For as long as Walter Grant can remember, the pigskin has had a strong hold on his heart. At a young age, he fell in love with the game and never looked back.
“I started playing around the age of seven,” Grant said. “I used to watch my brother and cousin play, and eventually I started playing in the yard with them. A lot of younger kids start off playing flag football, but not me. It was straight to tackle with me.”
Jumping right into the world of tackle football may be a big task for some. For Grant, however, it was what would soon be expected as another day in the office. After scoring his first touchdown, which also happened to be a game-winner in one of his first Pop Warner games, he knew that he belonged on the gridiron.
Even though his talent could have potentially taken him elsewhere, his love never wavered. Grant was also a standout basketball player, shining as a power forward and center from around 10 or 11 years of age, until he decided to focus solely on football after his sophomore year.
“It’s just something about the game (of football),” Grant said. “The bond is unique, and I just feel at home on this field. There’s nothing like it.”
What began as a fun hobby for a 7-year-old has turned into much more; the dynamo now finds himself an integral component of the Syrupmakers’ stable, where he shines all over the field on both sides of the line. On offense, he sees action at receiver and running back. On the other side of the ball, he plays defensive end as well as inside and outside linebacker.
“My favorite is definitely outside (linebacker),” Grant said. “I take pride in my ability to read plays and help my teammates get in position to make plays as well. I’m a team player. At the end of the day, I want to win, and I’m willing to play wherever I have to for that to happen.”
Grant’s natural talent and incomparable work ethic have been recognized quite often. He has taken home his fair share of postseason awards, the most recent of those being a spot at linebacker on the 2015 Class AAAA All-State First Team. His open willingness to contribute to team success is a key quality that only the best of the best possess. Perhaps that is why the cream of the crop in the collegiate ranks are all vying for his services. As of this writing, Grant has received offers from Clemson, Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, and Georgia. While he has not made a final decision, he does acknowledge that he has narrowed the choice down “to a couple of top schools.”
“Wherever I go, I plan to major in Sports Medicine,” Grant said. “I love football, and once my playing days are over, I want to be able to stay close to the game however I can.”
College may be right around the corner, but for now, the focus is on improving on the results of Cairo’s 2015 campaign. In its first season under new head coach Steve DeVoursney, the team finished 4-6; however, Cairo also finished 3-1 in region competition, and their record was still enough to secure a playoff position.
And although an early 27-10 defeat to the Spalding Jaguars (Griffin, Georgia) sent the Syrupmakers packing in the first round, Grant believes that better days are closer than many think.
“I think we’ll be ready; we’re going to improve,” Grant said. “I’m looking forward to going up against Bainbridge. They got us last year (21-7), and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen again. And we have a big game closing out the year at home against Northside (Columbus). We don’t play them very often, but when we do, it’s always a huge battle. It’s going to take senior leadership, and that starts with me. That’s my personal responsibility.”
Grant’s kind-hearted nature will surely be missed when he crosses the stage in 2017. He is a humorous jokester that loves to laugh and have a good time off the field, but when the helmet and pads are locked in, it’s strictly business. A talent of that stature is hard to replace, and although he won’t personally suit up for the Syrupmakers again after this season, his heart will always remain. He hopes to return to Georgia to begin his career after finishing college, and he credits the irreplaceable bonds and friendships of Cairo for helping him to make his decision.
“It’s all about the team,” Grant said. “My class, the Class of ‘17, has been together forever. This year, our final year, is our time to shine. This is more than just a group of friends. This here is a family.”
ITG Web Content
It’s More Than Football
Written by James A. Washington
Photo by Micki Krzynski
