Tag: Tony Grimes

Former UNC DB Tony Grimes enters the transfer portal

Former UNC corner Tony Grimes is back on the market after entering the transfer portal after one year at Texas A&M.

Former UNC cornerback [autotag]Tony Grimes[/autotag] has entered the transfer portal in search of new opportunities after a one-year stint with Texas A&M.

Grimes’s career with the Aggies never got started, to say the least, barely seeing the field due to a lingering injury. Grimes went on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) to inform the college world that he would be entering the transfer portal while expressing his gratitude for support from Texas A&M despite not being able to show his talents.

After Grimes made the post, UNC fans began to lobby for his return, noting the big hit UNC’s secondary took in the transfer portal. Even Tar Heel QB Marquise Williams tweeted for Grimes to come back “home”.

Grimes is a 5-star player, the No. 1 player in Virginia for the class of 2020. Grimes played for UNC from 2020 to 2022, appearing in 74 games. In those games, Grimes had 97 tackles, 19 pass deflections, one sack and one interception.

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Texas A&M senior cornerback Tony Grimes enters NCAA Transfer Portal for second time

Grimes played three seasons at North Carolina before coming to College Station and enters the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

A former 5-star prospect has entered his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal for the second time in his career.

Texas A&M senior cornerback Tony Grimes announced his decision with a statement via X on Monday evening.

“First of all, I would like to thank God for giving me this opportunity to do the things I love,” Grimes stated on X. “Thank you to the university and coaches who supported me through my year and I appreciate the opportunities that were given to me. Thank you to the new coaching staff for supporting my decision. Sorry for not showing the Aggies what I can do on the field but very blessed by the love and support of the fans. I will be entering my name in the transfer portal. Thank you.

“Tony Grimes”

Grimes played three seasons at the University of North Carolina from 2020 to 2022 before coming to College Station. He dealt with injuries during his time with the Aggies, limiting his playing time at Kyle Field.

After taking a redshirt season in 2023, Grimes enters the portal with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

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Initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

After head coach Jimbo Fisher’s Monday press conference, here is the Aggies initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State.

Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3 SEC) is coming off a loss that may stick in every coach and player’s mind for quite some time, falling to the 10th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels 38-35 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

While the blame game continues to point towards the top, Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher knows that his seat is burning up week after week as the losses pile up, and even worse, mediocrity sets in for a program littered with resources to contend at the highest level.

On Monday, Fisher spoke to the media to further reflect on the loss and, more importantly, provide several injury updates about quarterback Max Johnson, running back Le’Veon Moss, cornerback Tony Grimes, and right tackle Reuben Fatheree II.

First and foremost, the inappropriate rumors regarding Max Johnson’s rib injury, which still remain somewhat vague, should never be taken seriously until accurately reported. So, without going into detail, Fisher did reveal that Johnson is dealing with an upper body/rib injury. Still, it’s not as severe as the rumors entailed, as Johnson should be ready to go ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 11 home matchup vs. Mississippi State.

“Max was able to finish the game, was a couple off tough shots, but we’ll wait and see how it goes. But he should be good. I’m planning on him playing and hopefully we’ll see as it goes day-by-day.”

Concerning Le’Veon Moss, the ascending sophomore is also listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, as Fisher noted as he avoided any ligament damage in the process.

There is good news and bad news surrounding transfer cornerback Tony Grimes, who has yet to see the field this season, as his first year in Aggieland will officially come to an end before even taking a live snap. Still, with his 2023 redshirt season going into effect, he will now have two more seasons of eligibility remaining.

Finally, right tackle Reuben Fatheree, who has been rehabbing throughout the season, is currently working on gaining his play strength back, keeping him sidelined for what is likely the rest of the year with only three games and possibly four, including a bowl game, remaining on the year.

Texas A&M will return to Kyle Field to take on Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ESPN2.

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Initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M vs. Tennessee

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher provided several injury updates ahead of Texas A&M’s pivotal Week 7 road trip to face the Tennessee Volunteers.

Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) is fresh off its difficult loss to Alabama on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Crimson Tide 26-20 in front of a sold-out Kyle Field.

