Ta'Quon

Graham

Head coach Arthur Smith didn’t offer anything specific on Graham’s injury other than noting that he will be out for a few weeks. Now on injured reserve, Graham is required to miss at least the next four games, and won’t be eligible to return until Week 17 against the Cardinals. Graham has been a key contributor to the Falcons’ run defense this season, tallying 34 tackles and one TFL.

Graham is technically “questionable,” but he had to be carted off the field in the second quarter. He will not be returning, and it’s a big loss for the Falcons against the run-heavy Bears. Second-year fifth-rounder Graham has been one of Atlanta’s most important run stuffers this season.

A physical specimen, Graham (6’3/292) has extremely little unnecessary fat on his rocked up frame. He originally came to UT as an edge rusher but added functional weight and kicked inside as a three-tech, where he excelled as a run defender, posting PFF run grades of 87.1 in 2019 and 84.1 in 2020. Graham is a bit of a ‘tweener who could conceivably lineup outside the tackles if needed. He had an incredible Pro Day workout, posting 90th percentile times in the forty (4.89) and 3-cone (7.31) while tossing up 32 bench reps and a 9.68 RAS. Graham’s pass rush moves are limited to face up bullrushes with little advanced plan or nuance, which led to inferior production relative to his physical gifts and freaky length. He’s not as quick as you would expect from a player with his athletic package, and he lags when diagnosing plays. He comps out similarly to Charles Omenihu.

Graham (6'3/295) has seen playing time in 26 games in his two years and has made two starts, but this appears to be the year that the junior defensive end can make a true impact. “With some experience as a reserve under his belt, and Texas losing all three starters on the defensive line from 2018 including Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Charles Omenihu, Graham has a real opportunity to make some noise this spring,” Daescher writes. “Give him time and Graham could be on track to becoming a similar player to what Omenihu turned into as a senior in 2018.”

It appears to be his knee. The sophomore defensive lineman went down in the second quarter, and had to be helped off the field with trainers. Until we hear otherwise, he should be considered questionable to return.

“Texas has always been that childhood school. I grew up watching Texas. Everything around here is all Texas,” Graham said. “I felt comfortable there. I’ve liked them for a long time. It felt right.” The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder was initially shooting for a commitment to his program of choice back in May, but decided to use the summer to think over his decision. Rivals ranks Graham as the No. 25 weakside defensive end prospect for the 2017 cycle.