Colin Granger signed as a tight end after finishing his college basketball career.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Not many people can say something like this:
“I mean it’s like it’s surreal like to be able to wake up and say I’m a Carolina Panthers you know it’s it’s crazy. I never thought I’d really be able to say,” said Colin Granger.
Even fewer can say it while having not played football since 8th grade.Β
“I just feel like that for amazing things to happen. Someone had to always you know have some sort of delusional goal or attitude and that’s just approach I’ve always taken,” said Granger.
Just about a month ago, Colin Granger was playing in the last basketball game of his five year collegiate career. He spent time at Ohio University, Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina. A direct message he received earlier that year was on his mind.Β
“It’s only like it’s really George like the George got me to do it,” said Granger.
George Fant, nine year NFL pro now with the Seahawks, also played college basketball before making the transition to football.Β
“He hit me up. He DM’d me early to midway through the season and basically just like kinda explained who he was in and and what he you know what he did how his situation worked out and that he really believe that I could do the same thing. Β He actually has a little database that he goes through and he looks at offensive rebounds because in his eyes offense rebounds means you aggressive it’s kind of a physical because you kinda have to like fight for the ball to get an offense rebound. “Those trades thinks just like kinda translate the football.
Three days after his last game at Coastal Carolina in March, Colin took the leap and moved in with George, changing his story.
“Basically I got to George’s house at midnight whenever I did and the very next morning we started at 9 AM,” said Granger.
For the last month of going through NFL Combine drills, working on his speed and strength, Colin filmed a video running routes: enough to garner interest from a number of NFL Scouts.Β
“It was enough to be like hey this guy can actually like catch a football,” said Granger. “George kept telling me that like that’s almost like it never happens for someone especially doesn’t play football to have five teams come out and be there just for me.”
This week, Colin got his chance.
“The Panthers were obviously, there. One of their scouts and he called me on his way home. Couple hours after the pro was like hey can you come be? Can you be at our facility on Monday and I know obviously I said absolutely,” said Granger.
On Monday, Colin signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers as a tight end.
“I was in the parking lot of the Panthers Arena like I just I just felt in that moment after kind of ink in the paper they’re like literally anything you put your mind to as possible,” said Granger. “I mean a month ago I was playing basketball and I had no vision of playing football had absolutely no idea that I’d be playing football that I’d ever be this you know be at this point right now.”
Far-fetched for some, but an achievement like this for Colin is a product of believing.
“You know if you shoot for the moon fall short amongst the stars that’s kind of the attitude like go all out and and you’ll achieve something great out out of it, even if it’s not what you expected it’s something amazing will come from it. The only way you can get there is by giving it. You know absolutely everything,” said Granger.
