Tag: Doran Grant

Former Ohio State star named head coach at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

A captain and national champion heads home. #GoBucks

If you play football at Ohio State, chances are you know a thing or two about the game. Plenty of former Buckeyes have taken this path. From Eddie George at Tennessee State to Stanley Jackson at Westerville North High School, there is no shortage of former players ready to teach the game to the next generation.

The latest to jump into the coaching ranks is none other than Doran Grant who was a captain on the 2014 national championship team. Grant has been named as the next head coach at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. Grant, an alum of the school, starred for the Fighting Irish from 2008-2011.

At Ohio State, Grant saw action all four years before becoming a starter in his junior season. As a cornerback, he totaled 140 tackles, nine interceptions, and one touchdown while wearing Scarlet and Gray. Grant would be drafted in the 2015 NFL draft in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Grant told the Akron Beacon Journal how excited he was to lead his alma mater.

“It’s a place I’ve always loved and adored even before I got there,” Grant said. “I had multiple family members go there, so when it was my time, I just fully embraced it. I was so happy to be there and it’s exactly how I feel right now. It’s like going there for the first time. I’m just so appreciative to be there. I honestly can’t wait because I’m going to give St. Vincent-St. Mary every ounce of energy I have.”

Grant takes over a team that went 5-5 in the regular season while taking a first-round loss in the first game of the Ohio High School regional tournament to end the season at 5-6. Grant will look to turn things around on the football field and give back to the community and program that helped make him the man he is today.

Former Ohio State stars, including one Heisman winner, hired onto same high school football team

Three former Buckeyes on the same high school coaching staff is a dangerous thing. #GoBucks

There is life after football and the Ohio State football program is well aware of that. When [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag] was hired, he brought in Real Life Wednesdays, a program that brought professionals to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center from across different professions to prepare Buckeyes for their post-playing careers.

For some, playing ends but life with football doesn’t. Just look at the current staff with offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and graduate assistant James Laurinaitis, as prime examples.

Not every former Buckeye gets their start at the collegiate level though. Some have to work their way up the ladder. That is the case for [autotag]Chase Farris[/autotag], [autotag]Troy Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Doran Grant[/autotag]. The three former OSU players are joining forces at Elyria Catholic High School in Elyria, Ohio.

Farris is the lead as the head coach with Smith — the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner — as his associate head coach. Grant is also on the staff as an assistant coach along with being the head of strength and conditioning.

With so much football experience, the Elyria Catholic players are in good hands. Look for some bigger crowds cheering on the Panthers this fall.

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Various former Jags could participate in XFL’s return Saturday

There will be several familiar Jags playing during the opening day of the XFL’s schedule, including a former draft pick of the team.

The Xtreme Football League is back and Saturday will mark the long-awaited return of the football league in which was created by World Wrestling Entertainment chairman, Vince McMahon. First up on the schedule will be the Seattle Dragons who will take on the DC Defenders at Audi Field in Washington DC at 2:00 PM ET.

There aren’t any former Jags on the Dragon’s roster, however, the Defenders may have the most talent Jags on their roster in the whole XFL. All of those players will play on the defensive side in defensive backs Doran Grant and Jalen Myrick, and defensive tackle Tony Guerad.

Of the four, both Myrick and Grant could be leaders for the defenders as both flashed for the Jags. Myrick, in particular, was a late-round selection for the Jags in 2017. He ran a 4.28 in the 2017 combine before that and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him used on defense and as a special teams returner. As for Grant, he was a player who made plays for the Jags in practice during the 2017 offseason but couldn’t make the main roster in the end.

Lastly, the Los Angeles Wildcats will travel to Houston to play the Roughnecks. Los Angeles has three Jags on the roster in receiver Tre McBride and tailbacks Dujuan Harris and Elijah Hood. McBride, who flashed for the Jags last preseason, in particular, could be a star as he’s spent time on a regular-season roster with the New York Jets and actually has an NFL touchdown registered to his name.

