Grant Could Be Immediate Special-Teams Standout

Grant could be immediate special-teams standout

The 49ers signed linebacker Larry Grant to a four-year contract on Friday. Grant was the team's seventh-round draft pick, the No. 214 overall selection.

Grant becomes the second of six 49ers draft picks to sign. Each is expected to sign a four-year contract, with the exception of first-round selection Kentwan Balmer, who will sign a longer deal.

Receiver Josh Morgan was the first 49ers draft pick to sign on June 19. Morgan, selected in the sixth round, signed a four-year, $1.826 million deal that included a $106,000 on June 19.

Grant (6-1, 235) is competing for a job at the ted linebacker position, along with Jeff Ulbrich, who currently tops the depth chart, and free-agent pickup Dontarrious Thomas. Brandon Moore might also work his way into the competition, coach Mike Nolan said.

In last month's organized team activities, Grant had to acclimate to Mike Singletary's demanding coaching. During individual period, Singletary pushes his linebackers and Grant had a difficult time keeping up. But the two men were also seen staying on the practice field for extra work long after most of the players had gone back into the locker room.

Grant was born in Santa Rosa and moved down to the Bay Area when he was a toddler.
Grant's football career to this stage has been nothing short of nomadic.
He attended Football Foothill High in Sacramento as a freshman, where he lettered as a running back and safety.

Then, he moved Georgia to live with his brother. He attended Meadow Creek High as a sophomore and junior. He transferred to more-competitive Norcross High as a senior. He lettered as a tailback, gaining 450 yards with six touchdowns on only 35 carries. He left Norcross in the winter, moving back to Sacramento where he re-enrolled and graduated from Foothill.

Grant enrolled at Murray State in 2003, but failed to qualify academically. He spent the year out of school, spending time as a youth football coach in the Sacramento area. He then enrolled at the City College of San Francisco in 2004.

As a sophomore at CCSF, Grant earned NJCAA All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year honors. The All-NorCal Football Conference Defensive MVP delivered 85 tackles (56 solos) with four sacks and nine stops for losses from his weak-side outside linebacker position. He blocked six punts in each season at CCSF.

Grant was scheduled to enroll at the University of Florida, but was a math class short of academic requirements. He decided to enroll at Ohio State in 2006, where he was the first junior college transfer signed by coach Jim Tressel.

Grant played in a national JC title game as a sophomore and then in the BCS championship game in his two seasons at Ohio State.

Grant started 14 of his 25 games at Ohio State. He recorded 69 tackles (43 solos) with 5.5 sacks and 10 stops for losses. He caused a fumble, deflected three passes and intercepted two others for 68 yards in returns. He also blocked three kicks, returning two errant punts for a total of 17 yards.

Grant could immediately make his mark for the 49ers as one of the team's core special-teams players.

When asked on draft day for his reaction to getting chosen by the 49ers, Grant could barely contain his excitement.

"It's a real true blessing, man," Grant said. "I'm happy. It was a die-hard, life-long 49ers fan. So this is the best situation that I can ever be in. I'm excited for this opportunity. My family is excited. We're all 49ers fans, die-hard, and now it's better than ever. It's crazy, man."