The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 11 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan junior defensive tackle Ken- neth Grant had a breakout season a year ago, helping lead the Wolverines to a na- tional championship. Many believe this is the year he becomes a truly dominant defensive tackle and potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — he talks about expectations and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: As a team, how do you follow up a national championship season when you lost so much talent to the NFL? Kenneth Grant: "Everyone doubts Michi- gan, so we're always going to have a target on our back even after a national champi- onship — even more. So, we've got to take every day like we're being hunted … but we're really hunting. "We're getting better every day, think- ing about what other people are doing. We've got to do 10 times better than what they're doing — just every day not taking it lackadaisical and get better every day." The Wolverine: What have you seen from your teammates and how they've re- sponded? Grant: "We've got a lot of young guys, so me and [fellow junior defensive tackle] Mason Gra- ham and the other guys in my class are trying to get the younger guys together — and the other guys that have already proved themselves — and make them better leaders." The Wolverine: What do you think when you look at that loaded schedule ahead of you? Grant: "We definitely have good opportunities, good games ahead of us. We've got that Texas one early, so we've just got to come out ready to ball from Day 1." The Wolverine: How did spring ball change under the new leadership in place — or did it? Grant: "I think it's more physical — even more physical because of [coach] Sherrone Moore. We definitely just play football more, 11-on-11 situations more. "It's really no difference [from an overall program perspective] … a head coach has to do the head coach job, so it was just him trying to be a leader to all of us and wanting to know all of us. He's a pretty good guy." The Wolverine: You're listed at 345 pounds after playing at 339 last year. What's the goal heading into the season, and what do you make of the talk that you could be a first-round pick after this year? Grant: "I'm trying to lose a little more [weight] — trying to get quicker, better pass rush and get-offs and stuff like that. I'm just trying to be healthy overall. "I don't really pay attention to [draft projec- tions] too much. Whenever it pops up, it pops up. I see it, but definitely seeing that I'm not at that No. 1 spot. … I'm just going to keep striving to get that No. 1 spot." — Chris Balas Grant tallied 29 total stops, 5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, 5 pass breakups, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery during his breakout season in 2023. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Orji Will Get The Nod Initially By Chris Balas Michigan has gotten solid to very good to great quarterback play over the last decade, and it wasn't until they got to the latter that they broke through for a national title. There might not be a national championship-caliber quarterback on this roster, but the Wolverines' coaches should be able to develop someone who can step up and lead the offense, protect the ball and score enough to complement what should be an elite defense. Can Alex Orji be that guy? We're going to find out, since he'll probably get the nod to start the opener against Fresno State Aug. 31. Though he has a lot of work to do as a passer, Orji is an elite athlete with a high ceiling. Alabama's Jalen Milroe, for example, had the same reputation as an athlete playing the position to start last year, but he blossomed and became a playoff quarterback. It says here, though, that Jack Tuttle will get some snaps in the opener, too, and that we could well go through the season with a platoon. Tuttle has been around a long time, has backed up some elite quarterbacks in Michael Penix Jr. at Indiana and J.J. McCarthy at Michigan, and has taken too many practice snaps to count. Even if Tuttle does end up winning the job, though, coaches have said Orji will still have a role. It's Jack Tuttle's Time By Clayton Sayfie While junior Alex Orji has seemingly become the favorite to start behind center for Michigan in 2024, according to preseason projections, we have a different take. It's understandable that Orji is being viewed as the consensus pick, since he has a strong chance to play in every game. Even offensive coordinator and position coach Kirk Campbell told ESPN that Orji "will be part of the offensive game plan no matter what." However, as Campbell also noted, "the competition is very much open." And that's where Jack Tuttle comes in. The sev- enth-year senior missed spring practices while recovering from an injury, so he wasn't afforded the opportunity to showcase his skills in the April 20 scrimmage at The Big House. He does, however, have experience in the past, having started five games (all at Indiana) and played in 21 throughout his long journey in college. He has a grasp of the offense with one season in Ann Arbor under his belt, and he has both mobility and more seasoning as a passer. While there's nothing close to a sure thing in the Michigan quarterback room entering the 2024 season, Tuttle seems like the safest bet, with Orji almost certainly set to play a major role as well. All eyes will be on the signal callers when fall camp begins on July. 31. ❱ POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT ❰ WHO WILL WIN THE STARTING QUARTERBACK JOB IN 2024? TUTTLE ORJI ❱ Sitting Down With Junior Defensive Tackle Kenneth Grant