Only sustaining their first conference loss, the Aggies are still technically in the thick of the things regarding the SEC West. Still, the road only gets more demanding as they will now travel to face the Tennesse Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 SEC) in Knoxville (TN). On Monday, head coach Jimbo Fisher spoke to the media to reflect on the loss while looking ahead to the stiff challenge the Vols present after coming off their respective bye week.

Concerning the current injury report after facing Alabama, star WR Evan Stewart’s ankle was less severe than anticipated, as he played throughout the entire matchup, and looks good to go for Saturday, barring any last-minute update. Now, finally receiving an update on the status of right tackle Reuben Fatheree, Fisher stated,

“Reuben (Fatheree) is still rehabbing and trying to get back.”

Somewhat cryptic, the team will have to wait at least another week until his eventual return. Fisher also provided a much-needed update on former North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes, who’s reportedly dealing with a “lingering lower body injury” that has kept him sidelined for nearly a month. Also, safety Jardin Gilbert remains out.

For Tennessee, here is the injury list that will likely change before the end of the week:

  • OL Andrej Karic (Questionable, undisclosed)
  • WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Probable, undisclosed)
  • DB Christian Charles (Out, ankle)
  • WR Bru McCoy (Out, ankle)
  • LB Kwauze Garland (Out, undisclosed)
  • LB Keenan Pili (Out, upper body)
  • RB DeSean Bishop (Out, ankle)

Texas A&M will travel to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Neyland Stadium (TV: CBS).

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Look: Multiple Aggies, including star WR Evan Stewart are not dressed out ahead of Texas A&M vs. UL Monroe

Ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 3 home matchup vs. UL Monroe, staring WR Evan Stewart and cornerback Tony Grimes not dressed out ahead of kickoff.

Ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 3 home matchup vs. UL Monroe, set to kick off in less than half an hour, two key players on offense and defense for the Maroon and White, including starting wide receiver Evan Stewart, safety Jardin Gilbert and rotational cornerback Tony Grimes, are currently on the sidelines with the rest of their teammates, albeit in street clothes.

Just a week away from the start of SEC play, Auburn will travel to College Station for an early Saturday afternoon kickoff, and not to throw out any assumptions regarding both players’ health, being cautious this week to be ready for the rest of the season wouldn’t be surprising given the bevy of injuries the Aggies sustained in 2022.

On the bright side, sophomore running back Le’Veon Moss, who missed the Miami game last weekend, is dressed out, adding his powerful running style to an Aggies offense that missed his presence in the loss. Stewart, who recorded 11 receptions for 142 yards against the Hurricanes, leads the team in receiving with 257 yards and two touchdowns. Still, given the depth in the Aggies’ wide receiver rotation, his potential one-game absence shouldn’t be a major issue.

After transferring from North Carolina, Cornerback Tony Grimes has yet to carve out a role in the secondary. Gilbert, who has started at free safety since the 2022 season, did not have his best game last weekend but is still a proven secondary member. Hopefully, after resting this week, Grimes’ playing trajectory will change because Texas A&M’s defensive back group needs all the help they can get.

Update: Starting center Bryce Foster and cornerback Tyreek Chappell are also out.

Texas A&M will return to Kyle Field to take on Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 16, as the game will air on the SEC Network at 3:00 p.m. CT.

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Jimbo Fisher provides an update on CB Tony Grimes’ lack of usage against New Mexico

During his weekly SEC Teleconference, Aggies HC Jimbo Fisher provided an update regarding cornerback Tony Grimes recent lack of play time.

During Texas A&M’s 2023 opening season matchup vs. New Mexico last Saturday, former North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes was surprisingly missing from the defensive backfield throughout the game’s entirety. While fans and media members alike questioned the random disappearing act,  one answer could be that Texas A&M’s cornerback room is much deeper than we thought entering the campaign.

Leading the Aggies defensively against the Lobos, former Boston College CB Josh DeBerry had himself quite the debut, totaling ten tackles and the lone interception on the night. At the same time, freshman Jayvon Thomas and junior Tyreek Chappell finished out the starting rotation.

