Kylen Granson Explained

Kylen Granson
Current Team:Indianapolis Colts
Number:83
Position:Tight end
Birth Date:March 27, 1998
Birth Place:DeMotte, Indiana, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:242
High School:Westlake
(Austin, Texas)
College:Rice (2016–2017)
SMU (2018–2020)
Draftyear:2021
Draftround:4
Draftpick:127
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • First-team All-AAC (2020)
  • Second-team All-AAC (2019)
Statleague:NFL
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:72
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:776
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:1
Pfr:G/GranKy00

Kylen Granson (born March 27, 1998) is an American professional football tight end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice and SMU before being drafted by the Colts in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early years

Granson was born in DeMotte, Indiana, and grew up in Austin, Texas, where he attended Westlake High School. Granson was named second-team All-District 14-6A as a senior.[1] He was not heavily recruited and committed to play college football at Rice over an offer from Harvard.

College career

Granson began his collegiate career playing wide receiver for the Rice Owls. As a freshman he caught 33 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns followed by 18 receptions for 241 yards in his sophomore season.[2] Granson left the program following the firing of Rice head coach David Bailiff and enrolled at Austin Community College, hoping to join the Texas Longhorns as a walk-on. Granson had a chance encounter with Bailiff on the University of Texas campus, who did not know that he had left Rice and began contacting college coaches on Granson's behalf. SMU coach Sonny Dykes offered Granson a spot as a walk-on.[3]

Granson sat out his first season at SMU per NCAA transfer rules and was awarded a scholarship.[3] As a redshirt junior, he caught 43 passes for 721 yards and nine touchdowns and was named second-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC).[4] He was named first-team All-AAC after finishing his redshirt senior season with 35 receptions for 536 yards and five touchdowns.[5] Granson's 14 touchdown receptions set a new school record for tight ends.[6]

Professional career

Granson was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round with the 127th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.[7] He signed his four-year rookie contract with Indianapolis on May 19, 2021.[8] As a rookie, Granson recorded 11 receptions for 106 yards in the 2021 season.[9]

Granson made his first start in Week 2 of the 2022 season against the Jaguars. He finished the 2022 season with 31 receptions for 302 yards.[10]

Granson scored his first NFL touchdown in September 2023 against the Houston Texans.[11] In the 2023 season, he made seven starts and appeared in 15 games. He finished with 30 receptions for 368 yards and one touchdown.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Davis . Danny . October 12, 2016 . Rice hauls in another receiver from Westlake's senior class . Austin American-Statesman.
  2. Web site: Kylen Granson, TE, SMU - NFL Draft Player Profile. February 23, 2021.
  3. Web site: Blum . Sam . December 9, 2020 . Without a team or chance: How SMU TE Kylen Granson went from community college student to NFL prospect in just over 2 years . The Dallas Morning News.
  4. Web site: Jones . Thomas . August 29, 2020 . That college try: Area football products excelling at next level . July 19, 2024 . Austin American-Statesman.
  5. Web site: Sayles . Damon . December 16, 2020 . Sonny Dykes: SMU TE Kylen Granson to turn pro . Rivals.com.
  6. Web site: Newman . Kyle . April 19, 2021 . NFL Draft Preview: Florida's Kyle Pitts headlines deep, but not elite, tight end class . July 19, 2024 . The Denver Post.
  7. Web site: Erickson . Joel A. . May 2, 2021 . Insider: Rookie TE Kylen Granson's open-field ability can open up Colts playbook . July 5, 2021 . Indianapolis Star.
  8. Web site: Ortenberg . Andrew . May 19, 2021 . NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/19/21 . July 19, 2024 . Pro Football Rumors.
  9. Web site: Kylen Granson 2021 Game Log . July 19, 2024 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  10. Web site: Kylen Granson 2022 Game Log . July 19, 2024 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  11. News: Kylen Granson scores first NFL touchdown against Houston Texans . September 19, 2023 . www.colts.com . September 17, 2023.
  12. Web site: Kylen Granson 2023 Game Log . July 19, 2024 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.