Kenneth Grant

Kenneth Grant, Michigan, DT, 6'3½", 331 lbs, Junior

Draft Profile

Frankly: (To Be Added)

Overview

Kenneth Grant is poised to dominate in the NFL, particularly in systems that utilize multiple defensive fronts. His film reveals a player who is already adept at winning one-on-one battles and possesses the raw physical tools to develop into a true three-down force. Grant’s leverage advantage and powerful base allow him to consistently reset the line of scrimmage, as showcased in standout performances against Ohio State’s interior line. His athleticism extends beyond his physical stature, with pursuit angles and closing speed that are not just testing metrics but integral parts of his game. Grant’s development path in the NFL should focus on utilizing his gap-shooting ability on early downs while refining his pass-rush technique. The flashes of potential are undeniable—his club-rip move against Penn State demonstrated NFL-caliber skill, while his swim move is already refined enough to pose a threat to guards. Grant’s ability to maintain gap control and stack-and-shed blockers offers immediate value as a run stopper, but what separates him from other nose tackles in his class is his significant pass-rush upside. His performances against Nebraska and USC cement his first-round potential, underscoring his rare combination of power and mobility that creates mismatches in both power and zone blocking schemes. His improving hand placement throughout the season is further evidence of a player ascending at the right time.

Background

Grant’s journey from an overlooked three-star recruit to a dominant force at Michigan exemplifies his steady and powerful evolution, much like his trademark bull rush. Arriving in Ann Arbor as a raw 360-pound prospect, Grant underwent a transformation in both physique and technique, emerging as a freakishly athletic and technically refined player. The Merrillville, Indiana native’s junior season showcased his full range of abilities, earning him Second-Team All-Big Ten honors with 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. Grant’s breakout moment came during Michigan’s 2023 national championship run, where his play against Penn State—chasing down running back Kaytron Allen from behind—became a viral highlight of his blend of mass and mobility. His junior campaign included setting Michigan’s all-time record for pass breakups by a defensive lineman, further emphasizing his disruptive impact on the defensive front. Beyond the highlights, Grant’s consistent push on passing downs, disciplined gap control, and surprising range showcase his sustained impact. His combination of freakish athletic traits—running a sub-5.0 forty at 339 pounds—and proven game tape has scouts reconsidering initial perceptions of him as merely a space-eating nose tackle.

Scouting Report

Pros:

Grant’s quick first step and athleticism enable him to pressure offensive linemen and disrupt plays at the snap. His natural leverage advantage, combined with a compact frame and powerful base, makes him particularly effective in resetting the line of scrimmage during one-on-one situations. Unlike many power-focused defensive tackles, Grant possesses a developed pass-rush repertoire that includes swim, rip, club, and spin moves, ensuring he does not rely solely on his bull rush. His ability to quickly process blocking schemes and adapt to down blocks further elevates his effectiveness. Active hands in passing lanes make him a constant threat to disrupt throws, as evidenced by his record-setting pass breakups. Grant has also proven himself in high-stakes games, consistently impacting matchups against elite competition. His value extends to special teams as an interior rusher on field goal blocks, showcasing natural timing and the ability to make game-changing plays.

Cons:

Grant does have areas to refine. His pad level often rises too quickly off the snap, diminishing his leverage advantage and allowing blockers to gain control. To maximize his length, he must improve his ability to create separation with his arms rather than allowing blockers into his frame. While Grant flashes pass-rush dominance, his impact can be inconsistent, disappearing for stretches when his initial move is countered. He is somewhat susceptible to reach blocks and outside zone plays, as his lateral agility does not match his exceptional straight-line speed. Finally, weight management may be an ongoing challenge; his effectiveness dipped at higher weights during college, and maintaining an optimal playing weight will be key for his success.

OVERVIEW

 

 Kenneth Grant is an athletic marvel who combines exceptional size, explosiveness, and raw power. His rare blend of physical traits, including running a sub-5.0 40-yard dash at 360 pounds, has generated significant buzz within the Michigan Wolverines program. Grant’s ability to disrupt the run game and collapse the pocket makes him a key addition to any NFL defensive front. His versatility allows him to excel in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, providing flexibility for defensive coordinators looking to maximize his impact. While Cons about his stamina and pad level persist, these are areas that can be addressed through experience. His effectiveness against double teams and ability to anchor against the run make him an enticing early-round target. Grant’s proficiency in both single and two-gap techniques further enhances his draft stock. With his close to elite physical attributes and athletic prowess, Kenneth Grant has the potential to become a dominant force in the NFL. If he refines his technique and expands his pass-rush arsenal, he can develop into a disruptive presence on any defensive line, poised to make a significant contribution from day one.

