The 2025 NFL draft is still months away, but it already has its first marquee defensive line prospect. Kenneth Grant, the massive Michigan star who anchored the Wolverines to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, is officially taking his dominant talents to the pros.
Grant, listed at an imposing 6-foot-3 and 339 pounds, announced his decision to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft on Thursday. The monstrous defensive tackle instantly becomes one of the top prospects at his position in the 2025 class.
NFL scouts have had their eye on Grant since his breakout 2023 season, when he emerged as a force in the middle of Michigan’s championship-winning defense. Now they’ll get their chance to add his rare combination of size, power and athleticism to their defensive fronts.
Decorated Collegiate Career
Few defensive line prospects will enter the 2025 draft with a more impressive resume than Grant. The Gary, Indiana native leaves Michigan as one of the most accomplished defenders in program history.
Grant’s impact was felt immediately upon his arrival in Ann Arbor. He cracked the defensive line rotation as a true freshman in 2022 before developing into a full-time starter as a sophomore on the Wolverines’ 2023 national title team.
Over his three seasons at Michigan, Grant compiled an impressive stat line:
- 29 starts across 39 career games
- 104 total tackles, including 22.5 for loss
- 11 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
- 9 passes defended and 1 interception
The numbers only tell part of the story though. Grant’s mere presence in the middle of the Michigan defense was game-changing. He consistently drew double and triple teams, freeing up his teammates to make plays. His rare athleticism for his size made him a factor against both the run and pass.
Postseason Accolades
Grant didn’t just stuff the stat sheet, he stuffed his trophy case too. His performance earned him a slew of individual honors to go along with the team success he helped achieve at Michigan.
- 2x First Team All-Big Ten (2023, 2024)
- 2x Second Team All-American (2023, 2024)
- 2023 College Football Playoff National Champion
Grant saved his best for Michigan’s biggest games. He spearheaded a dominant defensive effort in the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship victory over Georgia. This past season, he came up huge again as Michigan knocked off rival Ohio State and advanced to the playoff for the second straight year.
“His ability to take over a game is special. Kenneth is an incredible talent with the potential to be a difference-maker at the next level. He’s just scratching the surface.”
– Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Next Stop: The NFL
With his Michigan career now complete, Grant will turn his full attention to the pre-draft process. As an underclassman, he’ll need to earn an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in February. If he performs there like he did in college, his draft stock will only continue to rise.
Early mock drafts already have Grant coming off the board in the first round, with some projecting him as high as the top 10. He has the potential to be a Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle at the next level. For QB-needy teams picking early, Grant could be an anchor for their defense for years to come.
The 2025 NFL draft is still a long way off, but Kenneth Grant has already established himself as one of the headliners of the class. The Michigan star has the physical tools, production and pedigree that NFL teams covet. Now he’ll look to prove he can be just as dominant on Sundays as he was on Saturdays.
