This January, the Miami Hurricanes were the first program to see the potential in 2021 Scotlandville (LA) 3-star S Jah’von Grigsby and offer him a scholarship, a moment that made a lasting impression on him.
“I was actually supposed to visit Miami that same day, but I ended up having to go to Orlando with my grandmother,” Grigsby said. “I got a call from coach (Blake) Baker and he offered me. Usually when you get your first offer, it’s somewhere small and you have to build up from there. But with Miami, that was big. After that, I just blew up – once I got the Miami offer, other offers started rolling in.”
What was Miami DC Blake Baker telling him to recruit him to UM?
“He was saying how there’s a lot of good players in Louisiana and that I’m versatile – I can play deep or I can play in the box,” Grigsby said of Baker. “Basically, he was telling me that I’m a playmaker and I’d be a good fit for the U.”
Since then, Grigsby has landed 12 other FBS offers, including from P5 schools like Auburn, Michigan State, Purdue, and Vanderbilt. Still, Grigsby admits that he has an affinity for the first school that offered him, and says having Louisiana-native Ed Reed back at Miami is a huge plus for the Canes.
“Really it’s about the history DB’s that went there,” Grigsby said of UM. “The greatest safety that ever played the game works there now, so that’s a big deal too. They’re not a school that’s big on politics, they’re not going to go after all 5-stars. They’ve got some 3-star ballers there too like myself. They basically just want players who can ball and play the game the right way.”
The 6-0 180 pound prospect was in the Miami area back in January with his 7-on-7 team “The Bootleggers” for a the Battle tournament and enjoyed his time in South Florida.
“That was my first time in the Miami area - the beaches are nice, the people are nice,” Grigsby said. “I like the vibe in Florida.”
The two programs that are coming after Grigsby the hardest right now according to him are Purdue and Michigan State, and although he has been unable to see those campuses due to the coronavirus shutdowns, he was able to take a virtual tour of the schools last week.
“It was actually pretty cool,” Grigsby said. “Purdue was the first virtual tour I ever did and I was basically on the phone with the coaches as they were driving around in a golf cart showing me the campus, the locker room, and the field houses.”
A potential offer from in-state LSU is always attractive to local prospects like Grigsby, and the Tigers are still considering him for a bid.
“I think I’ll get an LSU offer once some other big time offers come in,” Grigsby said. “I’m pretty sure they’re still looking at me. That’s always been one of my dream schools, so that offer would be big for me.”
Grigsby says that he is shooting for August as his general decision timeline, but admits things could get pushed back due to the quarantine.
“As far as right now, I’m still weighing my options, because I can’t really get up to the campuses and get a good feel for the schools myself,” Grigsby said. “I’m trying to do as much as I can and build relationships over the phone.
“Hopefully, everything goes right, and once the dead period ends, I will probably take three official visits this summer and save my last two so I can see a few schools and narrow it down. Then I’ll probably drop my top list, probably a top 10.”
Ultimately, a school that shows Grigsby they have a strong family atmosphere, among other factors, will have the inside track at landing his signature.
“I come from a small family, so moving from high school to college with thousands of students, that transition will be different, so I want a school that treats me like family. I’m currently in the engineering program at Scotlandville, I want a school that has a good engineering program and can prepare me for life after football.”
As a junior in 2019, Grigsby recorded 66 tackles, 2 INT’s, 4 FR, 1 FF, and a TD for the Hornets.
“My junior year was my best year of football that I’ve ever played, it was crazy,” Grigsby said. “I guess just by working out more, doing a lot of small things, I feel like difference in my game. I studied more on the mental part of the game so the game comes easier to come. Then just being more physical on the field, coming down and making big hits.
“Get them before they get is you is always my mindset. When you catch a receiver trying to run a route, get your hands on him. If you give him too much space, he might think he can come at you. If you get down the timing of the quarterback, you can make a play on the ball. A running back or a slot guy, if you come down a make a big hit, they’re not going to want to take big hits anymore so they’ll be passive trying to catch the ball or run the ball.”
