By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics

As he reached the junior year of his high school life, Charles Grant set a goal to earn an academic scholarship for college. He was an all-state wrestler at Churchland High in Portsmouth, which also might help cover tuition costs with partial aid. 

That was the plan. Until the plan changed, a bit. Until finally, Grant answered yes to a request he had heard at least once a day in the hallways: Please join our football team! He became an immediate starter at left tackle for the Truckers and, lo and behold, was offered a full athletic scholarship by William & Mary.

Grant took it and graduated in four years. He started 41 games, including the final 36 of his career, at left tackle and was a consensus All-American as a senior. And in three weeks, if the analysts are correct, he'll be selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.

In this age of NILs and the transfer portal, this is an unusual story. Athletes are supposed to take their talents to the greenest grass and highest bidder. Instead, Grant stayed in Williamsburg for several reasons, not the least of which was loyalty.

"William & Mary took a shot on me coming out of high school," Grant said. "I had gotten, quote-unquote, interest from the big schools, but nobody offered. William & Mary saw my potential and they took that shot and offered me.

"I thought it was right to repay them for that. Plus, I was named captain, so I wanted to have a chance to lead my guys and go out with the people I started with."

Tribe coach Mike London appreciates that. He also believes it exemplifies what William & Mary is all about.

"He could have gone somewhere else, but he decided to stay and get his degree and be around people who care for him," London said. "He's not just a number, he's an individual.

"If we get you here, we'll keep you here. We'll develop you, and you have a chance to earn a world-class degree and play at the next level."

Grant has generated as much pre-draft buzz as, if not more than, any Tribe football player in history. W&M's annual Pro Day drew a program record 37 representatives from 29 teams (and one from the CFL). The Bills, Falcons, Raiders, Steelers and Bears were among teams that sent their offensive line coaches to Williamsburg.

Since Pro Day, Grant has worked out privately for the Saints and 49ers. He also has visited (or is scheduled to visit) the Texans, Eagles, Ravens, Titans, Bengals, Falcons and Raiders.

It's easy to see the appeal. At the NFL Combine in February, Grant measured 6-foot-4 and 7/8 inches and weighed 311 pounds. His arm length was 34¾ inches, his hand span 10¼ inches.

You want athleticism? At W&M's Pro Day, he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.05 seconds. His vertical leap (not that linemen do much jumping) is 27 inches. His broad jump is 8 feet, 11 inches.

Durability? In five seasons at William & Mary, counting the abbreviated spring of 2021, he never missed a game.

Dependability? He gave up only two sacks in his final three seasons.

Character? In 2023, he underwent a seven-hour procedure to donate bone marrow and improve the life of a 29-year-old stranger battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"He's a great person from a great family," London said. "Our kind of player."

Draft projections differ, but the consensus has Grant off the board by the start of Round Four on Saturday. If that's the case, he would be at least the Tribe's earliest pick since defensive back Derek Cox (third round, No. 73 overall) in the 2009 draft.

And to think … he never played the game until his junior year of high school.

"I kept getting asked the same question — 'Do you play football?,'" Grant said. "And I'd be like, 'No, I wrestle.' Then it was, 'Why don't you play football?' And I'd give an I-don't-know type of answer.

"But junior year was the year I finally said yes. I had never played before that, so I didn't know what I was missing out on."

Grant has played left tackle his entire career, high school and college, but the pros love versatility.

"The offensive line coaches who came (to Pro Day) wanted to see if he could also play guard," London said. "One team had him snapping as a center. He can do a lot of things. He's got a bright future ahead of him."

Grant's philosophy is simple: Whatever he's asked to do.

"It might be a little learning curve at the beginning," he said. "But honestly, I think I could play any position on the offensive line and be successful."

A place he never expected to be became his springboard.

"Being from the area, I knew how prestigious William & Mary was," he said. "I took a shot on them, and they took a shot on me. It paid off for both of us."

One Tribe One Day
One Tribe One Day is William & Mary's annual day of giving which over the last 11 years has grown into a university tradition. The day highlights the strength and unity of the W&M community while undeniably impacting the university's future. This year, One Tribe One Day is Wednesday, April 2.
 
Last year, more than 11,500 people from around the world came together on one day to raise over $3.7 million for the people, places and programs they love most at William & Mary, including Tribe Athletics. To learn more about One Tribe One Day or to give back on this special day, visit Athletics's One Tribe One Day webpage.