buckeyeboy
Still fortitudinous
I think Larry will start at Sam, with James at the Mike, and Marcus at the Will.
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- Thread starter BGriffBuckeye
- Start date
ESPN's Bruce Feldman tabs Grant #2 on his Top-10 "buzz worthy" players (eligible transfers, juco kids, and early enroll true frosh standouts).
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=feldman_bruce#20060322
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=feldman_bruce#20060322
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
Really suprised to not see Wells on that list.
I am really anxious to see Grant and what he can do this spring. If we were to start him and Freeman on the outside that would be a ton of speed, about as much as Carp and Hawk.
I am really anxious to see Grant and what he can do this spring. If we were to start him and Freeman on the outside that would be a ton of speed, about as much as Carp and Hawk.
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Columbus Dispatch
3/29
Grant takes the long way to Ohio State
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
Most of the time, college football recruiting falls under the heading of inexact science. Sometimes, as in the case of linebacker Larry Grant, it’s just plain serendipity.
His signing with Ohio State last month bolstered a recruiting class already replete with four highly ranked high-school linebackers. And with spring practice beginning Thursday, Grant could find himself in the mix for playing time, considering the Buckeyes lost their three starting linebackers from a year ago and that Grant was national junior-college defensive player of the year last season at City College of San Francisco.
"He’s a guy I think can bring us some maturity and leadership," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Although Grant landed at OSU, that was not his original destination. A few months ago, he was committed to Florida and all but had his bags packed for Gainesville. Originally from Norcross, Ga., an Atlanta suburb, Grant intended to play in the Southeastern Conference.
Then came the revelation that he had not passed a math course that the SEC requires of all junior-college transfers. Florida couldn’t take him. He did the makeup work in January, but by then he was a free agent.
At this point, Dick Walker entered the picture. He is a former coach at Watterson High School and defensive backs coach at Ohio State who assisted for a while in the NFL before returning to high-school coaching in the 1990s in Georgia.
That’s how he and Grant hooked up.As coach at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Walker had coached Grant’s older brother LaSean Woods, who saw to it that Grant played for Walker, too.
"Larry grew up in a singleparent household without a father, and his brother really became his guardian," Walker said.
When Walker resigned after Grant’s junior year, Grant transferred crosstown to Norcross High School. At 6 feet and 205 pounds, Grant was a hardcharging running back, but his only scholarship offer came from Murray State, and academic deficiencies kept him from enrolling.
"That’s when my brother sent me out here," Grant said, referring to City College of San Francisco.
"Larry going out there was a real blessing because it allowed him to mature in all kinds of ways," Walker said. "Physically, he added an inch or two and 20 pounds or so, and he got faster. He got his academic situation straight. Plus, he concentrated on defense and he really became a great prospect."
Walker wanted Ohio State to know that, so he began working the pipeline. That took him to Todd Alles, a special assistant in the OSU program after a long career in high schools.
"I went down and talked to (defensive coordinator) Jim Heacock about it, because I know historically at Ohio State we don’t do much (junior-college) recruiting," Alles said. "Coach Heacock asked me, ‘What does he play?’ I said, ‘Linebacker.’ Then he said, ‘Get some film on him.’ "
Alles was right about one thing — Tressel is not a fan of junior-college transfers, primarily because they can be in the program three years at the most. In his five years at OSU, he had not signed any, although he had inherited two, receiver Chris Vance and linebacker Jack Tucker.
But Grant was falling into OSU’s lap. Coaches scoured his academic background, were impressed by what they saw on videotape and invited him for an official visit. Grant committed the day before signing day.
Grant is a find, Heacock said.
"Last year he had six blocked punts, he had six sacks, he had six interceptions, he’s all over the place," Heacock said. "He can run, he can play a nickel (back) position if we need that. He’s a very versatile football player."
As much as anything, Grant is as Walker advertised.
"Coach Walker has always believed in me, and he has always been there for me," Grant said.
