The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1451622
2022 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Grant isn't trying to positively impact his high school. "The biggest thing with Kenneth is how much he helps out our school," Seiss said. "He's just a genuine, nice kid. At basketball games, he'll do the con- cessions. He'll go support other sports. He hangs out with kids in all phases of our school. "He's kind of the face of our school. He's always at different events. And, of course, everybody remembers him because he's the biggest kid around. It's cool for a kid that is that talented at football to be so supportive of our school in everything else." These days, Grant's teammates are no longer afraid for their lives when they have to take reps against him in practice. No, getting hit by a dude the size of a truck probably doesn't feel good, but there is just something special about Grant. Every time he annihilates a teammate in practice, he laughs. And while it may sound completely bizarre, that same teammate usually laughs right with him. "Football is serious, but you also have to remember to have fun," Grant said. "It's a good mentality to have. It helps me have a bond with my teammates. They know I'm going to hit them hard, and they just laugh, and I laugh with them." Unfortunately for his opponents, go- ing up against Grant is no joke. Grant was dominant throughout his high school career. While he used his brute strength and sheer size to stuff the run, Grant also utilized his athleticism to rush the passer — sometimes even lin- ing up on the edge. Grant is more than just a big body. He's the definition of a dancing bear. A four-year starter, Grant is in the record books as the winningest player in Merrillville history with 40 victories under his belt. Grant hopes to carry that same success over to his new home — Michigan. The On300 prospect inked with U-M in December and is set to enroll in June. Grant actually visited Michigan as a high school freshman but didn't hear from the Wolverines again until the spring of his junior year. After notching a scholarship opportunity from U-M, Grant blew up on the trail with several other Power Five scholarships, includ- ing one from chief rival Ohio State. But at the end of the day, Michigan was the right fit. Grant is expected to contribute early under new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He's the ideal candidate to be a true nose tackle, which is something this Wolverines defense really needs. But Grant is just as much of a fit off the field as he is on it. While he's not a Michigan Man just yet, Grant has all the traits and intan- gibles to be an ambassador for the uni- versity during his stay in Ann Arbor and beyond. "I was fortunate enough to visit Michigan with Kenneth, and the play- ers were extremely personable when they hosted him," Seiss said. "They seemed like genuine, nice kids. That's what Kenneth is. He fits the mold of the Michigan Man really well. He thinks about others before he thinks about himself. The motto of 'The Team' fits him really well. "He helped us in all three phases of the game even though he was highly touted and could have been selfish about being a good defensive player. He did everything he could to be a good of- fensive lineman and block kicks on spe- cial teams. He fits what they are looking for." When asked what stood out to him the most about the recruiting process, Grant didn't mention the social media love, NIL opportunities or even any- thing that had to do with Michigan's tradition-rich football program. Instead, Grant referenced a presenta- tion put on by director of player devel- opment and ex-Wolverine Chris Bryant. "It was about life in general, what you can do outside of football and how to be a man," Grant said. "He suffered a season-ending injury, but had to fight through that and earn an education. "I want to major in sociology and be a crime scene technician, so the educa- tion and being a man outside of football is important to me. That's a big reason I chose Michigan." ❑ MARCH 2022 THE WOLVERINE 47 DID YOU KNOW? • Four-year starter who helped the football team accumulate a 40-9 record during his career. • Also lettered in track and field; he was a state meet qualifier and top-10 shot put-thrower in Merrillville history. • Born Oct. 27, 2003. THEY SAID IT • On3 director of scouting and rank- ings Charles Power: "I think Kenneth Grant is obviously big enough where you throw him in there, and he would stick out from a size perspective, even on a college field. "Could he benefit from spending time in the strength and conditioning pro- gram? Yes, but he might be too good to keep out of the field early." Grant graduated as the winningest player in Merrillville history (40 wins in four years). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Merrillville (Ind.) High head coach Brad Seiss "He's kind of the face of our school. He's always at different events. And, of course, everybody remembers him because he's the biggest kid around. It's cool for a kid that is that tal- ented at football to be so supportive of our school in every- thing else."