On the Roughneck’s roster will be former Jags defensive backs Saivion Smith and Cody Brown, and offensive lineman Demetrius Rhaney and Avery Gennesy. Smith, in particular, could be a standout amongst his squad after spending time with the Alabama Crimson Tide coming out of college. He had a draftable grade in the eyes of some last season, however, he ended up being an undrafted rookie free agent.

Several former Jags set to take field in XFL’s return

Tre McBride is one of several former Jags who could be an early contributor in the XFL, which will have its first game on Saturday.

The NFL season may be over with Super Bowl LIV in the books, but thanks to the return of the XFL, football season will continue. The first couple of games will kick off Saturday February 8 and will run through April 19, which will mark the date of the league’s championship game.

Last month, all eight teams finalized their rosters and several Jags manage to stick. Here are the 17 former Jags who will be apart of the XFL’s return:

DC Defenders

  • CB Doran Grant
  • CB Jalen Myrick
  • DT Tony Guerad
  • S Cody Brown

Houston Roughnecks

  • CB Saivion Smith
  • OL Demetrius Rhaney
  • OL Avery Gennesy
  • S Cody Brown

Los Angeles Wildcats

  • WR Tre McBride
  • RB Dujuan Harris
  • RB Elijah Hood

New York Guardians

  • RB Tim Cook III
  • LB Nick DeLuca
  • DT T.J. Barnes

St. Louis BattleHawks

  • DT Marcus Hardison

Tampa Bay Vipers

  • QB Chase Litton
  • CB Bryce Canady
  • TE DeAndre Goolsby

Analysis

The New York Guardians, Los Angeles Wildcats, and DC Defenders will be worth watching the most if you’re looking for former Jags who could have a big impact.

For the Guardians, linebacker Nick DeLuca could be a big contributor in terms of tackles as he’s one of the few names above who has played in a regular season football game with the Jags. He started in two games for the Jags and participated in nine, accumulating 10 tackles and a sack.

Running back Tim Cook could be a bruiser type tailback for the Guardians at 6-foot-0, 247 pounds, and I could see head coach and former Jags assistant Kevin Gilbride utilizing him a lot this XFL season. Additionally, defensive tackle T.J. Barnes is a player who could eat up double teams in the middle of the Guardians’ defense at 6-foot-7, 365 pounds.

The Defenders’ defense could have some early contributions from corners Jalen Myrick and Doran Grant. Myrick offers elite speed and ran a 4.28 at the 2017 combine, so he could be utilized both on defense and maybe on special teams.

Grant, on the other hand, played alongside Myrick a lot in the 2017 preseason when with the Jags. His scrappiness should definitely get him some time on the field as he proved to be someone who was always near the ball in the Jags’ preseason practices.

Lastly, the name to look out for with the Los Angeles Wildcats is that of receiver Tre McBride. He was close to making the Jags’ final roster last year but was ultimately beat out by C.J. Board. If his hands have improved, he could be a go-to guy for the Wildcats through the air as he offers them a target with good size (6-foot-0, 210-pounds).

Trio of former Ohio State Buckeyes make XFL roster

Cardale Jones, Doran Grant, and Tracy Sprinkle, all former Ohio State Buckeyes, will be playing in the re-booted XFL for the same franchise.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a plethora of players in the NFL. Across the board, they have some of the top talent ranging from Michael Thomas to Ezekiel Elliott to Marshon Lattimore.

However, not all Ohio State Buckeyes are instant stars at football’s highest level. That said, the creation of a new but old football league, the XFL, will provide a home to some players left off NFL rosters.

With the initial rosters crafted, three former Buckeyes all made the list.

The trio includes Cardale Jones, Doran Grant, and Tracy Sprinkle — all playing for the DC Defenders. Jones is easily the most notable household name, being drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, but never really catching on during stops also in Los Angeles and Seattle on the practice squad. He was eventually released.

 

Also a fourth-round pick just a year earlier in 2015, Doran Grant, a cornerback, is also 27. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spent time on mostly practice squads there and in several other cities before also being cut loose.

Lastly, 24-year-old defensive end Tracy Sprinkle went undrafted and only spent time on the Panthers and Browns’ practice squads.

Now all three will get a shot to play again together in this crazy second-take of the rebooted XFL.