NFL Draft Profile: Kenneth Grant, Michigan Wolverine

Kenneth Grant 

Defensive Tackle #78

6’3 339 lbs. 

Positives: 

Incredible size and frame for a defensive linemen 

Powerful strength. Able to push offensive linemen back with ease and knock them off balance. 

Immediate presence off the snap with a quick first step move to get past offensive linemen.

Has a plethora of moves to use in winning blocks, besides a bull rush: Swim, club, and rip. 

Great speed for a man his size. Ran below a 5.0 40 yard dash at 360 lbs in 2022. 

Play awareness. Reads an offensive scheme and adjusts himself accordingly. 

Shines the brightest in big games. The spotlight motivates him more. 

Used on special teams for field goals. Can be used on both sides of the ball. 

Negatives:

Inconsistent in winning blocks. Lacks effort as offensive drives continue

Moving laterally can be slow at times. Outside runs get past him almost every time.

Weight can play a factor. Stayed between 339-360 throughout college.

Refine winning combo blocks. Noticeable trouble getting through two blocks. 

Who is He?

Kenneth Grant was born and raised in Merrillville, Indiana. He had a dominant presence going into high school where numbers showed he was 6’4 335 lbs. This size would land Grant on the offensive and defensive line in high school. He also was utilized in the special teams. His senior year skyrocketed him on college scouts boards as he put up 38 tackles(14.5 of those being tackles for loss), 6.5 sacks, and 8 blocked kicks becoming a 4- star recruit out of high school. 

Committing to Michigan in 2021, Grant looked to carry these types of stats into collegiate level play. He finished his freshman year playing all 14 games and was off to a hot start. That start stayed with him as he continued to show out through his three years of college. In 2023, Grant got his first career interception proving he can be a threat in the run and pass game. In his last 2 seasons at Michigan he had 8 sacks, 50 QB pressures, and 39 run stops. He finished his 2024 season as a full-time starter putting up 36 tackles and 3 sacks. He is leaving college after winning a National Championship, Second-Team All Big Ten award twice, and Third-Team All American. 

It’s All in The Film

There is so much to love about Kenneth Grant in the pass rush, but I want to start out with a positive offensive play. Though quarterback Michael Penix breaks off a chunk play with a scramble, Grant forces that play to happen. He faces a combo block in the play where he sheds the first block and gets to the second level only to face another block. Off the snap, Grant is quick to win his first block and pushes his second block back towards the quarterback, forcing him to step up and scramble. What stood out in this clip, and other ones to follow, was his quick off the ball movement for his size. This adds instant pressure to the quarterback, causing him to quickly go through his reads and could end in a sack. 

I’m starting his film breakdown with two clips against Washington in the National Championship because this is where these college athletes shine. Kenneth Grant does so in this game. In this clip, he shows his raw leg and arm strength as he bull rushes through the offensive lineman. Unlike the first clip, Grant was able to get to the backfield and sack the quarterback. Again, his amazing speed off the ball is showcased here as well. A lot of NFL scouts should look at his National Championship tape while studying Kenneth Grant, where it mattered the most he showcased his elite talent. 

Continuing to show his strength and ability to rush the quarterback through his progressions, this clip comes from a game against Illinois in the 2024 season. What I loved most about watching Grant’s film was his presence felt almost instantaneous in passing plays. For his size, he should not be coming off the ball the way he does. Elite leg strength and arm strength is shown here as he bull rushes another offensive lineman. He is pushing a grown man 5 feet backwards like it's nothing. There is no worry for him in the passing game. Grant shows he is well taught as he keeps his arms inside the block, pushing all his strength through the lineman. These three clips show the incredible strength and speed Grant can add to any NFL team. 

One other trait, out of the many, I love about Grant’s game is that he isn’t one dimensional. He has a repertoire of moves he can use to get past offensive lineman. As we see a swim move out of Grant in this play. He wins his block with so much ease and speed that he gets to the running back after only picking up a couple yards. Not only just pass defense, but run defense is a big part of Grant's game as well. Though he struggles heavily against outside runs with his size, we clearly see how easily he can stop anything inside. 

Rounding us out is a clip you may have seen a time or two, for all the right reasons. Moving away from his obvious elite strength in the trenches, speed a big man should never have is at the forefront here. Signs of DK Metcalf hawking down Budda Baker are seen here as Grant hunts down Penn State running back with amazing speed. If there is one clip out of this profile NFL teams should look at it is this one. You never see a big man rumble and tumble down field and catch up to a running back for a tackle. Though that tackle may not fly in the NFL, the elite speed for a defensive lineman should be the only thing to take note of here. Strength is also on display as he is able to pull down the defender. Pure elite athleticism is at display here and without a doubt will carry him into a first round draft pick. 

What Do We Think?

This is far from your ordinary defensive tackle. He is an elite two-down defender, with shades of multiple maneuvers to win his block. The only real weakness I see from him are outside runs and his ability to move laterally. He can be inconsistent at times as well, this comes as drives tend to draw out. All in all, Grant will excel at the pro level and could easily play in a 3-4 front. His ability to be a presence in the pass game instantly and stop inside runs with ease, will find himself plenty of interest from many NFL teams. 

A NFL player I compare him to is Larry Ogunjobi, defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both men come in at the same height, a little far from the same weight as it is hard to get to where Grant is in that department. What really stands out to me for both players is the speed these two big men have. Ogunjobi ran a 4.9 40 yard dash in his combine, which is outstanding for a player of his size. As we have seen in his film, Grant can showcase his speed as well. It has been reported that Grant “plans to run a 4.8 in the 40 yard dash” in this upcoming combine. Both men show outstanding strength in the run and pass game, but speed is hard to come by for defensive lineman, not for these two.