Charles Grant: Path To The NFL Draft

By Simon Carroll

Did you know that there were seven active FCS players in Super Bowl 59? Every year, prospects from outside of the 134 FBS programs face an uphill battle for exposure. Perhaps considered as an afterthought in the past, these small school standouts have the numbers to show they’re worthy of more than just a fleeting glance – and now, the FCS is considered an opportunity by the NFL to find talent that once would have been missed.

Charles Grant is one of the few small school prospects to draw attention in the pre-draft process. After an eye-catching career at William & Mary, the gifted left tackle is ready to make his mark at the next level – an incredible rise for someone who only embraced the sport seven years ago. He sits down with Simon Carroll to discuss his path to the NFL Draft:

A Late Introduction To Football

Charles with his father Kent

For most NFL Draft prospects going through the process right now, football has been a part of their life for as long as they can remember. But growing up in Portsmouth, Virginia, Charles Grant’s passion for the sport began a lot later – and according to his father, it was hardly love at first sight:

“I didn’t start playing football until my junior year in high school. I grew up with my Mom, Dad and twin brother – and if you ask my Dad, the reason why I started so late was because I watched a friend get popped pretty bad in a Pee Wee game! He was running to the sideline, crying, and apparently I wanted none of that. But really, I think it’s because I never understood the game. Growing up, I’d watch it with the family a bit, but never knew what was going on. Some guys in my shoes have been playing football all their life. But when you think about it, I’ve only been throwing on pads for seven years.”

Football permeates the American way of life to such an extent that, for anyone of Charles’ size and athletic ability, it’s a surprise he avoided the gridiron for so long. It was only thanks to his prowess in another sport whilst at Churchland High School that he eventually was convinced that football might be something worth pursuing:

“I was actually a wrestler first! I started that in seventh grade, and it was my number one sport for a while. Our high school hosted the regional wrestling championship tournament, and one of my teammates also played football. Our football team had just got a new head coach, and he came down to watch. Me and my teammate – who played right tackle in football at the time – wrestled a little bit, and despite being much bigger than me I pretty easily took him down. I had technique and experience on my side! The coach told me I could come in and play left tackle straight away – I had been asked before, always said no, but something made me say yes at that moment. I wondered if I really wanted to after! But I’m a man of my word, gave it a go and never looked back.”

Many high school juniors will have had a decade of football under their belts by the time Grant finally embraced the sport. A complicated, cerebral game, it would take the new offensive lineman a little while to get up to speed:

“It was a steep learning curve! I remember my first one-on-one vividly; it was at a training camp with another school. The defensive end rushed and I didn’t even move – I just let him fly right past me! My coach had only gone through run blocking with me, so I was focusing on the guy inside and the linebacker behind him. Not a great start, but when I understood I had to protect the edge when passing, I did a lot better. I’m not saying I won the next rep, but I definitely showed some qualities that gave my coach hope!”

A Natural Talent

The faith that Churchland Truckers head coach Dontrell Leonard and his coaching staff put into their raw left tackle was quickly repaid with dedication. Charles Grant soaked up all the coaching he could ahead of his first year playing football, quickly assimilating to the rigors of the sport. Once he felt comfortable in his role, the development was evident:

“I started all the games my first season, helping my team make the playoffs. And I had fun doing it too, so to have that success and enjoyment straight off the bat, I was definitely playing my senior year. And the difference was obvious – I definitely knew what I was doing in year two! I got bigger, stronger and quicker – and it helped me as a wrestler too. Football definitely brought out some aggression in me; I consider myself a nice guy, but I learned how to have a football mode and use it to my advantage. The difference in just 12 months was obvious – I could really play this game.”

