Colin Granger has become the latest basketball player to make the switch to football. The 6-foot-8 former center has been signed by the Carolina Panthers. He will join a list of players that have made the transition to the NFL after playing his college days on the basketball court. He did play football in high school, so its not as if he is a complete stranger to the sport. It appears that he owes a lot of the move to a single person reaching out to suggest he make the transition. That person was George Fant, someone who also has made the transition from basketball to football.
How did Granger find himself as the Carolina Panthers newest tight end?
The man who is behind the move is none other than former Panthers player George Fant. After going through the transition himself, he has started a mentorship programme where he seeks out players that he believes fit the mould that he could shape into successful NFL players. Colin Granger has everything he needs to be a remarkable tight end at the top tier of American football.
That’s what Fant thinks at least. He mentioned that his programme are only interested in a certain type of basketball player. One who excels in blocking and rebounding. Understable traits that could translate well to the game of football. A tight end needs to be big, athletic and strong. All traits that Colin Granger has in spades. The question is can he follow the mentorship provided by Fant and his programme?
After spending seven seasons playing for the Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Houston Texans, George Fant understood the opportunity that bigger basketball players had in transitioning to football. He made a very successful NFL career for himself after playing basketball in college. After which he decided to set up a programme to identify possible players to approach. With the teams league preparations in full swing, can Granger adapt?
Will the Panthers benefit from their newest tight end addition?
After the heartbreak of losing to the Denver Broncos in the 2015 Super Bowl, the team was unable to make it to the post-season since 2017. So the team is looking for a resurgence and a possible return to the post-season at least. Football is huge in the South. It runs deep in the veins of the locals and garners nearly as much passion as religion does. So the fans can only stay patient for so long.
Granger admitted that he was looking at a future of playing basketball somewhere in Europe when Fant approached him. After initial discussion Fant was able to convince Granger to to do work out for some NFL teams to come take a look at his abilities. Fant and his team organised a workout and invited a range of NFL teams to come take a look at Granger.
The Panthers were one of the teams that showed up to take a look. No doubt George Fant’s recent playing career with them made sure of them at least taking a look. They obviously trust Fant’s judgement and rewarded Granger with a contract. He steps into list of players that have made the switch, some successfully. So will Colin Granger make headlines for his abilities on the field? Or his inability to transition?
The world of football is changing. Is this the latest trend?
There was once a time when the idea of people transitioning between sports was unheard of. However, that time is no more. George Fant’s recent successful career in the NFL is evidence to the fact that under the right mentorship, a player with the right abilities and physical stature, could make the switch comfortably between basketball and football. With tight ends getting huge money contracts in the NFL, Granger has a great opportunity at hand to become a force in the NFL and prove Fant right in his predictions.
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