Kenneth Grant

Kenneth Grant (born October 27, 2003) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning a national championship in 2023 and earning All-American honors in 2024. Grant was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Early life Grant was born on October 27, 2003, in Merrillville, Indiana, the son of Kenneth Grant Sr. and Ewana Chatman. He attended Merrillville High School, where he played football as an offensive and defensive lineman. He also competed in the shot put for the track and field team.

As a senior, he totaled 38 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and blocked eight kicks (four field goal attempts, two punts and two extra-point attempts), leading Merrillville to an undefeated regular season and a 12–1 overall record.

College career Freshman season (2022) Grant committed to the University of Michigan in September 2021, and enrolled in July 2022. In the 2022 season, Grant appeared in all 14 games on special teams and defensive line. In August 2022, he was included on Bruce Feldman's annual list of college football "freaks". He finished his freshman season with eight tackles.

Sophomore season (2023)

Entering the 2023 season, Grant dropped from 359 pounds to 339. On September 30, Grant had his first career interception versus Nebraska. On November 11, Grant chased down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen from behind to make a tackle and prevent a touchdown. The video of the 339-pound Grant chasing and tackling Allen went viral. Head coach Jim Harbaugh called it "maybe one of the best plays ever."

At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Grant helped the Wolverines win a national championship, Michigan's first since 1997. He was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection, playing in all 15 games and recording 29 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three and a half sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups.

Junior season (2024) Entering his junior season, Grant was ranked as one of the top interior defensive linemen in college football by members of the media. He was widely considered to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. In week four against the USC Trojans, Grant recorded two tackles, recovered a fumble and had his first sack of the season. In week five against Minnesota, he had two tackles, a batted ball and a sack. In week nine versus Michigan State, Grant had two tackles, including one for a loss and a fumble recovery as Michigan defeated the Spartans 24–17. In week eleven against Indiana, he recorded his 12th career pass breakup. In doing so, Grant moved ahead of Ryan Van Bergen for the most pass breakups all-time for a defensive lineman in Michigan football history.

Following the season, Grant was again given second-team All-Big Ten honors, and was selected as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. Grant started all twelve regular season games as a junior, ranking second on the team with five pass breakups, recording 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

On December 26, Grant declared for the 2025 NFL draft, foregoing the ReliaQuest Bowl and his senior year. He finished his three-year career at the University of Michigan with a 35–6 team record, two Big Ten championships, two All-Big Ten selections, All-American honors, was a national champion, and finished 3–0 against both rivals, Michigan State and Ohio State. Grant appeared in every game he was a member of the Michigan Wolverines, starting 17 games and totaling 69 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception.

Professional career

Grant was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. He was the second defensive tackle taken in the draft behind collegiate teammate Mason Graham (fourth defensive lineman).

NFL career statistics Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fmb FR Yds TD 2025 MIA 17 5 33 15 18 2.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0Career 17 5 33 15 18 2.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0