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LB Curtis Grant (National Champion)

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Buckeye86;2307995; said:
Either way, it is beyond ridiculous to call a player an "enigma" before their junior season no matter how hyped they were coming out of high school.
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I think that's a very fair statement. If I recall, Grant was a HS kid who was a very good athlete and could get away with play that, for a lack of better words, we would consider to be undisciplined. If that is the result of the type of system he played in in HS or his style, I can't say for sure. Be that as it may, playing LB at this level requires a great athlete as a price of entry. The rest of the game is something that comes through study and experience. Kids who come through a program that forces this type of discipline on the field likely have a leg up through practicing those things through their HS years. In that regard, it very much feels like a 'Bino situation. 'Bino just needed time to put it all together. Grant, I'm guessing, needs the same. Frankly, from what I saw of Grant in HS films, I'd say that I'm willing to bet that when it all comes together, he'll be more than fine. And two years playing at tOSU as a starter is two damn good years of ball. Likely more par for the course, regardless of hype coming out of school.
 
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Ohio State linebacker Curtis Grant: "Man up or get out."
by Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
3/7/2013

Junior linebacker Curtis Grant was mad when he lost his starting job last season, and he didn't handle it well. Grant addressed his past when the Ohio State linebackers met with reporters after the second football practice of spring ball Thursday, and he had his answer down when he was asked about it several times.
"Complacency," is what cost him the job, the inability to handle the "glory" of having a starting job.
So Grant said he went home at Christmas and thought about his future. As many players do when their careers aren't going as they hoped, Grant said he at least for a time considered a transfer.
But now he's back, after the coaches thought about moving him to defensive end, and in the mix for the starting linebacker job.
"You either man up or get out," Grant said. "So it's pretty straight forward. So I manned up so I can come out here and help out."
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/team/1362704762-743-474/ohio-state-linebacker-curtis-grant.html
 
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Ohio State linebacker Curtis Grant video interview- CPD 3 7 13
Ohio State linebacker Curtis Grant had a choice: 'Man up or get out'
Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
March 07, 2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Home in Virginia over winter break after a sophomore season gone wrong, Ohio State linebacker Curtis Grant considered his future.

He'd won the starting middle linebacker job for the 2012 season, then lost it after three games, and didn't get back on the field even as injuries at the position forced fullback Zach Boren to switch to linebacker.

A five-star recruit out of high school, ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2011 by Rivals.com, he'd come to realize how different the college game is from high school.

“Nine times out of 10 coming out of high school, you're usually the man,” Grant said. “So you don't get yelled at as much and you get away with a lot of stuff. But nothing goes unnoticed here.”

When he lost the job, he didn't handle it well.

“I was real mad. I didn't know what to do,” Grant said Thursday after Ohio State's second practice of spring football. “I would just sit back and watch and I wasn't used to that.”

He'd calmed down by Christmas, but he had to decide what he wanted. When a college career gets off track, especially for a major recruit, change is often the choice. Grant said Thursday he at least considered transferring.

“Either you man up or get out,” Grant said. “It's pretty straight forward. So I manned up.”

cont...
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2013/03/ohio_state_linebacker_curtis_g.html
 
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Spring Spotlight: Curtis Grant
Q&A with junior linebacker Curtis Grant
March 8, 2013

Name: Curtis Grant
Class: Junior
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
High School: Hermitage
Position: LB

2012 Recap: Saw action in eight games and had eight tackles, including two solo and six assisted.

2013 Outlook: With a year under his belt under a new coaching staff, Grant is expected to compete for one of the starting linebacker jobs for an Ohio State defense which ranked 34th in total defense in 2012.

Q: How does the loss of four starters on the defensive line affect the linebackers?
A: "We are all young in our front seven. We (the linebackers) basically just have to put in extra work to make up for the loss of those guys so we can all become better as a unit."

Q: Does that make it harder to do your job as a linebacker?
A: "It actually makes it more fun because the pressure is on you, so you have to take your game to the next level in order to succeed."

