Michigan DT Kenneth Grant discusses where he's improved, how Mason Graham has grown and 'the mentality of being hungry'
Michigan Wolverines football junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, posting 29 tackles, including 5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries and 5 pass breakups with 1 interception, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.
He did that while starting only five of the team’s 15 games and logging just the 13th-most snaps on the defense, but now his role is about to increase. The 6-foot-3, 339-pounder has prepared himself for it this offseason.
“Agility and pass rush, trying to become more nimble and quick,” Grant said of where he’s grown the most while appearing on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast. “I wouldn’t say it’s not really anything that I think I’m too good at, but a lot of things I try to hone in on all the different stuff and small details. It really makes a difference, the small details.”
He’s also stepped up as a leader now that he’s an upperclassman and a bevy of veterans from last year’s squad moved on to the NFL.
“I’m comfortable with all types of leadership,” Grant said. “You could lead without having to speak, but also I’m comfortable with speaking and being a vocal leader.
“What we try to instill in our young guys is that we try to make them leaders and [show them] how to transition into being in our position, being leaders and impact players on the field. I want to hold my teammates accountable, but I also want my teammates to hold me accountable at the same time, because every day is going to be a good day. You just never know when.”
Grant and fellow Michigan junior Mason Graham make up what many believe is the best defensive tackle duo in the nation. Grant said his partner in crime has also been honing his skills, particularly in the pass-rush department after notching 3 sacks last season.
“I’ve seen growth in the film room, just trying to learn the whole defense instead of just what he’s specifically doing,” Grant said of Graham. “And his IQ has gotten way better. He spends a lot of time in the film room.
“But along with that, probably just his pass rush. His pass rush is getting way better. He already pretty much has the run defense down, but his pass rush is really like that, getting better.”
Michigan’s 2024 team has the task of staying focused and not letting complacency seep in after winning the national championship a year ago. But the culture that’s built-in the program is a huge assistance.
“The mentality also goes with the culture,” Grant explained. “That mentality of being hungry is built into our culture. It started all in ‘21, ‘22 and ‘23. It built up. This year, just me in general having to step into a leadership role, I have to be hungry but also be a leader to the younger guys back there and stuff like that. A lot of things changed, but the culture hasn’t changed.”
One of the changes is the lead voice on the defense. Coordinator Wink Martindale, who spent the last 20 seasons in the NFL, is now in charge of the unit, taking over for Jesse Minter, who’s now with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the system has remained intact and similar.
“Wink’s a pretty good guy. He’s pretty funny,” Grant said. “He’s really chill and cool, but just him coming in here and adapting, he’s done a great job — not only just being the defensive coordinator but letting the defense lead, because we’ve all basically been together already. We don’t have a lot of new guys here, so he lets us lead, forces us to be leaders and show him what needs to be done.
“At the same time, he still takes charge and stuff like that. It’s a great balance of him letting us do us but him also instilling our pillars and stuff like that.”
