ANN ARBOR — Nearly 110,000 people on their feet, shaking the Big House with their screams.

Linemen blocking, receivers running, cheerleaders … cheering.

Then, through all the noise, all the clutter of Wisconsin’s frenzied, late, fourth-quarter near-comeback … CRASH.

Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham crunches Badgers’ quarterback Allan Evridge inside the Wolverines’ 10, causing a fumble. The sound of the hit was deafening.

That vicious collision with Evridge was one of Graham’s three sacks last week and went a long way toward the Wolverines’ 27-25 triumph. He also forced another fumble, had six total tackles, and was named the Big Ten’s defensive player of the week.

So he bowled Evridge over with his brute strength and turned the conference’s head with his statistics.

To get to his own coach, new UM boss Rich Rodriguez, well, Graham took a different route.

“I loved his personality,”Rodriguez recalled as his first impression of Graham. “He always has a smile on his face, loves to play the game. He’s been a joy to be around.”

Graham, a junior, is 6-foot-2 and weighs 270 pounds. A Detroit native, Graham said several schools showed interest once UM came calling during recruiting, but only one program really had a chance to land him.

“Michigan was always my childhood dream,” Graham said this week, flashing that grin of his.

Statistically, this is shaping up to be a dream season for him.

Graham’s 9½ tackles-for-loss lead the nation and equal his total from all of last season. His five sacks rank third in the country and put him on pace to easily eclipse the 8½ sacks he registered in 2007.

“He’s a great player and it’s really great to see him have such a great year,” UM linebacker Obi Ezeh said.

But that great season of Graham’s was obviously accelerated by his effort against Wisconsin. And both Graham and Rodriguez described the fourth quarter against the Badgers as a prime situation for Graham to flourish — with the opposition trailing and needing to throw on almost every down.

In cases like that, Graham’s only thought is to reach — and pulverize — the quarterback.

“It’s like I’m thinking before each play, ‘I’ve got to get the sack, get a turnover,’” Graham said. “They really let me go one on one with the tackle, and I feel like if I can get that every time. Nobody can stop me.”

Illinois coach Ron Zook, whose Illini will try to block Graham on Saturday, said: “He’s definitely one of three [UM defenders] where we better know where he’s at all the time.”

But this is a decidedly different challenge for Graham and his defensive teammates. Illinois quarterback Juice Williams is a gifted runner who can bolt at a moment’s notice, especially if a defensive end is closing in on him.

“If you think about him taking off all the time it will hold you back,” Graham said. “I’ll just go out there and play hard. Hopefully he’ll bounce your way and you’ll be able to make the tackle.”

NO HUDDLE: Wide receiver Junior Hemingway (mononucleosis) and running back Carlos Brown (sprained foot) are both out for Saturday’s game against Illinois.

Rodriguez said Hemingway is out for several weeks and Brown will be sidelined at least for this week. … Receiver Greg Mathews is nursing an apparent ankle injury but participated in practice and will likely be UM’s primary punt returner in addition to his duties on offense. Rodriguez said cornerback Donovan Warren, the Wolverines’ other punt returner, has been battling minor injuries as well. … It sounds like Perry Dorrestein (knee) is better and might play left tackle Saturday. If so, Mark Ortmann could play left guard. … Still looking for the right combination on kickoff returns, Rodriguez said Martavious Odoms, Avery Horn, James Rogers and Boubacar Cissoko are candidates to line up deep against the Illini.