ALLEN PARK — This week\u2019s joint practice between the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins was a full-circle moment for Kenneth Grant, returning to the state where he became a household name at the University of Michigan and now facing the team from one of the first NFL games he attended while playing for the Wolverines.<\/p>\n
Not only is he back in familiar territory, but Grant, now with the Dolphins, is practicing against the very team from one of the first NFL games he attended while playing for the Wolverines.<\/p>\n
Following Thursday\u2019s practice, Grant, the 13th overall pick by the Dolphins in this year\u2019s NFL draft, shared what his transition to the league has been like.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been humbling, to be honest,\u201d Grant told reporters. \u201cI know my skill set and what I can do, but my coaches and players hold me accountable and always tell me I haven\u2019t arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst round or not, it\u2019s still the NFL. Everybody\u2019s good, so you\u2019ve got to be on your Ps and Qs every day. I\u2019m just trying to be humble, not big-headed, and focus on the next rep.\u201d<\/p>\n
While at Michigan, Grant was a force to be reckoned with, and that\u2019s putting it kindly. Along with being a key factor in the Wolverines\u2019 2023 CFP national championship, he earned a pair of second-team All-Big Ten honors (2023, 2024) and third-team All-American recognition (2024).<\/p>\n
With Ann Arbor holding a special place in his heart, Grant told MLive after his media scrum that he made it a point to head up I-94 West to attend a Michigan practice. <\/p>\n
Grant wanted to connect with current players — including Kendrick Bell, the brother of Lions receiver Ronnie Bell — in the same way Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson once did, giving time back to the school that molded him into the player he is becoming.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt prepared me a lot,\u201d Grant said about his time at Michigan. \u201cI think Michigan is one of the few institutions that gets their players ready for the next step (and) for the league, on and off the field. In the key of life, I think they prepared me pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saturday at Ford Field will be Grant\u2019s first football action in Michigan since his days in maize and blue. <\/p>\n
While the transition to the league has been an eye-opening experience, he feels there are aspects of his game that have changed — developments that could show up when the Lions and Dolphins take the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like my game has improved a lot, especially in the run game and with the power structure,\u201d Grant said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to get the hang of the drills (Dolphins defensive line coach Austin Clark) is teaching me and his way of seeing things, and I\u2019m working to implement that in my game to take it to another level.\u201d<\/p>\n
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