Kenneth Grant (American football)

Last updated

Kenneth Grant
Kenneth Grant (53176751652) (cropped).jpg
Grant with Michigan in 2023
Michigan Wolverines–No. 78
Position Defensive tackle
ClassJunior
Personal information
Born: (2003-10-27) October 27, 2003 (age 20)
Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight339 lb (154 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High school Merrillville (IN)
Career highlights and awards

Kenneth Grant (born October 27, 2003) is an American football defensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines. In 2023, a sophomore, Grant was named All-Big Ten helping lead Michigan to a national championship.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Grant was born in 2003 in Merrillville, Indiana, the son of Kenneth Grant Sr. and Ewana Chatman. He attended Merrillville High School, where he played football as an offensive and defensive lineman. He also competed in the shot put for the track and field team.

As a senior, he totaled 38 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and blocked 8 kicks (four field goal attempts, two punts, and two extra point attempts), helping lead Merrillville to an undefeated regular season and a 12-1 overall record. [1] Grant was rated as a four star recruit, the #3 ranked player in Indiana, and the #102 overall ranked high school player in the country in 2022. [2]

College career

Grant committed to the University of Michigan in September 2021, and enrolled in July 2022. [3] [4]

Freshman season

In 2022, Grant appeared in all 14 games on special teams and defensive line. [1] Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh called Grant "a gift from the football gods." [5] In August 2022, he was included on Bruce Feldman's annual list of college football "freaks". [6] He finished the season with 8 tackles.

Sophomore season

Entering the 2023 season, Grant lost 20 pounds, dropping from 359 pounds to 339 pounds. [5] He won Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the season opener against East Carolina. [1] In the second game of the season, he tallied 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a batted ball and his first career sacks (1.5) against UNLV on September 9, 2023. [7]

On November 11, 2023, Grant chased down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen from behind to make a tackle and prevent a touchdown. The video of the 339-pound Grant chasing and tackling Allen went viral. Coach Jim Harbaugh called it "maybe one of the best plays ever." [8] [9] [10]

Grant helped Michigan win a national championship at the conclusion of the 2023 season. He was named Second-team All-Big Ten for his contribution. Playing in all 15 games, Grant recorded 29 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles. Even including an astonishing 5 passes defended. [11] Grant’s interception was the first of his career on September 30, 2023, versus Nebraska.

Junior season

Entering his junior season, Pro Football Focus listed Grant as the #6 ranked interior defensive lineman in college football prior to the 2024 season. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kenneth Grant". University of Michigan. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/player/football/2022/?state=in
  3. ↑ Allen Trieu (September 28, 2021). "Here's why Kenneth Grant, 4-star defensive tackle, picked Michigan". The Detroit News.
  4. ↑ "Kenneth Grant". 247Sports. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Chris Peterson (August 21, 2023). "Kenneth Grant is about to dominate for Michigan football in 2023". GBM Wolverines.
  6. ↑ "Jesse Minter says Michigan football DT freshman Kenneth Grant is 'Mazi's junior'". USA Today. August 11, 2022.
  7. ↑ Tony Garcia (September 11, 2023). "Michigan football's running game still shaping up ahead of Bowling Green matchup". Detroit Free Press.
  8. ↑ Trent Knoop (November 13, 2023). "Jim Harbaugh Witnessed 'Maybe One Of The Best Plays Ever' By A Michigan D-Lineman". SI.com.
  9. ↑ Angelique S. Chengelis (November 14, 2023). "Michigan teammates still talking about Kenneth Grant's chase-down tackle". The Detroit News.
  10. ↑ Charlie Pappalardo (November 14, 2023). "Kenneth Grant bolstering defensive line with speed and size". The Michigan Daily.
  11. ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kenneth-grant-2.html
  12. ↑ https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-top-10-returning-interior-defensive-linemen-for-the-2024-season
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