BACKGROUND

Grant is from Merrillville, Indiana, where he was a standout at Merrillville High School. As a four-year starter, he helped his team to a 40-9 record and three consecutive regional titles. During his senior year, he contributed to the program's first undefeated regular season in nearly three decades. Grant was also a top-10 shot put thrower in school history. At Michigan, Grant quickly made his mark, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023. Over his two seasons, he appeared in 29 games, recording 29 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery in 2023 alone. His versatility allowed him to play multiple positions along the defensive line, showcasing his potential as a disruptive force. In his sophomore year, he appeared in all 15 games, starting five, and shared Defensive Player of the Week honors seven times. His standout performances included 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against UNLV, an interception against Nebraska, and significant contributions in both the Big Ten Championship and the CFP National Championship.

 ANALYSIS

  PROS

Athletic freak - made Feldman's list at #46 in 2022, he wrote "At 6-4, 360, he ran a sub-5.0 40, Jim Harbaugh told The Athletic this month. Ben Herbert, the UM strength coach who has trained more than his share of Freaks, said Grant has “incredible traits” and “is likely to be a No. 1 (Freak)” down the line if he applies himself." Impressive quick first step, putting immediate pressure on offensive linemen and quarterbacks Effective in multiple defensive alignments, displaying versatility across the line Strong hand usage, consistently swatting away blockers and maintaining upper-body strength Powerful tackler with good burst and lateral agility, closing speed in the backfield High motor and pursuit speed, surprising for his size, allowing him to chase plays downfield Excellent run defender with the ability to anchor and hold his ground against double teams Disruptive in the backfield, capable of both single and two-gap techniques Adaptable to different NFL schemes, effective as a 3-technique in a 4-3 defense or as a DE in a 3-4

 CONS

 Struggles with maintaining consistent pad level, which affects leverage Handling a full-time workload raises stamina. Can be heavy-footed on recovery when off-balance, affecting lateral movement Needs to develop a wider repertoire of pass-rush moves to succeed at the next level Occasionally narrows base off the snap, sacrificing control as a one-gapper

  🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

HISTORY FROM SCHOOL PROFILE:

CAREER GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
 CAREER HIGHS

• Tackles: 4, 3x - last at Maryland (Nov. 18, 2023)
• Solos: 4 - at Penn State (Nov. 11, 2023)
• Asst: 3, 2x - last vs. Iowa (Dec. 2, 2023)
• TFLs: 2.5 - vs. UNLV (Sept. 9, 2023)
• Sacks: 1.5 - vs. UNLV (Sept. 9, 2023)
• Int: 1 - at Nebraska (Sept. 30, 2023)
• FR: 1 - vs. Iowa (Dec. 2, 2023)
• PBUs: 1, 3x - last at Michigan State (Oct. 21, 2023)

At Michigan
• All-Big Ten selection (second team, coaches; third team, media, 2023)
• Two-time letterman (2022-23)
• Has appeared in 29 games along the defensive line (one, special teams only) with five starts

