The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER senior Benson Browne, sophomore Cole Cook and redshirt freshman Micah Till are all at least 6-5 and 250 pounds. Sophomore do-it-all fullback/H-back/tight end Jaylen Samuels provides a different look and skill set at 5-11 and 236 pounds. "Coach Doeren has said we are trying to have competitive depth, and that is what we have," Canada said. "We are getting there." Canada knew three years ago that Grin- nage liked to catch passes and make plays. The former prep receiver needed to upgrade his blocking upon retrospect. "He has gotten much better at blocking," Canada said. "That is something we've worked hard on getting him to do. Blocking is something where you need some talent, but it's an effort deal. He has worked very hard at it." Grinnage was a Rivals.com two-star sleeper coming out of Newark (Del.) High, and picked NC State over an offer from Delaware State. Grinnage was essentially a 240-pound wide receiver in high school, and he caught 43 passes for 590 yards and six touchdowns his senior year. "I played wide receiver my whole high school career," Grinnage said. "Learning from my high school coach and wide receiv- ers coach was great. He taught me all of the little things." Then-NCSU defensive backs coach Mike Reed knew about Grinnage and his prep teammate Xavier Griffin. Reed, who is now the defensive backs coach at Clemson, is originally from Delaware. Griffin didn't qualify academically for NC State and attended Fork Union (Va.) Mili- tary Academy, before ending up at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. Griffin had 13 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns last year. The two friends still stay in contact, but Grinnage realizes how important staying the course has been in his own career. "God has a plan for everything," Grinnage said. "Whatever happens, it happens for a reason. Xavier is doing great where he is at now, and I believe he'll have a great season this year. "I still talk to him. That gives me more of a drive because the players I played with in high school, who are playing in college, we all have a pack and drive with each other to do whatever it takes to get to the next level [pro football]." Grinnage takes pride that he has the chance to help put Delaware football on the map. "Delaware has a lot of great talent and I believe it gets overlooked," Grinnage said. "Coach Reed recruiting me was one of the biggest breaks I've had because he scouted Delaware. "If he didn't do that, I probably wouldn't have made it to NC State." ■ Five of Grinnage's six career touchdown catches came during the last seven games of the 2014 campaign. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN