ain’t going to run away from no challenge and that's another challenge," said Graham, who's already begun preparing for the game in workouts with Michigan strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis. "It's another college game for me. It’ll be nice to end on a game like that."
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
guns4me
Sat, Dec 19, 2009 : 12:23 a.m.
I guess the senior bowl is all M's players have to look forward to for the next 5 years.If u think they will finish above 7th next year, your a fool.
OSUbeBetter
Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 4 p.m.
@ voiceofreason The reaction to that hit was 3X bigger than the hit itself. Decent but dont you have video of BG hitting someone in a game they actually won? I have 2 vids for you to see, they are both better than the BG vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toX-4zs7uBU and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzUhsngrONA
BleedingBlue
Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 1:40 p.m.
You're a little off on your logic there OSU (no surprise) - the Michigan defense faced 838 total plays this year, for an average of 69.8 per game. Ohio State faced 64.5 plays per game.
voiceofreason
Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 7:40 a.m.
OSUbeBetter, Are you upset that Vernon Gholston hasn't lived up to his billing in the NFL? Possibly you never saw this hit? http://mvictors.com/?p=4995
OSUbeBetter
Fri, Dec 18, 2009 : 5:47 a.m.
@ mgoblue2012 ".....at times the guy was truly unstoppable....." And AT TIMES he would lay down and they would run the ball right over him. Brandon is GOOD, Acceptable, Note worthy, Probably even Above Average AT TIMES. He is no doubt the best player on a horrible D. Is that better?
InRichRodWeTrust
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 10:59 p.m.
He was a helluva player. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7mSdcMTulM
mgoblue2012
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 10:36 p.m.
You obviously didn't watch a minute of football this year. Our offense played well this year and if you truly watched Graham play you would have seen at times the guy was truly unstoppable. You are the only person I've ever heard claim BG was not amazing...
Sean T.
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 8:12 p.m.
He's the best weakside Defensive End in the Conference. He's in the Mold of Dwight Freeney!
Igor
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 8:03 p.m.
agreed!
Seann
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 8 p.m.
That may be partly true, but Graham is pretty good. You have to admit. I'm a Spartan and can even admit that.
OSUbeBetter
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 7:25 p.m.
LB's and DE's on teams with crappy offenses always have great stats. Thats because they are always on the field and the opposing teams runs 100 plays a game.