Sophomore (2023)
• Appeared in all 15 games with five starts on the defensive interior; made 29 tackles including 5.0 for loss with 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery to earn his second varsity letter 
• All-Big Ten selection (second team, coaches; third team, media)
• Seven times shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against ECU, UNLV, at Nebraska, at Michigan State, at Penn State, at Maryland, against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship
• Credited with one quarterback hurry against ECU (Sept. 2)
• Registered 2.5 tackles for loss including 1.5 sacks among four tackles against UNLV (Sept. 9); also knocked down a pass
• Assisted on one stop playing inside against Bowling Green (Sept. 16)
• Made his first career start against Rutgers (Sept. 23) and was credited with two tackles
• In a start on the road at Nebraska (Sept. 30), recorded an interception, the first of his career and broke up another pass
• Hurried the quarterback once and made two stops in a start at Minnesota (Oct. 7)
• Against Indiana (Oct. 14), broke up a pass and assisted on two tackles
• At Michigan State (Oct. 21), knocked down a pass and made a solo tackle
• Made two tackles from the interior of the defense against Purdue (Nov. 4)
• Started on the interior at Penn State (Nov. 11) and finished with four solo tackles
• At Maryland (Nov. 18), made four tackles with a nine-yard sack
• Played along the defensive interior and contributed on special teams against Ohio State (Nov. 25)
• Recovered a fumble with a shared tackle for loss and four tackles in a start against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 2)
• Assisted on one tackle against Alabama in the Rose Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Jan. 1)
• Registered a sack, broke up a pass, and produced two solo tackles against Washington in the CFP National Championship Game (Jan. 8)

Freshman (2022)
• Appeared in all 14 games including 13 along the defensive line; made eight tackles to earn his first varsity letter
• Shared Defensive Freshman of the Game honors following his performance against Hawaii
• Shared Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Illinois
• Named Special Teams Freshman of the Game following his performance against Michigan State
• Credited with one assisted tackle against Colorado State (Sept. 3) as he debuted along the defensive line
• Was in on three tackles (assisted) playing against Hawaii (Sept. 10)
• Played snaps along the defensive line against UConn (Sept. 17)
• Played on special teams against Maryland (Sept. 24)
• Contributed on the defensive line and also played special teams Penn State (Oct. 15), Michigan State (Oct, 29), at Iowa (Oct. 1), at Indiana (Oct. 8), at Ohio State (Nov. 26), against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 3), against TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)
• Assisted on a tackle at Rutgers (Nov. 5) playing along the defensive line and contributing on special teams
• Notched two tackles (one solo) playing along the interior against Nebraska (Nov. 12), and contributed on special teams 
• Registered a solo tackle playing along the defensive line and also contributed on special teams against Illinois (Nov. 19)
• Played defensive line and contributed on special teams against TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)

Prep
• Attended Merrillville High School (2022) coached by Brad Seiss
• Four-year starter who accumulated a 40-9 record in his career
• Part of a program that won three consecutive regional titles with three straight IHSAA Class 6A semifinal appearances in 2019-20-21
• In his senior year (2021), helped the program to its first undefeated regular season in nearly three decades (9-0) with a 12-1 overall record
• Helped lead the Pirates to a 10-2 record his junior season in 2020
• Posted an 11-2 record as a sophomore in 2019 and a 7-4 record his freshman year in 2018
• Also lettered in track and field; a state meet qualifier and top-10 shot put thrower in Merrillville history

Key Statistics
• Two-way player for the Pirates; also lined up at guard on offense during his senior year
• Credited with 38 tackles, with 14.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks with 12 quarterback hurries and two passes defended his senior year; also forced four fumbles with two recoveries; blocked four field goals, two punts, and two extra points (eight total kicks)
• As part of the offensive line, blocked for the program’s single-season and career rushing leader who totaled over 2,200 yards and 40 touchdowns in Grant’s senior season (2021)
• As a junior, made six tackles for loss with three sacks; returned a 50-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown
• Generated 42 tackles as a sophomore, including three sacks with a pair of forced fumbles

Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of three-stars; the No. 441 overall player nationally, the No. 60 defensive lineman and the No. 11 player in Indiana
• Named a four-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 43 defensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 9 player in the state of Indiana
• Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 63 player in the region, the No. 50 defensive tackle and the No. 13 player in Indiana
• Rivals.com three-star prospect, the No. 38 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 10 player from Indiana
• On3.com consensus four-star prospect; the No. 280 player nationally, the 36 defensive lineman and the No. 8 player in the state of Indiana
• Rated an On3.com four-star prospect; the nation’s No. 130 player overall, the No. 19 defensive lineman and the No. 5 player from Indiana
• Member of the IFCA Top 50 team (2021)
• 2021 Duneland Athletic Conference Player of the Year
• Two-time All-DAC Selection
• 2020 Post-Tribune Football Defensive All-Area Team

Personal
• Kenneth Grant was born October 27, 2003
• Son of Kenneth Grant Sr. and Ewana Chatman

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	8.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0