The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS J im Harbaugh arrived in a great mood last year during Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis, com- ing off a championship season that included a dominant win over Ohio State and the program's first playoff appearance. He had a lot of talent com- ing back and some freshmen coming he felt would not only see action, but also make significant contributions in their first years. Cornerback Will Johnson was one. The former five-star recruit stepped up to be one of the Wolverines' top defensive backs by the end of the year. Defensive tackle Mason Graham was a surprise starter in his first year, outstanding at his position, and his fellow frosh lineman, Kenneth Grant, ran a sub-5.0 second 40-yard dash that had the defensive coaches drooling. H a r b a u g h c o u l d barely contain him- self in talking about the group, including his "gift from the football gods." "Along with Ma- son Graham … they were the two," Harbaugh said the Mon- day after Michigan's 35-7 win over UNLV in Week 2 of this season. "They're both playing tremendous. The front seven with Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor … Derrick Moore had a great game, so did Kenneth Grant. So did Mason Graham … but 2.5 tackles for loss for KG, 4 or 5 tackles. When he stops them, they stop. There are no yards being let out when KG's around or when Mason Graham is around. "The penetration that they're getting — it's fun to watch. They're great guys, to o. No e n t i t l e - ment. They go about their business. Fun … hilarious to be around. KG and Mason Graham, both are tremendous person- alities, hilarious and fun. Tremendous teammates." They also happen to be dominant inte- rior linemen, part of perhaps the best trio in decades with senior Kris Jenkins also in the mix. There might not be a better sophomore tackle duo in school history, in fact, should they continue to dominate the way they have in the early part of the season. Graham did it from the outset last year, finishing with 27.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks in earning freshman All-America hon- ors from Pro Football Focus. Grant played some but needed a bit more time to focus on his body and getting in game shape. The Merrillville, Ind., native dropped 20 pounds working with strength coach Ben Herbert in the summer — he's now listed at 6-foot-3, 339 pounds — and it helped him tremendously. "Coach Herb did a really good job," Grant said before the season. "I really fo- cused with him and [nutritionist] Abi- gail [O'Connor] on nutrition to really get down and be compact and put more mus- cle on. I'm definitely happy with that. I move a lot better. "It changed me a lot. I could be on the field a lot more. I have a lot more stamina. Our conditioning test … that really helped. I passed it with ease, to be honest." He expected to be on the field more often as a result, he added, and not just on run downs. His goal was to contribute to the pass rush, too, and stay on the field for complete drives — not just a play here or there. That's been the case in the early go- ing. The stats through three games — 5 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 quarterback pressure, and 1 pass break- up — didn't come close to describing how disruptive he'd been. He was in the back- field a lot, forcing quarterbacks to scram- ble away from pressure. In the opener, he forced a quick throw that led to an inter- ception by graduate student nickel back Mike Sainristil, a game-changing play. "I think Kenneth Grant's going to be a name everyone's going to know about," defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said this spring. "He's a monster in the middle and has a chance to be a really, really dom- inant type of player here." On top of that, Minter added this fall, Grant is "extremely gifted." "He's a 350-plus pound human being that moves really well," Minter said. "He is really, really strong naturally. 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." A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE H e ' s a l r e a d y starting to get closer to it in only his sec- ond season, having dominated in the early going. Grant didn't notch a tackle in a 30-3 win over ECU, but he was dominant in applying pressure, even batting down a pass on the edge. That they can use him on stunts and twists, and he can get close to the quarterback at his size, is a luxury most coaches don't have. Harbaugh, watching on TV after being suspended for the first three games, saw it from his seat. "KG to me was the guy," Harbaugh said on his radio show. "His ascension as a football player … I mean, he was a gift from the foot- ball gods when he showed up, but he just keeps getting better and better. "Some of the moves, the athleticism he showed, are all the things we see ev- ery single day. He got that pressure that really caused that interception to be thrown just a little bit short, right there where Mike could make a great play. He had another really good pressure and hurry and hit on the quarterback. They were throwing the ball quick, but KG GIFT FROM THE GODS Sophomore Defensive Tackle Kenneth Grant Is Living Up To Lofty Expectations ❱ Jim Harbaugh on Grant and his linemate/classmate Graham "When he stops them, they stop. There are no yards being let out when KG's around or when Mason Graham is around."