Q: How does having a year under your belt with this coaching staff give you an advantage over younger guys?
A: "You already know what the expectations are. You come into practice every day and it's straightforward, no sugar coating. You know what the day is going to be like when you step into the Woody."

Q: Has anyone emerged as a leader of this team in just the two practices thus far?
A: "We definitely have a few leaders on defense already. Guys like Christian Bryant and Bradley Roby, along with the other seniors have stepped up."

Q: Do you see yourself potentially taking on a leadership role?
A: "We're pretty young as a team, but I'm just trying to be a leader for some of those younger guys because I've been here. Coach Fickell always says `If you can't lead, follow... and one day you'll become a leader.'"

Q: What's your greatest attribute as a linebacker?
A: "I've always been told my greatest strengths are my passion and energy. When I don't have those two things it's like the whole team is kind of down. But when I do it really helps us out."

Q: The offense returns a lot of starters and is getting a lot of coverage, but what's one thing people should know about this defense?
A: "We're coming, that's all they need to know. The defense is coming together and we're going to keep working hard."
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http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030813aae.html
 
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Another chance for Grant
Former ESPN 150 LB knows its now or never after two nondescript seasons
Updated: March 11, 2013
By Austin Ward | BuckeyeNation

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The position was open, and Curtis Grant was next in line.

There has never been any doubt about the Ohio State junior's athletic ability. He had an improved knowledge of the playbook heading into last season and no real competition for the middle linebacker job he assumed would be his.

rn_g_curtisgrant2_ms_200.jpg

Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Curtis Grant thinks he has the confidence necessary to unleash his athletic skills for the Buckeyes this fall.

But before the Buckeyes had even played a conference game, the starting spot was gone. A few weeks after that, a converted fullback had taken over the position and one of the most highly touted recruits in the country two years ago was pushed even further down the depth chart.

Working back through the checklist -- with Grant again in position to take over one of the most critical positions on the field defensively -- almost everything is the same. He's still a freakish athlete, still working extra hours breaking down film to expand his knowledge of the game and still somebody Ohio State has no problem publicly identifying as a difference maker.

But something needed to change for Grant to start fulfilling all the expectations that came with his high-profile recruitment, and a second consecutive season largely on the sideline helped him figure out exactly what it was.

"I got too complacent; that's the only thing I can say," Grant said after the second practice of spring on Thursday. "You know, when you run with the [starters], you take it as an honor, but then you get complacent and don't keep working as hard. Taking it for granted, taking the honor and praise, you get too complacent.

"Couldn't handle the glory of being a starter, I guess. Should have kept working harder."

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http://espn.go.com/colleges/osu/foo...star-ohio-state-buckeyes-two-mediocre-seasons
 
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I look at it this way: I saw Chris Spielman play in HS. He was the best player on the field. I saw him play a ton at Ohio State. He made play, after play, after play, after play - even as a freshman. He got better as he got older, but the fact that he made plays was ever present. He had that "nose for the ball" instinct.

Curtis Grant has not shown that instinct. Can he learn it? I don't know. Maybe, and I hope he does. I pull for all Buckeyes. But when you are searching for play-making ability as a junior, I haven't seen too many players find it at that stage. My gut says it is either there or it isn't.
 
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I'm inclined to agree with that. Everyone can't be great at every position and some spots require more than just physical stats. Little Animal had it, Brian Rolle had it, Boren jumped in and was able to make it happen. The Boar Hunter wasn't the greatest Mike but had enough to hold the spot while the guys around him excelled. None of these guys had the same physical gifts as Grant (although LA came close). I think success will require more than just an attitude adjustment (which begs the question as to whether being complacent as the starting Mike at tOSU is a dispositive indication that you don't have it). We'd already know if he was really going to be the next great MLB here but, like everyone else, I hope it still works out. I trust this staff to get players in the places where they'll be most effective.
 
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Grant could be the difference of our defense being good or great. The DL is talented but we NEED someone to step up next to Shazier...really glad to hear Curtis is the man doing it. Keep up the hard work.
 
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