Steve Grant
Encyclopedia
Stephen Mitchell "Steve" Grant (born December 23, 1969 in Miami, Florida
) is a former American football
linebacker
for the West Virginia Mountaineers
and Indianapolis Colts
in the National Football League
. Grant is currently the chaplin for the Texas Tech University football program in Lubbock , Texas.
in 1988. During his freshman season, Grant was part of one of the greatest linebacking corps in school history, consisting of Chris Haering, Renaldo Turnbull
, Lonnie Brockman, and Theron Ellis. Grant saw considerable playing time, as he recorded 55 tackles
, one forced fumble
, and a tackle for a loss. The Mountaineers went undefeated and traveled to the national championship, but lost to Notre Dame
in the Fiesta Bowl
. Grant's most memorable moment of the season was in the 14-10 victory over Maryland
. The Terrapins had the ball on the West Virginia three-yard line with under four minutes left. After three downs, the Terps went for it on fourth down. Terrapin quarterback Neil O'Donnell
threw a pass out in the flat to Ricky Johnson, who had previously scored from 46-yards out. Grant, however, knocked Johnson out of bounds on the one-yard line to save the undefeated season and the victory for the Mountaineers.
game on October 27, 1990, Grant already had 70 tackles, an interception
, two pass deflections
, and two tackles for a loss. Grant finished the season with 141 tackles, two interceptions, four tackles for a loss, and two sacks
. Grant was named the team's MVP
.
with 21 tackles.
Steve Grant is often considered one of the greatest linebackers in school history, along with greats such as Sam Huff
. Grant totaled 445 tackles in his career, one of the top statistics in school history. Grant was an All-East and All-Big East
linebacker during his tenure.
in the 1992 NFL Draft
and briefly played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in 1997. Grant was the Colt's Hard Nose Player of the Year in 1994, when he recorded a fumble recovery. In 1995, Grant started
all 16 games of the season and recorded his first career professional interception. Injuries ended Grant's career early in 1997 however, after spending six seasons in the NFL.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
and Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Grant is currently the chaplin for the Texas Tech University football program in Lubbock , Texas.
Freshman season
Steve Grant enrolled at West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in 1988. During his freshman season, Grant was part of one of the greatest linebacking corps in school history, consisting of Chris Haering, Renaldo Turnbull
Renaldo Turnbull
Renaldo Antonio Turnbull is a former professional American football player who played for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League Was the Saints 1st round in the 1990 NFL Draft. Turnbull, a 6'4",...
, Lonnie Brockman, and Theron Ellis. Grant saw considerable playing time, as he recorded 55 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, one forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
, and a tackle for a loss. The Mountaineers went undefeated and traveled to the national championship, but lost to Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
. Grant's most memorable moment of the season was in the 14-10 victory over Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. The Terrapins had the ball on the West Virginia three-yard line with under four minutes left. After three downs, the Terps went for it on fourth down. Terrapin quarterback Neil O'Donnell
Neil O'Donnell
Neil Kennedy O'Donnell is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tennessee Titans...
threw a pass out in the flat to Ricky Johnson, who had previously scored from 46-yards out. Grant, however, knocked Johnson out of bounds on the one-yard line to save the undefeated season and the victory for the Mountaineers.
Sophomore season
In his sophomore season, 1989, Grant recorded 102 tackles and 5 pass break-ups. In 1990, Grant's junior season, he led the defensive squad for the Mountaineers. By the time of the Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
game on October 27, 1990, Grant already had 70 tackles, an interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
, two pass deflections
Pass deflected
In American football a pass deflected, also known as a pass defended, a pass defensed, a pass knock down, or a pass break up, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player...
, and two tackles for a loss. Grant finished the season with 141 tackles, two interceptions, four tackles for a loss, and two sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. Grant was named the team's MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
Junior season
In his final season of 1991, Grant recorded a career-high 147 tackles. He also had two forced fumbles, five pass break-ups, two sacks, and eight tackles for a loss. Grant was named team MVP for the second consecutive season in school history. Grant finished the season in the annual Blue-Gray gameBlue-Gray Football Classic
The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in...
with 21 tackles.
Steve Grant is often considered one of the greatest linebackers in school history, along with greats such as Sam Huff
Sam Huff
Robert Lee "Sam" Huff is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982....
. Grant totaled 445 tackles in his career, one of the top statistics in school history. Grant was an All-East and All-Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
linebacker during his tenure.
Professional career
Grant was selected by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the 1992 NFL Draft
1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
and briefly played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in 1997. Grant was the Colt's Hard Nose Player of the Year in 1994, when he recorded a fumble recovery. In 1995, Grant started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
all 16 games of the season and recorded his first career professional interception. Injuries ended Grant's career early in 1997 however, after spending six seasons in the NFL.