Kenneth Grant (American football)

Last updated

Kenneth Grant
MBN S24G01 FRESNOST-6.jpg
Grant with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024
Michigan Wolverines–No. 78
Position Defensive tackle
ClassJunior
Personal information
Born: (2003-10-27) October 27, 2003 (age 21)
Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight339 lb (154 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl
High school Merrillville (Merrillville, IN)
Career highlights and awards

Kenneth Grant (born October 27, 2003) is an American football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, earning All-American honors in 2024 and won a national championship in 2023.

Contents

Early life

Grant was born on October 27, 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. [1]

As a senior, he totaled 38 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and blocked eight kicks (four field goal attempts, two punts and two extra-point attempts), leading Merrillville to an undefeated regular season and a 12-1 overall record. [1] Grant was rated as a four-star recruit, the No. 3 ranked player in the state of Indiana, and the No. 102 overall ranked high school player in the country in 2022. [2]

College career

Grant celebrating with Michigan against UNLV in 2023 Kenneth Grant (53176751652) (cropped).jpg
Grant celebrating with Michigan against UNLV in 2023

Freshman season (2022)

Grant committed to the University of Michigan in September 2021, and enrolled in July 2022. [3] [4] In the 2022 season, 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 his freshman season with eight tackles.

Sophomore season (2023)

Entering the 2023 season, Grant lost 20 pounds, dropping from 359 pounds to 339 pounds. [5] On September 9, in the second game of the season against UNLV, Grant tallied four tackles, two and a half tackles for a loss, a pass breakup and his first career sacks (1.5). [7] On September 30, Grant had his first career interception versus Nebraska. [8] On November 11, 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. Head coach Jim Harbaugh called it "maybe one of the best plays ever." [9] [10] [11]

At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Grant helped the Wolverines win a national championship; Michigan’s first since 1997. [12] He was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection, playing in all 15 games and recording 29 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three and a half sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups. [13]

Junior season (2024)

Entering his junior season, Grant was ranked as one of the top interior defensive linemen in college football by members of the media. [14] [15] He was widely considered to be a first round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. [16] [17] [18] In week four against the USC Trojans, Grant recorded two tackles, recovered a fumble and had his first sack of the season. [19] In week five against Minnesota, he had two tackles, a batted ball and a sack. [20] In week nine versus Michigan State, Grant had two tackles, including one for a loss and a fumble recovery as Michigan defeated the Spartans 24-17. [21] In week eleven against Indiana, he recorded his 12th career pass breakup. In doing so, Grant moved ahead of Ryan Van Bergen for the most pass breakups all-time for a defensive lineman in Michigan football history. [22]

Following the season, Grant was again given second-team All-Big Ten honors, and was selected as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. [23] Grant started all twelve regular season games as a junior, ranking second on the team with five pass breakups, recording 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. [24]

On December 26, Grant declared for the 2025 NFL draft, foregoing the ReliaQuest Bowl and his senior year. [25] He finished his three year career at the University of Michigan with a 35-6 team record, two Big Ten championships, two All-Big Ten selections, All-American honors, was a national champion, and finished 3-0 against both rivals, Michigan State and Ohio State. Grant appeared in every game he was a member of the Michigan Wolverines, starting 17 games and totaling 69 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception. [26]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kenneth Grant". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ "2022 Top Football Indiana Recruits". On3.
  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. ↑ "Michigan defensive line produces more than just highlight reel interception against Nebraska". The Michigan Daily.
  9. ↑ Trent Knoop (November 13, 2023). "Jim Harbaugh Witnessed 'Maybe One Of The Best Plays Ever' By A Michigan D-Lineman". SI.com.
  10. ↑ Angelique S. Chengelis (November 14, 2023). "Michigan teammates still talking about Kenneth Grant's chase-down tackle". The Detroit News.
  11. ↑ Charlie Pappalardo (November 14, 2023). "Kenneth Grant bolstering defensive line with speed and size". The Michigan Daily.
  12. ↑ "Michigan does it at last, powering through Washington for first national title since 1997". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Kenneth Grant". Sports Reference-CFB.
  14. ↑ "College Football: Top 10 Returning Interior Defensive Linemen for the 2024 Season". Pro Football Focus.
  15. ↑ "2025 NFL draft: Preseason defensive player rankings". USA Today.
  16. ↑ "Early look at the top 20 NFL draft-eligible college football players taking the field in 2024 season". CBS Sports.
  17. ↑ "PFF predicts 4 Michigan football players to go in first round in 2025 NFL draft". USA Today - Wolverines Wire.
  18. ↑ "With Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant at the center, Michigan's defensive line primed for more in 2024". The Michigan Daily.
  19. ↑ "Michigan v. USC (2024)". ESPN.
  20. ↑ "Michigan v. Minnesota (2024)". ESPN.
  21. ↑ "Michigan v. Michigan State (2024)". ESPN.
  22. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #8 Indiana 20, Michigan 15". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  23. ↑ "AP All-America team: Travis Hunter, Xavier Watts back on first team; Ashton Jeanty is unanimous pick". Associated Press.
  24. ↑ "Michigan star defensive lineman Kenneth Grant entering NFL draft". ESPN.
  25. ↑ "Kenneth Grant, Michigan defensive tackle, declares for NFL Draft". The Detroit News.
  26. ↑ "BREAKING: Michigan DT Kenneth Grant makes NFL Draft decision". Sports Illustrated.
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