“I was actually supposed to visit Miami that same day, but I ended up having to go to Orlando with my grandmother,” Grigsby said. “I got a call from coach (Blake) Baker and he offered me. Usually when you get your first offer, it’s somewhere small and you have to build up from there. But with Miami, that was big. After that, I just blew up – once I got the Miami offer, other offers started rolling in.”
What was Miami DC Blake Baker telling him to recruit him to UM?
“He was saying how there’s a lot of good players in Louisiana and that I’m versatile – I can play deep or I can play in the box,” Grigsby said of Baker. “Basically, he was telling me that I’m a playmaker and I’d be a good fit for the U.”
Since then, Grigsby has landed 12 other FBS offers, including from P5 schools like Auburn, Michigan State, Purdue, and Vanderbilt. Still, Grigsby admits that he has an affinity for the first school that offered him, and says having Louisiana-native Ed Reed back at Miami is a huge plus for the Canes.
“Really it’s about the history DB’s that went there,” Grigsby said of UM. “The greatest safety that ever played the game works there now, so that’s a big deal too. They’re not a school that’s big on politics, they’re not going to go after all 5-stars. They’ve got some 3-star ballers there too like myself. They basically just want players who can ball and play the game the right way.”
The 6-0 180 pound prospect was in the Miami area back in January with his 7-on-7 team “The Bootleggers” for a the Battle tournament and enjoyed his time in South Florida.
“That was my first time in the Miami area - the beaches are nice, the people are nice,” Grigsby said. “I like the vibe in Florida.”
The two programs that are coming after Grigsby the hardest right now according to him are Purdue and Michigan State, and although he has been unable to see those campuses due to the coronavirus shutdowns, he was able to take a virtual tour of the schools last week.
“It was actually pretty cool,” Grigsby said. “Purdue was the first virtual tour I ever did and I was basically on the phone with the coaches as they were driving around in a golf cart showing me the campus, the locker room, and the field houses.”
A potential offer from in-state LSU is always attractive to local prospects like Grigsby, and the Tigers are still considering him for a bid.
“I think I’ll get an LSU offer once some other big time offers come in,” Grigsby said. “I’m pretty sure they’re still looking at me. That’s always been one of my dream schools, so that offer would be big for me.”
Grigsby says that he is shooting for August as his general decision timeline, but admits things could get pushed back due to the quarantine.
“As far as right now, I’m still weighing my options, because I can’t really get up to the campuses and get a good feel for the schools myself,” Grigsby said. “I’m trying to do as much as I can and build relationships over the phone.
“Hopefully, everything goes right, and once the dead period ends, I will probably take three official visits this summer and save my last two so I can see a few schools and narrow it down. Then I’ll probably drop my top list, probably a top 10.”
Ultimately, a school that shows Grigsby they have a strong family atmosphere, among other factors, will have the inside track at landing his signature.
“I come from a small family, so moving from high school to college with thousands of students, that transition will be different, so I want a school that treats me like family. I’m currently in the engineering program at Scotlandville, I want a school that has a good engineering program and can prepare me for life after football.”
As a junior in 2019, Grigsby recorded 66 tackles, 2 INT’s, 4 FR, 1 FF, and a TD for the Hornets.
“My junior year was my best year of football that I’ve ever played, it was crazy,” Grigsby said. “I guess just by working out more, doing a lot of small things, I feel like difference in my game. I studied more on the mental part of the game so the game comes easier to come. Then just being more physical on the field, coming down and making big hits.
“Get them before they get is you is always my mindset. When you catch a receiver trying to run a route, get your hands on him. If you give him too much space, he might think he can come at you. If you get down the timing of the quarterback, you can make a play on the ball. A running back or a slot guy, if you come down a make a big hit, they’re not going to want to take big hits anymore so they’ll be passive trying to catch the ball or run the ball.”
