UMD Athletics

AS A BULLDOG: Is primed and ready to take on a more prominent tight end role this year -- and should due to the graduation of the 2013 starting duo of Pat Alexander and Jeremy Reierson ... also served as UMD’s No. 1 short snapper last fall ... caught five passes for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns (both in a 52-0 home victory over Minot State on Oct. 19) as a Bulldog newcomer ... those two pass receiving touchdowns were a 2013 team single-game high. BEFORE UMD: Transferred to UMD in 2013 after spending three years at the University of North Dakota ... handled North Dakota’s short and long snapper responsibilities during the 2011 and 2012 seasons ... was selected to the All-Big Sky Academic Team as a sophomore and received the Athletic Director Award of Merit that year and the one previous as well ... was redshirted as a first-year freshman in 2010.  COLLEGIATE HIGHS: Pass Receptions - 2 vs. Minnesota Crookston (11/2/13) and Minot State (10/19/13). Pass Reception Yards - 32 vs. Minot State (10/19/13). Pass Reception Touchdowns - 2 vs. Minot State (10/19/13). Longest Pass Reception - 29 yds. vs. Minot State (10/19/13). PERSONAL: Is the son of Mike (his head coach at Eden Prairie H.S.) and Colleen Grant ... his uncle, Bruce Grant (1980-83) and cousin, Rick Fritz (1998-2002) both starred at quarterback for the Bulldogs ... is the grandson of former Minnesota Vikings coaching legend Bud Grant.