2026 offensive lineman Grant Kitchens adding more SEC interest
Nanih Waiya High School’s Grant Kitchens kept a steady routine this summer and offseason. Along with his normal team duties, the 2026 offensive tackle and On3 three-star prospect also tested his skills against good competition at various college camps in May and June.
For Kitchens, being able to perform in front of college coaches served its own purpose. But it was also about improving his game heading into his junior season at Nanih Waiya.
“I camped at Mississippi State and Ole Miss to start the summer,” recalled the 6-foot-6 and 275-pound Kitchens. “I also had camps at Clemson, Tennessee and Auburn in June. I am not sure where all I will go this season but I plan to go to games at Mississippi State and Ole Miss.”
Kitchens is rated as the nation’s No. 33 offensive tackle and the state’s No. 12 prospect. He holds one SEC offer thus far and noted of other SEC interest he’s received, of late. Kitchens also mentioned the areas of his game he tried to improve the most at those camp showings.
“I would love to get more offers this summer,” Kitchens noted. “But overall, at camps I want to make my feet quicker and have better footwork. Right now I have the offer from Mississippi State and then Georgia and Ole Miss have been in contact a lot and I’ve had a lot of people invite me to camp.”
Kitchens was one of the top underclassmen standouts in late May at Mississippi State’s Top Dawg Clinic. It was also his first opportunity to take coaching instructions from Mississippi State offensive line coach Cody Kennedy.
“It went good with Coach Kennedy,” said Kitchens. “He showed me what I was doing wrong and what I was doing right. He helped me a lot with my feet and also with my hands.”
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Kennedy was the first coach to extend an offer to Kitchens and that happened not long after Kennedy joined Jeff Lebby’s staff in Starkville. Ever since, Kitchens has built a good bond with Kennedy on and off the field.
“It’s a good relationship with Coach Kennedy,” added Kitchens. “It’s growing as time goes on and it’s a good relationship right now. He taught me when to shoot my hands and when not to shoot them and where to place them.”
Of course, being his first offer was also special to Kitchens. He also feels comfortable around Lebby and his staff while on campus and likes where State’s future is headed under their new leadership.
“I like it a lot at Mississippi State,” mentioned Kitchens. “It feels great being around all of their coaches. They have really good energy and I like what they are doing with the program now.”
