Take 5 With 49ers LB Larry Grant

Take 5 with 49ers LB Larry Grant

Linebacker Larry Grant, who signed a four-year deal with the 49ers on Friday, will continue competing for a starting job at the strong inside linebacker position (ted) when he reports to training camp later this month.

Veterans Jeff Ulbrich and Dontarrious Thomas are currently ahead of Grant on the depth chart. Although Grant is a long shot to win a starting job, the club believes he has a chance to earn his ticket on special teams. He blocked 12 punts in two seasons at City College of San Francisco, and three more during his two seasons at Ohio State.

I asked Grant what he wishes he could bring with him from Columbus, Ohio, to California. His answer: Raising Cane's, a restaurant with two locations in Columbus that specializes in chicken fingers. "It's quite addictive," he said.

Instant 49ers: You couldn't join the 49ers full-time until after the first week of OTAs. Was that rough?

Grant: Yeah, I couldn't be there. I had to finish up some classes that I was taking at Ohio State. I'll graduate next year in African-American studies. I have to take a couple more classes in the winter. I'm going back to Ohio in January. My mom is looking forward to me getting my degree. Nobody wants to upset mom.

Instant 49ers: Is the 'ted' position similar to what you've done in the past or is it a big learning experience?

Grant: The position is similar to what I've done in the past, but learning a new defense is a lot different. It seems all the linebackers work together. I've learned from basically everybody. I've learned from Pat (Willis), I've learned a lot from Jeff (Ulbrich). I've learned some things from Dontarrious (Thomas) and B-Moore (Brandon Moore). The whole linebacker corps helps everybody out with everything.

Instant 49ers: Did it take you long to mesh with that group?

Grant: It didn't take long at all. It's like a family here with the 49ers organization. We became brothers quickly.

Instant 49ers: What part of your college experience prepared you most for what you'll be facing with the 49ers?

Grant: Just being at Ohio State, they run their program a lot like the NFL programs. Being on the quarter system, camp is a lot different than at other schools. We're actually not in school for the first couple games so we're staying in hotels and doing all the things people do in the NFL to get everybody ready and keep focused as a team. Now that I've been here, I see where they do some of the same things.

Instant 49ers: What have you learned since coming to the 49ers?

Grant: A lot of these guys look young. I look around and think that we're all rookies. Everybody has young-looking faces even when they're 29 years old and been in the league. I'm surprised they've been in the league six, seven, eight years.