Four Michigan Wolverines on The Athletic's 2024 'Freaks List,' led by Kenneth Grant at No. 3
The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman released his annual list of the biggest ‘freaks’ in college football, and Michigan Wolverines football is well-represented with four players making appearances. Feldman defines a freak as someone who “generates buzz inside their programs by displaying the unique physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes every day.”
Junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant checks in at No. 3, giving Michigan a top-10 ‘freak’ in six of the last seven years. Michigan has had the No. 1 freak three times in that span — Rashan Gary in 2018, Kwity Paye in 2020 and Mazi Smith in 2022 — along with a the second-rated ‘freak’ once (Aidan Hutchinson in 2021). All six of Michigan’s top 10 ‘freaks’ since 2018 are defensive linemen.
Grant is the top-rated defensive lineman this year. The only two ‘freaks’ ahead of him are South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor and Colorado wide receiver / cornerback Travis Hunter.
The Wolverines’ other representatives on the ‘Freaks List’ are junior quarterback Alex Orji (No. 13), junior cornerback Will Johnson (No. 28) and junior tight end Marlin Klein (No. 90).
South Carolina and Michigan are the only two schools with multiple players in the top 13.
Here’s a look at each of Michigan’s ‘freaks.’
3. DT Kenneth Grant
This is Grant’s first ‘Freaks List’ appearance, but his athleticism has impressed for some time. The 6-foot-3, 339-pounder ran a sub-5.00-second 40-yard dash as a freshman, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. Grant made headlines last season for running down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen 30 yards down the field, potentially saving a touchdown.
“This offseason, Grant pressed a 115-pound dumbbell 34 times on his right and 27 times on his left,” Feldman wrote. “He vertical-jumped 29 inches and did a Turkish get-up with a 150-pound dumbbell.”
Grant appeared in 15 games with five starts last season, tallying 29 tackles, including 5 for loss with 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, 5 pass breakups and 1 interception.
13. QB Alex Orji
Orji is the highest rated of a group of just four quarterbacks that made the ‘Freaks List,’ with the others being West Virginia‘s Garrett Greene (No. 86), Portland State‘s Dante Chachere (No. 89) and North Dakota State‘s Cole Payton (No. 95).
Orji was the No. 50 ‘freak’ last season.
“The most impressive thing about Orji is what Michigan strength coach Justin Tress describes as the big quarterback’s elite balance and mobility reflected in his ability to do pistol squats on an unstable surface using wobbly ‘SlackBlocks’ while showing the precision and focus required to pick up a popcorn kernel off of the ground.”
Orji has attempted just one pass in his career — a completion in 2022 — but rushed 15 times for 86 yards and 1 touchdown last season. He’s in contention to become the Wolverines’ starter this season.
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28. CB Will Johnson
Feldman revealed that Johnson had the fastest time this offseason on Michigan’s plyo stairs at 2.27 seconds and clocked a 6.57-second 3-cone drill.
“Johnson’s 20-yard shuttle time was 4.05 seconds, which would’ve been third during the past two years in Indianapolis,” Feldman wrote. “(Former Michigan teammate Mike Sainristil did it in 4.01 seconds.) Johnson’s broad jump was 10-8 1/2.”
The consensus first-team All-Big Ten standout and first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated registered 27 tackles, including 1 for loss, and 4 interceptions in 2023.
90. TE Marlin Klein
Klein has been described by Michigan junior tight end Colston Loveland as the biggest, fastest and strongest tight end on the roster, and that holds up with him showing up on the list and Loveland not.
“Loveland emerged as a matchup nightmare last year thanks to his rangy frame and speed that tops out at 21.25 mph,” Feldman wrote. “Klein, now 6-6 and 250, hit 21.75 mph this summer. He broad-jumped 9-7.”
Klein has seen time in 12 games over his two seasons of college football, but he’s totaled only 45 snaps on offense. He’s near the top of the depth chart entering the 2024 campaign, though, a breakout candidate.
