Fast-Rising Lineman Brian Grant Details Early Recruitment, Offer From Tennessee

Fast-Rising Lineman Brian Grant Details Early Recruitment, Offer From Tennessee

Brian Grant did not expect to be receiving offers to play Division 1 college at this stage of his career. The three-sport star is coming off his first season on the gridiron, but schools are already noticing his athletic ability. Grant now holds three offers, including Maryland, Tennessee, and UCF.

"I learned of my first offer from my recruiting coach, Coach Ris, and his group, the Record Breakers. Maryland offered, and it was a big shock just because it was the first offer I had gotten anywhere. I wasn't really expecting to get a football offer after only playing my first year as a Junior," Grant said of the initial offer.

Grant, a multi-sport star in football, basketball, and track & field, played defensive end this fall, but he is being recruited to play offensive tackle at the next level due to his athleticism and versatility. 

"Maryland, at first wanted me on the defensive line, UCF and Tennessee, they were looking at my basketball film, their offensive line coach (Glen) Elarbee was, and he was looking at my feet and thought I could be able to play offensive tackle." 

Elarbee extended an offer to Grant at UCF on January 26th. A day later, Josh Heupel left UCF to take the head coaching job at Tennessee, with Elarbee set to follow along. 

Elarbee's evaluation of Grant did not change, as he quickly offered him at Tennessee, which has made Grant feel like he is a priority to the new Tennessee staff. 

"It is kind of a combination, really (of laid back and focused). He talks to you like he knows you," Grant said of Elarbee. "When I first talked to him, he talked to me more like another high schooler; he talked to me like he had been around me and was not a stranger."

Grant admittedly has not yet had a chance to focus on what type of offense he would like to play in at the college level. "I have only had three offers so far, and I don't know too much about the offenses yet, since I played a majority of defense in my first year." 

While the recruitment process is relatively new to the agile lineman, he knows what he is looking for in the process. "Just people I can be myself around. A place that I can go, and it feels like home." 

This is just the start for the Choctawhatchee High School (Fla.) standout. He knows there is more to come and more to improve about his game to get him ready for the next level. "I definitely need to improve technique-wise. My athleticism from basketball definitely helped; there is just so much more I need to learn about football."

Much like the game of recruiting is new to Grant, his name is new to others. "My AAU coach, he always said I have a high motor no matter what I did. Same with my defensive line coach, he always said I had a high motor. I would say, I am definitely going to give it all I have," he said on what people should know about him moving forward.