Grimes, who was the first player that Texas A&M added through the transfer portal, is a former five-star recruit who spent his first three seasons of eligibility as a Tar Heel. During his time at North Carolina, he totaled 97 tackles, 74 solo tackles, 19 pass deflections, and one interception. 36 of those tackles and seven of those pass deflections came during the 2022 campaign.

On Wednesday, just three days before the Aggies travel to South Beach to take on the Miami Hurricanes, on Saturday afternoon, Fisher joined his weekly SEC Teleconference for a total of seven minutes with local reporters, and finally providing an answer regarding Grimes’ absence was given a somewhat cryptic answer:

“No, he was available. Tony is doing really well. He is a really good player. He is going to be a really good player. And he is going to help us a lot this year. It was a scenario where he did not get in there. But he is going to be a really good player. We are very happy with him.”

Look, this is a classic Jimbo-esque answer, but if I were to place an assumption on how the rotation will look come Saturday against the Hurricanes, Grimes, due to his length and press-man coverage ability on the boundary, will finally see the field on a pre-planned snap count.

Texas A&M will face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Sept. 9, which will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. CT.

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Texas A&M 2023 college football season countdown: No. 8 Tony Grimes

With 97 tackles and 19 pass deflections to his name, transfer corner Tony Grimes will be a key part of Texas A&M’s secondary group in 2023.

Fear not, Aggie fans, meaningful college football is just around the corner, with the start of the 2023 season nearly a week away! Here at Aggies Wire, we’ll be counting down by looking at each Texas A&M football player that corresponds to the number of days left till the start of the football season.

With eight days until kickoff, we’re looking at No. 8 for the Maroon and White: senior defensive back Tony Grimes.

After three seasons with North Carolina Grimes is bringing his speed, length, and football intelligence to an Aggies secondary that saw a handful of departures following the 2022 season. He was the first addition to the roster through the transfer portal back in December, and he brings with him an assembly of experience in run and pass coverage.

During his playing time at Chapel Hill, he totaled 97 tackles, 74 solo tackles, 19 pass deflections, and one interception. 36 of those tackles and seven of those pass deflections came during the 2022 campaign, and Pro Football Focus graded him with a 69.3 tackling grade and a 66.3 coverage grade as a Tar Heel.

Grimes’ experience will be leaned on after Texas A&M saw nickel corner Antonio Johnson and defensive back Jaylon Jones depart for the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Tar Heel has already been labeled as a name to watch among this year’s transfer additions, with The Athletic ranking him among the Top 100 most impactful newcomers of 2023.

Interestingly enough, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect out of Virginia Beach (Va.) Princess Anne was initially a high-profile target for the Aggies during his recruiting cycle. Originally a member of the class of 2021, the former five-star reclassified to the class of 2020 and committed to the Tar Heels. In a way, donning the Maroon and White this season feels like an unofficial homecoming of sorts.

The latest indications are that Grimes will be battling with freshman corner Jayvon Thomas for one of the starting roles outside, and in reality, a final decision could come down to the buzzer right before Week 1. But as a three-year player with over 1,800 snap counts on his resume, that bevy of experience will prove invaluable for a defense that could be on the doorstep of being elite.

Especially with injuries being an unfortunate reality of college football, look for Grimes to play an ample amount of snaps in the fall and become a key cog of a secondary looking to make plays through the air every Saturday afternoon.

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Texas A&M’s Tony Grimes ranked among The Athletic’s most impactful newcomers of 2023

Texas A&M cornerback, and former Tar Heel, Tony Grimes was ranked as one of the top 100 transfer additions of the 2023 season by The Athletic.

One of the newest additions to Texas A&M has been lauded as one of the more impactful newcomers in the 2023 college football season.

Former North Carolina cornerback Tony Grimes was ranked No. 70 in The Athletic’s College Football Transfer Portal Top 100, which spotlights the most impactful newcomers ahead of the 2023 regular season. Grimes was the lone Aggie to appear on the list, beating fellow transfers such as Sam McCall, Josh DeBerry, Jurriente Davis, and Jahdae Walker.

