In Indianapolis, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, who honed their skills through a competitive camaraderie as Michigan defensive tackles, have evolved into formidable contenders for the NFL draft. Having propelled each other to All-American status and top draft prospects, their rivalry has been set aside as they pursue their professional dreams amidst 329 other hopefuls at the annual scouting combine.
“We always talk smack and challenge each other,” Grant shared on Wednesday, the kickoff day for player interactions with the media during this significant offseason event. “But we have different games. I tried to learn from him, he tried learning from me, so it’s a friendly competitiveness.” The duo, key to Michigan’s 2023 national championship victory, is eyeing not just high draft positions but also the possibility of being part of history as the first Michigan draft class to produce four first-round picks.
Among the notable attendees in Indianapolis are friendly rivals such as Ohio State defensive ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, who have taken their camaraderie to California for pre-draft preparation. Embracing the national champions’ camaraderie, they continue sharing rooms, as they did back in college. Another pair, formerly of Purdue, includes Texas A&M defensive end Nic Scourton, offering city guidance to fellow Aggie Shemar Stewart. Notre Dame’s defensive tackles Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills further add to this intriguing blend of college teammates.
Sawyer reminisces, “We got told our roommates here could be random. I checked in first. The bags didn’t have names on ’em, so I had no idea who it was. Here comes JT walking down the hallway, so we started laughing. It’s good to be rooming with him again. It’s been fun.” Yet for these collegiate athletes, the focus is clear: business first.
In recent nights, defensive linemen and linebackers engaged in team interviews to gear up for Thursday’s on-field workouts. While fans eagerly anticipate stellar performances from standouts like Abdul Carter, the top-rated edge rusher from Penn State, and Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, peers will challenge each other for better draft positions. Scourton and Stewart, for instance, are often viewed as top contenders right after Carter. Their synchronized efforts on the field reflect a symbiotic rivalry that benefits both.
“He brought the competitive energy every day and I wanted to go out there every day at practice. That’s kind of how our dynamic was,” Scourton explained. “It’s amazing to be here with him. It’s a great experience to come out here with my guys and be able to live out our dreams.”
Cross and Mills, hailing from Notre Dame, share a different journey post their time as national runners-up. Cross, whose father played tight end for the New York Giants, was grappling with setbacks, missing weeks due to an ankle sprain before surprising scouts with a return in the playoffs, only for Mills to suffer a season-long injury. Now, Mills banks on past game tapes to vouch for his capabilities.
“My leg is strong, I’m walking around, I’m just lucky to be in this position,” Mills expressed. “The good part is I can kind of go back and show them the player I was. Look, I know I’m rehabbing right now, but if you just look at the level of play you’re going to get, it’s going to be fresh legs.”
Both Cross and other teammates urge support for Mills, echoing the same competitive spirit and shared support that has been a driving force in their rise toward professional careers. “Every day in practice, we were just trying to one-up each other, who can do the best stuff, who has more passion. It was a friendly competition,” said Graham, nodding to his enduring spirit of healthy rivalry with Grant. “Honestly, we like competing against each other because we feel like we’re two of the best.”
