Michigan football: Frosh DT Kenneth Grant making an early impact
Michigan freshman Kenneth Grant is a mountain of a man at 350 pounds, one of the rare defensive tackles who can move extremely well at that size. He’ll play this year, per folks close to the program — and he could be the “freak” that helps take the defense to another level.
RELATED: Michigan football ITF EXTRA – Practice, scrimmage intel, the offense
RELATED: ITF EXTRA, Part 2: Michigan practice, scrimmage intel, the defense
Both Grant and fellow frosh Mason Graham have been outstanding, Graham since he arrived in spring, Grant since summer. Head coach Jim Harbaugh called Grant “a gift from the football gods” after he ran a sub-5.0 40 during conditioning.
Senior Mazi Smith has dominated in the early going, up to 337 pounds. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter paid Grant the ultimate compliment in comparing Grant to him early in camp.
“Kenneth Grant, he’s Mazi’s junior, first and foremost because of his attitude,” Minter said. “He’s very, very humble. He’s very, very detailed in his approach, which is extremely unique for a freshman who wasn’t here in the spring. He’s taken to everything Coach [Mike] Elston has tried to teach him and get him to do at a very impressive level for a young player.
“Same thing in the weight room. Over the course of June and July, you could sort of see him transform and take exactly what coach [Ben] Herbert and the staff wanted him to do.”
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Tom Herman
FAU set to fire head coach
- 2New
CBB AP Poll
Big movers in latest rankings
- 3
Don Brown fired
UMass parts ways with HC
- 4
Iowa QB out
Ankle injury sidelines Brendan Sullivan
- 5
Phil Longo fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
It helps, he added, that he’s got all the talent in the world.
“On top of that he’s extremely gifted. He’s a 350-plus pound human being that moves really well. He is really, really strong naturally,” Minter said. “Some of the things we test those guys on, it’s pretty freakish to watch him go up the plyo-steps or move laterally side to side.
“We’re blessed that we have him and think he has a really, really high ceiling.”
Minter not worried about Michigan edge position
Michigan defensive ends Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo combined for 25 sacks last year. Both are now in the NFL.
The Wolverines will need someone to step up in their absence, but Minter isn’t concerned.
“With the inexperience in game situations with our edge guys, I think it will play itself out,” the Michigan D.C. said. “We’ll sort of scheme things out people around, pressure different people. We’ll try to get other guys involved in pressure. But at the same time, if one of those guys just emerges as a great one on one rusher, then it’s our job to continue to put him in situations to be a one on one rusher.”
He’d love it if someone emerged as a 19-sack guy, he said, but he isn’t sure yet what he’s got.
“I just don’t know yet, because a lot of these guys haven’t rushed the passer consistently in live situations,” Minter said. “So, I think that will sort itself out, especially in the first few games of the year.”
Michigan opens the season Sept. 3 at home against Colorado State.
