Michigan's Mason Graham one of 23 former Southern California stars playing in college football playoff championship game
The College Football Playoff final - better known as the national championship - kicked off Monday at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on ESPN.
The 2024 championship game was a battle of unbeatens as No. 1 Michigan (14-0) faced No. 2 Washington (14-0) at NRG Stadium in Houston. Michigan pulled away for a 34-13 victory to win the national championship and finish 15-0.
There were 23 Southern California high school football products between the two rosters, headlined by one of Michigan's top defensive players in sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham.
Graham helped lead Servite to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final in the fall of 2021 before graduating early to attend spring camp in Ann Arbor in 2022. Since he stepped foot on campus, Graham has been a key part of the Wolverines' defense.
"I'm not surprised at the impact he's making, but I was a little surprised at how quickly he started playing once he got there (as a freshman)," former Servite coach Troy Thomas said. "It's a credit to him."
Servite coach Troy Thomas.
Heston Quan/SBLive
Graham played in all 14 games as a true freshman, tallied 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Thomas added: "He was 6-feet, maybe 210 pounds as a (high school) freshman. He just kept working in the weightroom. He also wrestled, which I think helped him become tougher and stronger."
Graham is now a 6-foot-3, 320-pound disruptor up front. He's got 32 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 12 games this season. Graham made big plays down the stretch of Michigan's last victory over Alabama to win the Rose Bowl.
Thomas looks forward to Saturdays when he can watch his former players play on TV. Three of which start and play for Arizona: WR Tetairoa McMillan, QB Noah Fifita and LB Jacob Manu.
"I love watching my guys," Thomas said.
Thomas will be watching Monday, that's for certain.
Michigan sophomore defensive lineman Mason Graham celebrates after winning the Rose Bowl. Graham was a standout at Servite High in Southern California.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports
Washington has key contributors from SoCal, too.
Asa Turner (Carlsbad), Kamren Fabiculanan (Westlake), Elijah Jackson (Lawndale) and Thaddeus Dixon (La Mirada) make up a strong core of the Huskies' secondary unit.
Fabiculanan has two interceptions this season.
Below is a list of football players on each roster that graduated from SoCal high schools.
(The players are listed by jersey number)
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
#9 - Thaddeus Dixon, La Mirada, CB
#10 - Ralen Goforth, St. John Bosco, LB
#13 - Kamren Fabiculanan, Westlake, DB
#17 - Deven Bryant, St. John Bosco, LB
#19 - Darren Barkins, Chula Vista Mater Dei, CB
#20 - Asa Turner, Carlsbad, DB
#21 - Dyson McCutcheon, Bishop Amat, DB
#22 - Cameron Davis, Upland, RB
#24 - Makell Esteen, Lawndale, DB
#25 - Elijah Jackson, Lawndale, CB
#33 - Jordan Whitney, Oxnard Pacifica, LB
#49 - Alex Froelich, Pasadena Poly, LS
#74 - Kahlee Tafai, Leuzinger, OL
#76 - Elishah Jackett, El Modena, OL
#86 - Josh Cuevas, Campbell Hall, TE
#89 - Keith Reynolds, Adelanto, WR
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
#4 - Jayden Denegal, Apple Valley, QB
#16 - Davis Warren, Loyola, QB
#55 - Mason Graham, Servite, DL
#79 - Jefferey Persi, JSerra, OL
#83 - Zack Marshall, Carlsbad, TE
#85 - Cristian Dixon, Mater Dei, WR
#91 - Cameron Brandt, Sierra Canyon, DL
(Feature photo by: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)