In a concise, two-year high school career, Grant would be named an All-District and All-Region offensive lineman – highlighting just how quick he mastered playing left tackle. But with such little exposure to the sport and light on film, his experience as a recruit was predictably muted. Despite flying under the radar, Grant’s first appearance at a college football camp reaped immediate dividends:

“The first camp I went to was UVA-Wise. It was in the summer ahead of my senior year – and again, it was unfamiliar territory for me. It was the first time I’d ever run a forty-yard dash, and I did it out of an o-lineman stance! I didn’t know any better at the time. But I did very well in all the drills, and I’m very coachable, so I definitely got the hang of it when other camps came around. But UVA-Wise, they offered me on the spot – and really that’s where my recruiting began. My school entered the ECU 7-on-7 tournament, and I got a little bit of interest from there too. It was then that, with my good grades, I realised football could get me an education.”

The late introduction to sport meant that Charles and his family had to act fast. His recruiting on fast-forward, Grant did everything to give himself an opportunity of a college career – which ultimately came from just an hour north in Williamsburg:

“Me and my dad, we went on something of a camp tour. We did UNC, Old Dominion and later William & Mary. W&M’s defensive coordinator, Coach Dowling [Ras-I Dowling, former NFL defensive back] had been to our school earlier that year, initially to look at one of my teammates as a possible recruit. But our basketball coach tipped him off about me! He pulled me out of class and Coach Dowling invited me to the camp. I went down there and balled out – I even did some of the drills on d-line too! But they knew I was going to play o-line, and a couple of days later called me with an offer. At this point, I’m not thinking about the NFL, just about getting a good education. So the level of football was less of a priority for me, and William & Mary is well-respected academically. I cancelled my planned camp at James Madison, and committed then and there.”

Transitioning To The Tribe

Charles Grant arrived on the William & Mary campus in 2020 – the year that the whole world came screeching to a halt. The global pandemic resulted in a delayed, condensed football season – devastating for many, but probably coming at as good a time as possible for Grant. He was able to redshirt that season – preserving his eligibility – but still get a taste of action in three games. That exposure led to him being ready for his first full season, something that came a little quicker than expected: 

“Honestly, it was incredibly satisfying to come in and make an impact almost immediately. Gordon Sammis was my first o-line coach, the guy who recruited me – and there was a running joke that I was his ‘golden child’! I was strong and athletic with long arms, and was the poster child of the freshman class really. They were excited about what I could become, how they could mold me into an o-line specimen. 2020 gave me a taste, got me acclimated to the speed of things. And it was a good job too, because that first game of the 2021 season, the starting left tackle failed COVID protocol, and I was the next man up. Thrown straight in – it was definitely a wake-up call.”

Grant would go on to play in all eleven games in the 2021 season, starting five – and ultimately claiming the left tackle spot as his own by the time the year was done. His introduction came early but he had survived, and ultimately thrived; paving the way for a dominant career at William & Mary:

“That first game against UVA, it was definitely the most nerve-wracking game in my career. I still wasn’t where I needed to be with the playbook, I just remember it being incredibly loud. And looking back I did okay, but the next game against Lafayette I did a lot better. I picked up the calls and plays quickly, knowing I was in line to start. And I ended up starting five games that year in total – which was a real confidence boost for me. I was happy to contribute, and it dawned on me that I was actually kinda good at this football stuff! I was underweight still and knew there was a lot more to learn, but still competing despite that was satisfying.”

The growth in mass was a similar project to the growth as a left tackle. Walking on campus at 230lbs, Grant would finish his time with The Tribe at 300lbs+, showing the dedication to his conditioning. It was the same dedication to his growth on the field too – and Charles is quick to praise those who helped him through his quick development:

“Coach Sammis really helped me through those early days of transitioning. Don’t forget, I was as unpolished as they come, just two years playing the sport and undersized. He really helped me with technique, positioning, and getting my body right. And one of my dad’s friends, Coach Tevis [Tevis Terrell, coach at Maury High School in Norfolk, VA], he helped me out too with a little bit of individual o-line training before I got to William & Mary. I don’t know how far I would have come without those two helping me establish a foundation at the position. It was almost a crash course in playing left tackle, and I’m grateful for what they did for me.” 

