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Familiar Face Helping Michigan Football Defense Prep For Bama

Originally posted on Blue By Ninety | By CJ Mangum | Last updated 12/21/23

Kenneth Grant is a rising star for Jesse Minter’s elite Michigan football defense, which is about to face its toughest challenge of the year: stopping Alabama and its quarterback, Jalen Milroe, in the Rose Bowl game. In preparation, players like sophomore quarterback Alex Orji and others are playing a crucial role as game day approaches.

Alex Orji assisting the Michigan football defense in Rose Bowl preperation

Kenneth Grant rose to prominence along Michigan’s impressive defensive line this fall, especially after chasing down Penn State running back Kaytron Allen during the Wolverines’ 24-15 victory in State College last month. Earlier today, he had some time to talk about sophomore Alex Orji, a backup Michigan football quarterback behind JJ McCarthy who has been instrumental in Michigan’s prep for the Rose Bowl and more.

“(Alex Orji) is doing a great job on scout team; you know, that’s the closest player that we’ve got to (Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe). I mean, probably identical — really identical. But he has done a really great job.”

Michigan running Jet Bash counter with sophomore QB Alex Orji (6-3, 236 ) vs. Ohio State.

Michigan did this a lot back when J.J. McCarthy used to spell Cade McNamara. Bet you see it in the B1G title game. Ohio State used to kill Michigan w/ different bashes in the day. pic.twitter.com/DVcFnSXakZ

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 26, 2023

Kenneth Grant and his Wolverines locked in on stopping Jalen Milroe

Of course, Alabama has one of the best quarterbacks in the country with Jalen Milroe, who is a player who can beat teams with his arm or his legs. Obviously, the Michigan football defense has not really seen a player of Milroe’s caliber this fall, and it’s clear that Kenneth Grant and others have been taking prep for this elite QB very seriously.

Earlier this year, Michigan did face a duel threat QB when facing Tulia Tagoviloa and the Maryland Terrapins — it’s not quite the same, but the Wolverines are looking to scheme their defense similarly to what they did in College Park.

“That quarterback from Maryland, Tulia — that’s pretty much (the type) of game that we’re looking to play,” Grant said.

Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil has been named Big Ten defensive player of the week.

He had two interceptions in the win over Maryland. pic.twitter.com/sukk5TdgK5

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) November 20, 2023

Jalen Milroe can extend plays, run the ball, and is as big as a linebacker. If Michigan football wants to get a win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines must get Milroe down on first contact, and they know it.

“We’ve got to tackle (Milroe) like a running back,” Kenneth Grant said. “I mean, he invites contact, for sure, so we just have to tackle him like we tackle everybody else.”