Would you believe that Michigan might have “the best defender from this draft?” Let’s set the stage here. Sherrone Moore is about to send a wave of freaks into the NFL. Mason Graham? First-round lock. Will Johnson? Probably top-10. Colston Loveland? Quietly climbing boards. But there’s one guy who might just be the scariest of the bunch. 

You’ve seen him. You probably did a double-take the first time. Big No. 78. The one built like a fridge but moves like a TE. Played next to Graham and still earned his own spotlight. Coaches love him. Scouts are buzzing. Teammates swear by him. But some people still don’t realize what kind of freak we’re dealing with. 

Well, Fox analyst Joel Klatt dropped the line in an X post on April 5 via his CFB Pod show — “He could be the best defender in this draft 10 years from now.” We’re talking about Kenneth Grant, Michigan’s 331-pound DT.

“At No. 10, I’m gonna go with Kenneth Grant, the defensive tackle at Michigan,” he confidently stated. “I think he’s gonna be an excellent pro. He’s young. He’s huge. He’s very athletic, and he’s a guy I could see who’s just getting better and better… Grant is an absolute specimen. I just remember him running down Kaytron Allen in that 2024 game against Penn State, and he likes, hawks him down, and I’m like ‘dude, this guy is 6’4, 330 pounds, and was moving.’” Yeah, that clip lives rent-free in a lot of minds. 

That play against Penn State in 2023 became a legend. A DT, who weighed 360 lbs then, chased an RB 30 yards down the field. That’s not just hustle. It’s unheard of. The then HC Jim Harbaugh didn’t stay silent, calling it “one of the best plays of the season… maybe one of the best plays ever.” And for once, he might not be exaggerating. 

Across 2023 and 2024, Kenneth Grant put up 61 tackles, 6.5 sacks, an interception, and a handful of broken pockets. Third-team All-American this past season. 2x second-team All-Big Ten. The 21-year-old did all this while sharing a line with a top draft prospect and still found a way to stand out. And now, Sherrone Moore’s defensive weapon is NFL-bound. And we can’t rule out a possible reunion with his former coach.

Kenneth Grant moves from Sherrone Moore to Jim Harbaugh?

Here’s where things get even more interesting. CBS Sports Tom Fornelli has Kenneth Grant going to Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers with their No. 22 pick, per NFL Mock Draft database. Then ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated a trade idea. LA moves up to No. 15, snags Grant, and locks in a future anchor on the D-line. And what about the future NFL DT’s plans? He’s all into it. 

In an episode of the Guilty as Charged podcast in February, USA Today’s Alex Katson informed us that Kenneth Grant wants to be a Charger. “Kenneth Grant did tell at least one media member at the Shrine Bowl that wasn’t me,” he said. “But I did hear it from the person that he did tell, that he would very much like to play for the Chargers.” Thanks to Jim Harbaugh’s presence, no surprise there. As of now, we can only imagine. The coach and player reunited under the SoFi lights, this time with a Lombardi Trophy in sight. 

If Joel Klatt’s prediction comes true and Kenneth Grant is the best defender to come out of this year’s draft, well, Michigan fans and Sherrone Moore himself saw it coming. They’ve already seen what this 331-pounder can do, and now it’s the NFL’s turn.