Consensus First-Team All-American Cam Grandy (89) was also an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference tight end this season. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
Coming out of a small central Illinois high school, Cam Grandy had a handful of Division III offers to play quarterback. But he “wanted to do something a little bigger than that.”
Following success as a tight end at first Division II Missouri Western and then this past season at FCS Illinois State, Grandy landed the reward of an invitation to Saturday’s Hula Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
The invitation came on the heels of Grandy’s breakout season with the Redbirds.
The Fieldcrest High School standout earned Consensus First-Team All-American honors after leading all Missouri Valley Football Conference tight ends in receiving yards.
His 63 catches for 612 yards and three touchdowns ranked second for ISU. Perhaps more impressive is that those numbers include four games in which he played with a cast on his left hand.
“You always dream of things like this,” Grandy told Prairie State Pigskin. “I wanted to be a professional football player as long as I can remember. And now to have it in sight and be a potential thing is definitely huge for me.”
What to expect
Grandy said the Hula Bowl invitation came shortly after Illinois State’s season ended.
“I was talking to a few agents, and they had talked to some of the Hula Bowl scouts and they liked what they saw from my tape,” he said.
Grandy traveled to Orlando this past weekend to begin the week-long preparation that culminates in Saturday’s game, which will be televised at 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network from FBC Mortgage Stadium.
“On an average day, we’ll eat breakfast and then have a meeting with our position coaches,” Grandy said of this week’s schedule. “We practice around noon for a couple of hours. We shuttle back and eat. The rest of the afternoon includes some seminars and NFL scouts can interview you at nighttime.”
According to its official website, the Hula Bowl will have representatives from NFL, newly merged XFL-USFL and CFL teams evaluating athletes throughout the week.
One hundred players will participate from across the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan, according to HulaBowl.com.
Grandy is the lone FCS tight end for Team Aina, coached by Mike Smith of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Joining Grandy at tight end/fullback are FBS players David Martin-Robinson of Temple, Trey Knox of South Carolina and Jacob Warren of Tennessee.
“It will be nice to showcase my talents against some of the best players in the country,” Grandy said. “It will be nice to meet a bunch of guys with the same goals as me.”
For now, Grandy’s goals include making an impression during the week and playing well in the game.
Down the line, his objectives will change.
“A big goal of mine is to get my name called on (NFL) draft day,” Grandy said. “That would be huge. But if that doesn’t happen, then it’s to get a call after the draft and get into a (training) camp (as a free agent).”
How Grandy became a dandy
Grandy is far from an overnight success.
He played quarterback — along with defensive end — in high school.
“I loved playing quarterback, but I felt like it wasn’t a good fit for me to play in college,” Grandy said. “I’ve always wanted to be a receiver, like a Jordy Nelson type of player, but I knew I wasn’t fast enough for that.”
Grandy wound up at Missouri Western, where he ate himself into the tight end position.
“I came into college at 205 (pounds),” he said. “There wasn’t a ‘true’ nutrition program at Missouri Western. It was really just a bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a lot of water to be honest. There were some protein shakes as well.”
At first, things didn’t go smoothly.
“The first spring I had in college was a little rough because not all the weight was good weight. I had just packed on as many pounds as I could,” he said. “But after that spring ball going into summer weight training, I finally figured out my body and that’s where things really changed.”
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds by ISU, Grandy said he weighed in at 255 last week.
Grandy blossomed into a reliable tight end for Missouri Western, especially in the red zone where he tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions.
His high school experience as a quarterback helped with his transformation to receiver.
“It helped me to be able to read the coverage before the play starts. It’s good to know when you’re running a route whether to keep going or if it’s zone to find the pockets and sit down in,” he said. “As a tight end, that’s where your money is made.”
Giving credit where credit is due
Grandy is quick to point out that his success doesn’t just belong to him.
“There’s a ton of people I can thank for where I’m at. To just be in this situation is huge,” he said, citing position coaches Max Oeser and Moses Harper at Missouri Western and C.J. Irvin at Illinois State.
Grandy credits the latter with his biggest area of improvement.
“Technique,” he said. “I’ve always been a decently good athlete and big for my size, so I think the biggest thing was sitting down with Coach Irvin.
“He’s really technical when it comes to footwork and routes. So being able to practice with him and then after practice having him critique all the little things got me to my best form for Saturdays.”
Post-Hula plans
Grandy said “about 30 family and friends” are making the trip to Orlando to see him play in Saturday’s all-star event.
“I’m thankful for them. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without their support,” he said.
After the game, it’s a flight back to Illinois and a short return to his hometown of Benson, which is roughly a 30-minute car ride from Normal.
“Then I’ll drive to New Castle, PA Sunday. I’ll be there for two months training for my pro day,” he said.
Redbird reminiscences
Though he spent just one season as an ISU Redbird, Grandy savors his time at Hancock Stadium.
“Illinois State definitely gave me the opportunity that I have right now to be able to play and to continue to be playing,” he said. “The coaches and the players did a great job pushing me throughout the year. That put me in a good spot to succeed. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates and my coaches.”
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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