All-American Left Tackle

Once he had a handle on football, success came thick and fast for Charles Grant. 2022 will be remembered as a great year for William & Mary, the team going 11-2 and winning their conference. The Tribe make it to the quarter-finals of the playoffs and finished 8th in the nation – beating three other ranked teams and FBS program Charlotte along the way. Grant himself was the recipient of numerous accolades, a fitting acknowledgement of a season where he allowed zero sacks in thirteen starts. As Charles says, it was at this point that he began acknowledging an ambition to play at the next level:

“It kind of dawned on me after I was named sophomore All-American. Once others started recognising how good I was, I began to believe myself. And it was about this time that the NFL first came on my radar. I’d have people reach out to me, say they were impressed with the tape, and offer advice regarding development and exposure. I went out to North Carolina and trained with [former NFL offensive tackle] Cameron Clarke a bit before my final year, helping and broadening my learning. Guys outside my college were seeing me, which told me that, if I really focused and gave everything I had to this sport, then a professional career was a real possibility.”

Despite the growing NFL noise, Grant remained focused. He backs up his sophomore campaign with another stellar year in 2023, allowing just one sack in 334 pass blocking snaps and making forty pancake blocks. In an era of transfer portals and name, image & likeness opportunities, I wonder if there was a moment where Charles considered showcasing his skills in the FBS and enjoying all the benefits that came with it. But I’m quickly learning that this left tackle just isn’t built like that; instead a healthy set of priorities and comfort with his platform allowed him to finish the job he started:

“I was going nowhere, especially until I had graduated. I really wanted to get that degree from William & Mary – remember, education was always the main goal, and football just happened to be how I got there. A couple of teams enquired, usually via my high school head coach or my dad, and I won’t say I totally discounted the idea of going somewhere else once I’d finished my studies. But considering I was already getting NFL attention where I was, exposure wasn’t a problem for me. I got good counsel from friends and family, and decided to focus on getting better where I was. I was also honored to be named a captain ahead of my final season at William & Mary, and I wanted that privilege of leading my guys and giving back to the school that took a chance on me when not many others would.”

Fully invested in finishing his college career in green and gold, Grant would establish himself as one of the top FCS tackles in the country. More conference honors came in 2024, a season where Charles allowed just one sack again and finished with an incredible 90.2 grade according to PFF. He was also nominated as a Walter Payton Award Finalist, an accolade often referred to as the ‘Heisman of the FCS’. Grant stays predictably humble and team-focused when reminiscing over his achievements of the past four years:

“Getting my degree aside, I’d say I’m most proud of the growth of the team during my time there. Being an FCS school, and me coming in with just two years experience – to be able to help my teammates elevate that program on my way to becoming an All-American myself, it’s a testament to the effort I put in to make myself better and those around me better. Some people might not see it, but I consider myself blessed to have been given the opportunity to represent William & Mary. So the accolades, the awards, they’re my way of saying thank you to the school that gave me a home. I worked as hard as I could to repay that faith.”

Draft Preparations

An incredible college career in the rear-view mirror, Charles Grant now embarks on the next stage of a football journey that might be younger than some other prospect’s cleats are. The NFL Draft process is a gauntlet; a four-month period where the hopes and dreams of hundreds of former student athletes – not to mention many, many millions of dollars – are all on the line. Grant is not an unknown entity at this stage – his accomplishments at William & Mary are well known in draft circles, and he was duly rewarded with invites to both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine as a result. Unfortunately, an injury in his final game for the Tribe meant he was unable to head to Mobile or do any drills in Indianapolis, although he was able to attend the combine and speak to teams there. If my experience with this considerate, intelligent and well-spoken prospect is anything to go by, Grant will have knocked that aspect of the event out of the park.

