When it comes to NFL pro potential, Garrett Grayson has it covered
By Troy E. Renck
The Denver PostPosted: 04/11/2015 10:20:38 PM MDT
In a hotel room in Indianapolis, sandwiched between coaches and executives, Garrett Grayson's dream flowed from a marker onto a grease board.
He listened to NFL assistant coaches discuss five plays, five protections and five formations at the league's annual scouting combine. The league's version of speed dating had begun with the team trying to microwave its relationship with Grayson. Then came the surprise — and
the reason the former Colorado State star has stepped from the shadows into the spotlight since his college career ended nearly four months ago.
Ten minutes after the football concepts were introduced, a coach asked Grayson to write down everything he remembered.
His lifelong ambition, which began when his father lectured him about the importance of winning after a T-ball game, hinged on recollection.
Grayson grabbed a pen, and wrote football poetry.
"I was comfortable," the quarterback said last week. "A lot of the formations is the same stuff we ran at CSU. It's a little different verbiage, but not much.
A formation they called 'trio right' was our 'train right.' "
Since his college career ended, Grayson has excelled in formal interviews with the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams. He nailed exams at the scouting combine and in private sessions last month with the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins. He
continues to create buzz in scouting circles, ranked by some as the third-best quarterback available in the April 30-May 2 draft, behind Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota.
"I think it's either Grayson or (Baylor's) Bryce Petty after those two," said NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN. "Grayson can come in right away and help a team. I think he's a second-rounder."
In his mind, Grayson had been preparing for this moment since he fizzled in a loss to Tulsa during the second game of his junior season.
It was then, in his darkest moments, that he was filled with doubt. He wasn't thinking about the NFL but heading to the bench.
Grayson, who has met with Broncos scouts, a
lways had been comfortable improvising, trusting his athletic ability. He ran a spread offense in high school as a highly regarded
dual-threat quarterback.
He wasn't in high school anymore.
Grayson had to learn to watch film the right way.
"He had to make an adjustment," said former CSU offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, who now runs Oregon State's offense. "But I believe the fact that he knew we weren't going to pull him helped. He felt that it was his football team.
"I told him, 'You are going to be the guy. Let's get this done.' "
Playing well against Alabama
In study sessions with then-CSU head coach Jim McElwain and Baldwin,
Grayson absorbed details and accepted a sobering truth. Offense are built to function in bites, not mouth-gorging chunks. Or, as Baldwin explained, "Checkdowns equal first downs equal touchdowns."
Two weeks later, at Alabama, Grayson cemented his position. In a 31-6 loss to college football's top-ranked team, he completed 24-of-38 passes for 228 yards. No touchdowns, but no turnovers.
Grayson's ascension from an unsure quarterback to a legitimate NFL prospect began that day in Tuscaloosa, Ala. While Grayson didn't lead the Rams to a win,
the game began to slow down for him.
"Before that I was trying to hit the home run instead of just taking what the defense was giving me. I finally knew the meaning behind every play. Some were designed for 2 yards, some for 15," Grayson said. "Going against one of the best defenses over the last 10 years and putting up decent numbers, my confidence took off from that."
At last he was beginning to realize the promise he showed in high school. He wanted to go to Tennessee, having grown up with posters of Peyton Manning in his room at his home in Vancouver, Wash. But Lane Kiffin, Tennessee's coach at the time, showed little interest. Grayson figured he would sign with Louisville, but then-Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe didn't want three quarterbacks in one recruiting class. So he called then-CSU coach Steve Fair- child, and Grayson became a Ram.
If Fairchild planted seeds, McElwain allowed Grayson to blossom. Baldwin witnessed the growth, pleased that Grayson trusted what his coaches were telling him.
"We
preached to him that this is a pro-style offense. That it is going to prepare you for the next level," Baldwin said. "But you
have to learn the coverages. You have to go through your progressions."
By Grayson's senior season,
he checked out of plays, and CSU coaches gave him the freedom to take shots down the field. If the Alabama game restored his faith, it was a visit to Manning's passing academy in Louisiana last summer that fueled his NFL dream. He soaked up everything Manning said and departed the camp mesmerized by the Denver star's attention to detail.
And something else happened. Grayson felt he belonged.
"I performed against the best of the best, and I didn't think there was any difference," he said.
"He can run a pro offense"
Grayson guided CSU to a 10-win season last year
. He displayed pocket presence, and made wise decisions that masked average arm strength. Some of his most difficult moments explain why he could play in the NFL.
Losses "disgust him," the exact words his father Brad drilled into him after seeing Garrett accept defeat after a T-ball game.
"Garrett is a great leader," said offensive tackle Tyler Sambrailo, an NFL prospect who starred at CSU with Grayson. "Something you don't see as a fan is how he is in the locker room, in the weight room. He's
always a guy motivating, always doing what he's supposed to do to help us win. You can't replace that."
Baldwin knows what translates in the NFL. Brian Hoyer and Drew Stanton, two of his former pupils, have carved out pro careers through intelligence and coachability, something "Garrett definitely can do."
Grayson, who will fly Friday to visit another NFL team, hears talk of his rising draft stock but tries to ignore it. It's all noise until his name is called.
It's a certainty Grayson will be drafted.
The film, after all, doesn't lie.
"When I talk to NFL scouts, I tell them to let him show what he knows. He
can run a pro offense, and I also tell them to put on the film," Baldwin said. "I tell them to watch the Boston College game, when he hurt his shoulder, hobbled to the line of scrimmage and wouldn't come out. Or watch when we went down to San Jose State and he pulled his hamstring and had a great day.
His toughness is what you want. And his knowledge of defenses is definitely what you should want."
