The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 85 them, too. There are little things they need to work on, just like everybody else that's in that locker room. That's just coaching. You tell them what they do re- ally well, then tell them, 'Here's what we need to do to take that next step.'" They're not resting, teammates say. At one spring press conference, Moore singled out Graham for doing "something incredible," though he didn't elaborate, saying only he hoped everyone would get to see it in a game. Linebacker Er- nest Hausmann called it "inspirational" watching the pair work on their craft ev- ery day, adding they put in the work to make themselves better players. But at the end of the day, Moore said, they're still the same great guys they were when they arrived — just stronger and better. "They're just Mason and K.G. They're going to dominate no matter what," he said. "I just appreciate having those two big boys in the middle." So do the rest of their teammates, the Michigan coaches, and a fan base that has been blessed to watch perhaps the best defensive tackle duo in 145 years of program history. ❑ The best players make huge plays in the biggest games. Occasionally, they just happen to be the biggest player on the field, too. That was the case in November last year when Michigan traveled to Penn State. The Wolverines, playing without head coach Jim Harbaugh, jumped to a 14-3 lead in Happy Valley and had all the momentum midway through the second quarter when the Nittany Lions made a bid to get back in the game. On a first-down play from the PSU 25, quarterback Drew Allar handed off to run- ning back Kaytron Allen. Allen found a seam to the left, made a safety miss at the 35, and appeared to be off to the races. "He looked like he was going to go," Michigan play-by-play voice Doug Karsch recalled of calling the play. "And then, out of nowhere …" There was a blur, and Allen was brought down from behind near the Michigan 40. Karsch, relying on his spotter (who also happened to be his cousin) before naming the tackler, chuckled when his helper pointed to Kenneth Grant's name on the card. "Now, my cousin knows his stuff, but Allen got caught from behind," Karsch re- called. "My cousin points to Kenneth Grant's name, and I thought, 'That's so cute — Mikey thinks Kenneth tracked down a running back.' "I waited for the replay to say who it was … and he was right. I couldn't believe it." Grant had gotten caught up in the wash in the middle of the line when Allen broke left, and he started his sprint just as Allen approached the safety. The running back slowed a bit when he made his final cut, but Grant was going to catch him, regardless. Like fellow defensive tackle Mason Graham, the DNA is just different. "Physical freaks," Karsch characterized it — in a good way, of course. "They ab- solutely could be the best tackle duo we've ever seen at Michigan … but they've still got to do it. It's kind of up to them, what kind of offseason they have. But they certainly seem to be motivated." There's no question about it, junior linebacker Ernest Hausmann said. Both have an outstanding work ethic and want to get better every day. As such, expect even more incredible plays from them this year. They made a lot of them during spring ball, even in limited action. "What I saw from those two in spring ball was their desire and want to be that much better," Hausmann said. "… They come in each day and want to work, get all the extra work in, and they want to make themselves the best football players that they can be for them and for the team. That pays dividends and shows who they are, their character, and is a great example for young guys coming in. "These are two of the best defensive tackles in the country, and they came back for a fantastic year. Now, they're coming back for a third year, and they're hungry to do what they did again — and even more." — Chris Balas Anatomy Of A Freak Play Grant finished with 29 tackles (5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks, including a huge one in the national champion- ship game with Washington, and earned second-team All-Big Ten accolades last season. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER The 339-pound Grant showcased his athleticism when he chased down 221-pound Penn State running back Kaytron Allen and caught him from be- hind last season. The video clip went viral immediately. IMAGE COURTESY FOX SPORTS