Without a hint of self-pity or despondency, Charles instead turned his attention to his pro day on March 20th. At the time of writing, that’s just 24 hours away – but it’s a moment that Grant has been focused on for some time. Working out at EXOS in Phoenix, he’s leaving no stone unturned in his attempts to put on a show in front of scouts, the last opportunity for him to have a say in his draft fate:

“Honestly, it’s amazing down here. They have the whole nine! And I guess this is what it’s like being at one of the blue blood college football programs – they help you with nutrition, getting your healthy weight up, focusing on your athleticism, change of direction – everything you can think of not to just get better against the stopwatch, but to be quicker on the football field too. There’s some top prospects here too, so it’s great testing yourself against some of the best out there. The top two questions for most linemen, and definitely for me, is are you strong and are you quick? So it’s getting that balance of size and speed right. I’m heavy enough, strong enough and quick enough to play at the next level – and until my Pro Day, maximising that is going to be my main focus.”

We discuss versatility for the first time in the interview – a fair subject to broach for a prospect who has played just six seasons of football, all of them at one position. Despite a lack of experience elsewhere on the offensive line, Grant expects to be able to adapt to any role asked of him as quickly as he learned the sport:

“The more positions you can play, the more opportunities you’ll have on the field. There’ll be another learning curve for me, but history shows I pick things up very quickly. If I can play the blind side in my first start against Virginia, I’m confident I can play any position asked of me. And that goes for schemes too – I was naturally built for the wide zone, where my speed is an asset. And the way the game is evolving nowadays, that’s in vogue in the league. I can get to the second level with ease, and I’m comfortable working in space. But I can be just as effective running power too.  Whatever NFL offenses want to do, I’m going to be an asset.”

"With Hard Work, It Can Happen To Me"

The journey to the NFL is a pipe dream for most, and incredibly difficult for the few blessed with the talent and work ethic to achieve it. In years past, the odds of making it are even slimmer for those prospects who ply their college trade outside of the biggest conferences in the FBS – but that’s no longer the case. FCS talent graces all 32 rosters in the league in the modern era, in particular on the offensive line. And in recent drafts, Cole Strange and Quinn Meinerz have become household names for hearing their names called on days one and two. For Charles Grant, he’s got a role model much closer to home to look to:

“Seeing those FCS guys go high in previous years, it gives you that confidence. The pathway is clear; seeing Colby Sorsdal, a guy I played with, go to the Lions [5th round pick, 2023], it’s living proof that with hard work it can happen to me. And Colby is my guy, he really paved the way for me. He brought interest to William & Mary, and because of him it put this school on the map. Scouts got to see me when they were out here looking at him. He’s been a great resource through my career, sometimes without even realising it! I’m grateful to call him a friend and a teammate.”

It’s patently clear that Charles is proud of where he has played football and what they have achieved the last four years. He jokes that perhaps his only regret is never catching a pass; the team had some plays drawn up for him, but sadly a ‘big man with the football moment’ never quite materialised. But that one minor ambition notwithstanding, Grant enters the final stretch of the draft process as a bonafide prospect in his own right – and his road to this moment has not hindered him as once it might. That’s a testament to his determination, demeanour and natural ability, but also to the people around him who helped him along the way. It’s those he intends to share his biggest moment with when that last weekend in April comes:

“I’ll definitely be surrounded by family and friends. There’s some things already in the works! A lot of people who have helped me on this journey are praying for my success, so I’m excited to have them around me when that moment comes. It’s kind of me repaying them for the support they have given me throughout the years. And I know for a lot of kids playing in the NFL is a dream they’ve had since they were five years old. That’s not my story, but I’m just as determined now to make that a reality as they are. For me, my motivation is about showing that if you can play, you can play – regardless of which school you come from. If you’re good enough, the league will find you. I’m proud of my journey, and ready to represent The Tribe at the next level.”

I look forward to seeing Charles catch his first career pass with the NFL shield on his chest.

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

Lead Writer/Head Of Content

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST AND COVERS THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR SB NATION.

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A huge thank you to Charles for taking the time to talk to us. Everyone at The Touchdown wishes him well in his future career.