Kenneth Grant is selected by the Miami Dolphins in first round of NFL Draft

Bitter late-season defeats at Merrillville High School in Indiana will seem distant memory once the massive defensive lineman gets name announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

Oct 5, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (78) celebrates a missed field goal by the Washington Huskies, topic during the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images / Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

What Kenneth Grant didn’t quite prove at Merrillville High School near Gary, Indiana, will surely seemed like an afterthought Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

The hulking 6-foot-3, 339-pound defensive lineman was selected at No. 13 overall in the fist round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

Seven out of seven CBSSports recruiting experts project Grant to go in the middle to late first round, with the highest going at No. 20 to the Denver Broncos. 

“Grant is a massive defensive tackle with intriguing quickness and power,” wrote NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. “He's a very dominant run defender. He easily holds the point of attack, despite playing with a high pad level. I love his effort and awareness to chase down screens.”

Feb 26, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (DL12) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

At Merrillville, his efforts led the Pirates to records of 7-4, 11-2, 10-2 and 12-1 in his four varsity seasons, including three straight regional titles, leading to three state IHSAA semifinal appearances. 

After going 12-0 in his senior season, he told inpreps.com, “Yes, I definitely have something to prove and my team as a whole has something to prove. We all want the same goal and that is to win state.”

Each season, Grant and the Pirates fell short. But that didn’t slow college scouts from coveting the four-star recruit, rated the No. 8 2022 recruit overall from Indiana by 247Sports Composite.

He was offered 15 scholarships, including Ohio State, Wisconsin and Arizona State, but Michigan was always at the forefront. 

“The massive interior prospect looks like a classic nose guard but is not just a gap plugger in high school,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu wrote May 20, 2021. “Runs surprisingly well for a big guy, shows closing speed and will pursue plays. Nimble and can make offensive linemen miss their punch but can also drive them straight back with brute strength.

Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant jumps trying to block the field goal attempt by Minnesota kicker Dragan Kesich during first-half action between Michigan and Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. / Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“Has to be more consistent play to play but has upside because size and ability to move at that size are rare.” 

During his senior season, he had 38 tackles, 14.5 which for loss with 6.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries. He also forced four fumbles, added two recoveries and was a master at blocking the football: four field goals, two punts and two extra points. 

Also a starting guard on offense, he helped pave the way for senior Lavarion Logan who rushed for school records of 2,256 yards and 38 touchdowns. The Tigers averaged a whopping 445 yards per game and scored 74 touchdowns. 

As good as Grant was on offense, defense was always his calling. As a two-way star he was picked as the Duneland Athletic Conference Player of the Year. 

His highest honor as a football player might have come from Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh who called Grant “A gift from the football gods.”

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