As for Walker, 72, he’s a little taken aback by the serendipity.
"I am really happy for Larry because, for starters, he is a great kid," Walker said. "I told him, ‘Larry, everything that has happened with you until now, it has all worked out for the best, believe me.’ "
[email protected]
3/29
Grant takes the long way to Ohio State
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
Most of the time, college football recruiting falls under the heading of inexact science. Sometimes, as in the case of linebacker Larry Grant, it’s just plain serendipity.
His signing with Ohio State last month bolstered a recruiting class already replete with four highly ranked high-school linebackers. And with spring practice beginning Thursday, Grant could find himself in the mix for playing time, considering the Buckeyes lost their three starting linebackers from a year ago and that Grant was national junior-college defensive player of the year last season at City College of San Francisco.
"He’s a guy I think can bring us some maturity and leadership," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Although Grant landed at OSU, that was not his original destination. A few months ago, he was committed to Florida and all but had his bags packed for Gainesville. Originally from Norcross, Ga., an Atlanta suburb, Grant intended to play in the Southeastern Conference.
Then came the revelation that he had not passed a math course that the SEC requires of all junior-college transfers. Florida couldn’t take him. He did the makeup work in January, but by then he was a free agent.
At this point, Dick Walker entered the picture. He is a former coach at Watterson High School and defensive backs coach at Ohio State who assisted for a while in the NFL before returning to high-school coaching in the 1990s in Georgia.
That’s how he and Grant hooked up.As coach at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Walker had coached Grant’s older brother LaSean Woods, who saw to it that Grant played for Walker, too.
"Larry grew up in a singleparent household without a father, and his brother really became his guardian," Walker said.
When Walker resigned after Grant’s junior year, Grant transferred crosstown to Norcross High School. At 6 feet and 205 pounds, Grant was a hardcharging running back, but his only scholarship offer came from Murray State, and academic deficiencies kept him from enrolling.
"That’s when my brother sent me out here," Grant said, referring to City College of San Francisco.
"Larry going out there was a real blessing because it allowed him to mature in all kinds of ways," Walker said. "Physically, he added an inch or two and 20 pounds or so, and he got faster. He got his academic situation straight. Plus, he concentrated on defense and he really became a great prospect."
Walker wanted Ohio State to know that, so he began working the pipeline. That took him to Todd Alles, a special assistant in the OSU program after a long career in high schools.
"I went down and talked to (defensive coordinator) Jim Heacock about it, because I know historically at Ohio State we don’t do much (junior-college) recruiting," Alles said. "Coach Heacock asked me, ‘What does he play?’ I said, ‘Linebacker.’ Then he said, ‘Get some film on him.’ "
Alles was right about one thing — Tressel is not a fan of junior-college transfers, primarily because they can be in the program three years at the most. In his five years at OSU, he had not signed any, although he had inherited two, receiver Chris Vance and linebacker Jack Tucker.
But Grant was falling into OSU’s lap. Coaches scoured his academic background, were impressed by what they saw on videotape and invited him for an official visit. Grant committed the day before signing day.
Grant is a find, Heacock said.
"Last year he had six blocked punts, he had six sacks, he had six interceptions, he’s all over the place," Heacock said. "He can run, he can play a nickel (back) position if we need that. He’s a very versatile football player."
As much as anything, Grant is as Walker advertised.
"Coach Walker has always believed in me, and he has always been there for me," Grant said.
As for Walker, 72, he’s a little taken aback by the serendipity.
"I am really happy for Larry because, for starters, he is a great kid," Walker said. "I told him, ‘Larry, everything that has happened with you until now, it has all worked out for the best, believe me.’ "
[email protected]
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HineyBuck
Old newb
We should send a major Buckeye THANK YOU out to Dick Walker. He's an interesting story in his own right. I remember, as a kid, watching some epic battles between his Watterson teams and my dad's old Columbus North High teams. That he returned to high school coaching, to mold young men, after enjoying success at both the college and NFL levels, says a great deal about his character.
