Grayson McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Conference player of the year at Coastal Carolina University and will have the best opportunity of his college career to improve his NFL draft stock this year at North Carolina State. It might be.
Injuries derailed McCall's playing time, and the final blow was the final straw. The 23-year-old sixth-grader announced Wednesday that he will no longer wear cleats.
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North Carolina State University quarterback No. 2 Grayson McCall looks on during pregame warmups for an NCAA college football game on September 8, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser, File)
The decision came nearly three weeks after he was ejected from a game for a hard hit for the second time this season. He suffered head injuries against Wake Forest on October 5th and against Louisiana Tech on September 14th. He also had concussion issues during his time at Coastal Carolina.
“Unfortunately, my dream was cut slightly short,” he wrote in part on Instagram. “As you all know, I have battled injuries throughout my career and this is an injury of no return. The brain experts, my family, and I have come to the conclusion that it is in my best interest to hang up my cleats.
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Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback No. 10 throws a pass during the second quarter of a game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina on October 20, 2021. Number Grayson McCall. (Reinhold Mathai-USA TODAY Sports)
“There's a certain satisfaction when you feel like your whole world is being taken away from you. Every time my feet hit the grass, I left everything I had on that field. I always gave it my all. I have no regrets throughout my career and I can be proud of this because I never knew what kind of play would be my last. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has walked with me thus far. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, teammates, fans, and all the coaches who have poured into me over the years. Without you, this would never have been possible. ”
McCall led the nation with 2,488 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes during the 2020 college football season, which was affected by the coronavirus pandemic. He then led the nation in 2021 with 27 touchdown passes.
He was named Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
North Carolina State University Wolfpack quarterback #2 Grayson McCall before a game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Berkeley, California. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
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He transferred from the Chanticleers' program to the Wolfpack after the 2023 season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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