Steelers Now
INDIANAPOLIS. — If you’ve been following along through the NFL Draft process thus far, you know by now that the defensive line position is considered one of the stronger groups in this entire class. This sentiment was echoed by Steelers general manager Omar Khan during his media availability here at the NFL Combine. Coming off a national championship season in 2023, Michigan wasn’t quite able to replicate that type of success this past fall. But you certainly can’t blame the defensive line for those troubles, starting with their nose tackle Kenneth Grant.
Even though the team fell short of expectations, Grant still has found memories, recalling their win against the eventual National Champions, Ohio State, as the best film he put on display for scouts.
“Coach Wink (Martindale) lined up me in that zero-technique and I was eating all game to be honest,” Grant said. “I was stopping the run pretty good and then that gave me the opportunity to go rush the passer. I was getting back there a lot.”
In his finale in the maize and blue, Grant racked up five pressures and three stops in their upset win, per PFF.
As one of the few underclassmen in this draft, he’s looking to put some preconceived notions to rest, particularly the idea that he’s just a two-down player.
“I’m a three down player for sure, I can rush the passer with my strength and add a little finesse in there,” Grant said. “Most guys think I’m just a run stuffer but I’m super athletic and can rush the passer.”
Grant is currently 332 pounds, down from the 345 that he played at in college. It’s logical to assume that he wanted to trim down to showcase his explosiveness during the testing drills, adding that he wanted to get into the 4.8-second range for the 40-yard dash.
With the Steelers mantra of building through the trenches intact, it’s no surprise that they scheduled a formal meeting with Grant on arrival.
“It was very serious,’ Grant said. “They want competitors and dudes that are ready to go.”
Head coaches are typically involved in the formal interview process and Grant gave a glowing recommendation of Mike Tomlin.
“He’s a pretty cool dude,” Grant said. “Most people think he’s so serious but he’s all about his business. He’s easy to communicate with.”
As you’d expect for a guy with his stature, Grant is a forceful fella and he shared some insight how he formulates his pass rush plan. “My best thing is the bull and pull series, bull-rip. I’m trying to work more on my power because it always starts with power and then you can get into the finesse things.” Grant is a known commodity as a run defender but every team in the vicinity is trying to figure out just how much is left to unlock as a pass rusher.
We saw Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin focus heavily on...