BTW, anyone seen tomwal lately? He's Dick Walker's son. He hasn't visited BuckeyePlanet for some time. Too bad. He's a very knowledgeable poster.
:osu:
BTW, anyone seen tomwal lately? He's Dick Walker's son. He hasn't visited BuckeyePlanet for some time. Too bad. He's a very knowledgeable poster.
:osu:
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Great read on Grant and how sometimes things turn out for the best.....I am really looking forward to seeing Grant in action at the spring game.....he has the talent, I guess the only question will be how quick he picks up the system....I still can't get over the 6 blocked kicks....wow.
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crazybuckfan40
Head Coach
Wait till he is here in the Winter. This spring hasnt even been that bad.
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Larry is apparently not aware of this Mark Twain quote:
"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
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From official site's Football Quotes (April 13, 2006):
I like his attitude and am glad he's feeling like he belongs...
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Ozone article on Grant:
theozone.grant
Grant Marching Toward a Place with Buckeyes
By John Porentas
According to Ohio State linebackers coach Like Fickell, the derby to replace three departed starting linebackers from the 2005 squad has evolved into a seven-man derby the includes five players that were on last year's squad and two that are new to the Buckeyes this spring.
The two newcomers are incoming freshman Ross Homan who enrolled early at Ohio State in order to participate in spring drills. The other is junior college transfer Larry Grant who also is enrolled at OSU for spring drills and will have two years of eligibility remaining as he begins his Buckeye career.
Homan must make the normal transition from high school to college. That encompasses not only football, but his academic life as well. For Grant, however, the transition is somewhat different.
Grant has been on a junior college campus for two years having attended City College of San Francisco. Unlike Homan, Grant has had a glimpse of what football life is beyond the high school level. He captained his team last year as a junior college player and played in the junior college national championship game. According to Fickell, that in itself should give Grant somewhat of a leg up coming into spring ball.
"A guy like Larry has played in big situations, in national championship games in junior college," said Fickell.
"Larry is a guy who has been battle tested. I don't know a lot about junior college, but a national championship game is a national championship game.
"He's one of those guys that you can look at his eyes and going to Texas or going to wherever, it's not going to probably bother him one bit," Fickell said.
Grant's maturity and experience should be a plus for him as he competes for playing time and a position, but Grant says that the differences between junior college football and major Division I college football were immediately obvious to him.
"The speed is a lot faster. Everybody is a lot bigger and a lot faster, and there's way-more chemistry, the team's chemistry is more together here than I dreamed college football would be," said Grant.
"In junior college everybody would do stuff on their own to get to the next level and making that transition coming from a junior college to this level is big. The game is faster, it's more intense, and it's more thinking. You're knowledge of the game has to be way better," Grant said.
Players new to Division I football often talk about the speed of the game, and that is probably one of the most misunderstood statements made. It isn't so much that the backs and receivers are faster. Those people are fast at every level off football. It's everybody else on the field that is the surprise to newcomers to D-I ball.
"The speed from junior college to here is a lot faster because of the interior offensive linemen and the defensive linemen," said Grant.
"They're moving two-times faster than in junior college."
Grant said that he is making progress with the football part of being a Buckeye, but that there is more to it than just what happens on the practice field, like in the locker room before and after practice and during meetings. .
"Athletically I feel like I belong here. I just have to get the chemistry down and the defense down," said Grant.
"I do feel like an outside sometimes, but they're trying to take me in as part of the family and it's getting better every day," Grant said.
"It just seems like a big family in there. We never really talk about competition because now in the spring I'm not worried about which team I'm playing on.
"My roommates are taking care of me. They're showing me around and I'm comfortable with where I'm at right now," said Grant.
For Grant, that process of going from outsider to insider is a radical change from his junior college days.
