Kylen Granson

BIOGRAPHY

Kylen Granson, born on March 27, 1998, has made a mark in American professional football as a tight end player. He plays for the Indianapolis Colts, a notable team in the National Football League (NFL). With his roots tied to DeMotte, Indiana, he was brought up in Austin, Texas. Before stepping into the limelight of the NFL, Granson laid his foundation in football at Rice and Southern Methodist University (SMU), making significant records that led to his draft by the Colts in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Granson’s passion for the sport was evident in his early years at Westlake High School, where he was recognized as the second-team All-District 14-6A during his senior year. Despite the lack of wide attention from college recruiters, he chose to join Rice over a tempting offer from the prestigious Harvard.

Granson began his college football journey as a wide receiver for the Rice Owls. His brilliance shined through as a freshman when he managed to catch 33 passes for 381 yards and succeeded in scoring two touchdowns. During his sophomore season, he captured 18 receptions covering 241 yards. Unfortunately, his growth was momentarily paused due to the firing of Rice head coach David Bailiff, which led to him leaving the program.

Hoping to make the most out of the situation, he got enrolled at Austin Community College while aiming to get a spot as a walk-on with the Texas Longhorns. As destiny would have it, Granson bumped into Bailiff, who was unaware of his departure from Rice. Bailiff took the initiative to start reaching out to other coaches on Granson’s behalf, consequently leading to an offer from SMU coach Sonny Dykes.

After adhering to NCAA transfer rules and sitting out his first season at SMU, he was awarded a scholarship. His performance during his redshirt junior year was remarkable as he caught 43 passes for 721 yards and achieved nine touchdowns. This led to his name being on the second team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC). His excellent records continued during his redshirt senior season as well, with 35 receptions for 536 yards and five touchdowns, leading to his recognition in first-team All-AAC. In fact, Granson’s 14 touchdown receptions set a new record for tight ends at the school.

Granson’s success at SMU made way for an opportunity of a lifetime. In the 2021 NFL draft, he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round, with the 127th overall pick. He officially signed his four-year rookie contract with Indianapolis on May 19, 2021. In his rookie NFL season, he recorded 11 receptions for 106 yards.

Granson’s determination and talented gameplay were evident from the start of the 2022 season when he made his first start in Week 2 against the Jaguars, ending the season with a total of 31 receptions for 302 yards. In September 2023, he achieved another milestone, scoring his first NFL touchdown against the Houston Texans. By the end of the 2023 season, he had recorded 30 receptions for 368 yards and one touchdown.

Always mindful of safety, Granson demonstrated his commitment to player welfare ahead of the 2024 season. He announced that he would be wearing a Guardian Cap designed to protect players from brain injuries. Despite the product not being popular among some players due to aesthetics, Granson, being one of the two Colts players to adopt it, championed it. His focus, going beyond personal gains and performance to include safety, serves as an inspiration to many. His eventful trajectory demonstrates his potential in reaching further heights in the professional football world.