Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
Size:
Height: 6047
Weight: 311
Arm: 34 ¼”
Hand: 10 ¼”
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-America (2023) • First-Team All-CAA (2023, 2022)
“Charles Grant possesses rare athleticism at the tackle position. If he can add the mass and power necessary for the NFL, he’ll be one of the best tackles in the league.
Strengths:
Very-high-level athlete
NFL size and length
High upside
Proficient zone-scheme run blocker
Concerns:
Technically unrefined in pass protection
Level of competition
Needs to add significant mass and strength
Film Analysis:
Charles Grant is a Virginia native who stayed home to attend William & Mary. Despite not being a highly sought-after recruit, Grant has done a phenomenal job of developing over his 29 career starts. Grant opted to finish his career at William & Mary instead of entering the transfer portal where he would’ve had a plethora of opportunities at the power-four level. I applaud Grant's loyalty to the program that took a chance on him coming out of high school.
Grant is going to make a name for himself when people turn on the film and watch him move. He’s one of the most impressive athletes I’ve scouted at the position. He’s able to show off this athleticism through an offense that does a phenomenal job of playing through his strengths. He’s often asked to win in space, whether that be as a second-level blocker, wide-zone backside cut-off, or power-pulling as a lead blocker. In these circumstances he shines, capable of reaching and cutting off seemingly any alignment with ease.
In pass protection, there are flashes of really-high-level play from Grant. When he’s able to get his hands to his landmarks, win the leverage battle, and stay inside-out on the defender, he consistently wins reps with conviction. Consistency is the name of the game for Grant in that department. This skill set aligns beautifully with the modern-day offenses of the NFL and should catch the eye of every organization.
With all this being said, Grant is not yet an NFL tackle. His size and strength are notable issues that will take time to develop. Even playing at the FCS level, there are significant strength deficiencies on tape that cause concern about how he’ll pan out at the next level. Along with this, Grant will need to tighten his hands and find ways to re-leverage on contact to hide his lack of mass—he oftentimes doesn’t give himself a chance with more powerful defenders when playing high-hipped and straight up. I’m of the viewpoint that these are all correctable issues and not something that’s going to completely deter me from the prospect.
His athletic ability is undeniable, and playing at William & Mary offers the thought that he still has lots to learn and room to grow as a player. If I’m a team looking for a blank canvas to mold my future franchise tackle, I want Grant. While some teams won't be able to afford the luxury of a developmental lineman like Grant, the return on investment for a player like him far outweighs the doubts about his future.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
