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
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]
References
^ abc"Kenneth Grant". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
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