Former Coastal Carolina basketball player Colin Granger has signed a deal with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Granger was signed as a tight end and will be given a spot in rookie minicamp where will get a chance to earn his way onto the roster.
Granger spent five years playing college hoops with Ohio, Western Carolina, and Coastal Carolina. This past season he had his best year averaging 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He has never played football, but certainly has the build with his 6’9” 245 lbs frame. Some of Grangers' best games from this past season include 18 points and 10 rebounds at Southern Miss, along with 16 points and 10 rebounds versus Arkansas State.
According to a post from his football trainer Nacarius Fant’s Instagram, Colin trained for three weeks after the conclusion of the Chanticleers season for his private workout that was attended by three NFL teams. Fant is a former college football player who is currently a high school football coach. He is also the cousin of George Fant who made the jump from basketball to football. After playing college hoops at Western Kentucky, George joined the football team for one year before going on to the NFL where he is currently a free agent as an offensive tackle.
This jump from basketball to football is rare but has been done before and has shown to be successful when looking at the tight end position. Some prime examples include Antonio Gates (Kent State), Jimmy Graham (Miami FL), and Mo Alie-Cox (VCU). As a guy who has never played the sport of football, Granger will have his work cut out for him but he has a path to follow with the few that have come before him.