Grimes was the first player that Texas A&M added through the transfer portal, as the former five-star recruit spent his first three seasons of eligibility as a Tar Heel. During his time at North Carolina, he totaled 97 tackles, 74 solo tackles, 19 pass deflections, and one interception. 36 of those tackles and seven of those pass deflections came during the 2022 campaign.

According to Pro Football Focus, he’s averaged a 63.3 defensive grade, 69.3 tackling grade, and a 66.3 coverage grade during his three seasons at North Carolina.

Grimes joins a handful of transfers in the secondary as the Aggies hope to fill the void left by nickel corner Antonio Johnson and defensive back Jaylon Jones. In 2022, Texas A&M allowed the fewest passing yards per game (162.1) in the SEC, and Grimes’ three seasons of experience should help ensure that unit doesn’t miss a beat. The early expectation was that he would be a likely starting cornerback in the fall; however, recent reports out of fall camp have indicated he’s in the middle of some competition.

Freshman cornerback Jayvon Thomas has apparently battled with Grimes for one of the starting corner roles, which only furthers Jimbo Fisher’s words in that every position is an open battle through fall camp. Even if Grimes were to lose out on a starting spot, that would not exclude him from playing sufficient reps through the fall season.

As a three-year player with over 1,800 snap counts to his name, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin would be remiss to keep that level of experience on the sidelines. Especially with injuries being an unfortunate reality of college football, Grimes’ speed, length, and football intelligence should prove too valuable to pass up once Texas A&M finalizes its depth chart before Week 1.

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Eleven Aggie football players named to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist

Texas A&M football has no shortage of veteran leadership as eleven players were named to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist.

A successful 2023 season for Texas A&M would not only mark a rebound for this football program, but it could also serve as a jolt for a handful of seniors preparing to make a leap to the NFL in the future.

The 11th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl released its watchlist ahead of the 2024 exhibition in Mobile, Alabama. The Reese’s Senior Bowl is regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and, for some, the first stage in the NFL Draft process.

Their scouting team has been hard at work in identifying the top-tier prospects at every level of college football for the 2024 NFL Draft, and identifying this year’s seniors is among the key staples of the evaluation process. As a reminder, the list does not include many true or redshirt juniors who could become eligible as of December 2023 (or earlier) graduates.

At first glance, the Maroon and White were well-represented, with 11 individuals highlighted. The full list of Aggie football players who landed on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist is as follows:

  • TE Max Wright
  • WR Ainias Smith
  • LB Chris Russell
  • OL Layden Robinson
  • DB Demani Richardson
  • WR Moose Muhammad III
  • DL McKinnley Jackson
  • DB Tony Grimes
  • DL Fadil Diggs
  • DB Josh DeBerry
  • LB Edgerrin Cooper

Texas A&M has no shortage of seniors with a practical chance of heading to Mobile for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. While the Aggies have a handful of sophomores projected as starters, many from their historic 2022 recruiting class, the Maroon and White will continue to lean on veterans at key positions.

Cooper and Russell are expected to be leaders of a linebacker unit with questionable depth. In contrast, Richardson is expected to mentor a secondary that could boast a potential breakout star in Bryce Anderson. Smith’s versatility speaks for itself, and it’s hard to imagine Bobby Petrino’s offense running smoothly without the wideout’s impact.

With one last ride on the football field around the corner, success in the fall could prove to be a stepping stone for many of these names, taking the leap to the next level in 2024.

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2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings entering the 2023 college football season

The popular saying is true: no NFL team can ever have enough cornerbacks. More CBs are drafted each year than any other position, with no less than 36 selected in every draft since 2020.

With such a huge demand comes a giant group of aspiring collegiate corners. The early impression on the class is that there is room for a couple at the top to seize the bull by the horns and emerge as the best, while the next grouping is slightly lower-end than the similar tiers of the past couple of seasons at the same preseason point.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the cornerbacks in the NFL draft class of 2024.

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