"At my junior college I was the upper classman and I was head of everybody. I was the captain and everybody fed off my intensity. It's different coming here, because I'm starting from the bottom, but that's all right," Grant said.
theozone.grant
Grant Marching Toward a Place with Buckeyes
By John Porentas
According to Ohio State linebackers coach Like Fickell, the derby to replace three departed starting linebackers from the 2005 squad has evolved into a seven-man derby the includes five players that were on last year's squad and two that are new to the Buckeyes this spring.
The two newcomers are incoming freshman Ross Homan who enrolled early at Ohio State in order to participate in spring drills. The other is junior college transfer Larry Grant who also is enrolled at OSU for spring drills and will have two years of eligibility remaining as he begins his Buckeye career.
Homan must make the normal transition from high school to college. That encompasses not only football, but his academic life as well. For Grant, however, the transition is somewhat different.
Grant has been on a junior college campus for two years having attended City College of San Francisco. Unlike Homan, Grant has had a glimpse of what football life is beyond the high school level. He captained his team last year as a junior college player and played in the junior college national championship game. According to Fickell, that in itself should give Grant somewhat of a leg up coming into spring ball.
"A guy like Larry has played in big situations, in national championship games in junior college," said Fickell.
"Larry is a guy who has been battle tested. I don't know a lot about junior college, but a national championship game is a national championship game.
"He's one of those guys that you can look at his eyes and going to Texas or going to wherever, it's not going to probably bother him one bit," Fickell said.
Grant's maturity and experience should be a plus for him as he competes for playing time and a position, but Grant says that the differences between junior college football and major Division I college football were immediately obvious to him.
"The speed is a lot faster. Everybody is a lot bigger and a lot faster, and there's way-more chemistry, the team's chemistry is more together here than I dreamed college football would be," said Grant.
"In junior college everybody would do stuff on their own to get to the next level and making that transition coming from a junior college to this level is big. The game is faster, it's more intense, and it's more thinking. You're knowledge of the game has to be way better," Grant said.
Players new to Division I football often talk about the speed of the game, and that is probably one of the most misunderstood statements made. It isn't so much that the backs and receivers are faster. Those people are fast at every level off football. It's everybody else on the field that is the surprise to newcomers to D-I ball.
"The speed from junior college to here is a lot faster because of the interior offensive linemen and the defensive linemen," said Grant.
"They're moving two-times faster than in junior college."
Grant said that he is making progress with the football part of being a Buckeye, but that there is more to it than just what happens on the practice field, like in the locker room before and after practice and during meetings. .
"Athletically I feel like I belong here. I just have to get the chemistry down and the defense down," said Grant.
"I do feel like an outside sometimes, but they're trying to take me in as part of the family and it's getting better every day," Grant said.
"It just seems like a big family in there. We never really talk about competition because now in the spring I'm not worried about which team I'm playing on.
"My roommates are taking care of me. They're showing me around and I'm comfortable with where I'm at right now," said Grant.
For Grant, that process of going from outsider to insider is a radical change from his junior college days.
"At my junior college I was the upper classman and I was head of everybody. I was the captain and everybody fed off my intensity. It's different coming here, because I'm starting from the bottom, but that's all right," Grant said.
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Really looking forward to Grant's contributions, particularly on special teams. What is especially encouraging is his apparent willingness to try to fit in as a teammate. This is not always the case with some JC guys. Sometimes guys with a short eligibility clock have different priorities. Nice to see Grant recognize that D-1 is a little different. Sounds like the athleticism and willingness to compete are there. Just needs to learn the scheme. Best of luck to Mr. Grant.
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Love the attitude. Always remember, sometimes you are just one play from having to step in and contribute like Lil Animal vs. scUM. There's no such thing as too much depth in the Big Ten.
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It was obvious Larry was not a polished product coming in....however, I do expect him to get the coaching he needs and make a serious push for PT. Larry has tremendous tools...just not ready for Big Ten football yet.
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