CAREER: Twice named to All-NSIC Team including second team linebacker as a junior and honorable mention as a senior...three-time Academic All-NSIC honoree...played 38 games (20 starts) with 178 tackles which has included 98 solo stops...accumulated 17 tackles for loss for losses of -57 yards with 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries...three times had double digit totals in tackles in a game with 15 in his final game at USF his top mark...recorded seven passes defended, four pass breakups and 11 quarterback hurries...in his four years (five counting redshirt in 2015), helped his team to a 36-12 record, NSIC title in 2016 (first in school history at the DII level and in the NSIC), and three playoff berths...helped lead USF to back-to-back playoff berths in 2016 and 2017 and 7-4 a year ago...was part of NSIC titling-winning squad in 2016 which was 12-1 and 11-0 in league play...has helped USF to a 28-8 record in his time at USF.
2019 - Led Sioux Falls in tackles with 76 (team-high 46 solo tackles) in 2019...was named All-NSIC second team at linebacker in 2018 and earned Honorable Mention All-NSIC honors in 2019...named Academic All-NSIC for a third straight year...had six or more tackles seven times in 2019 with a career-high 15 tackles in the heart-breaking playoff loss at No. 7 Colorado Mines...also in 2019 when USF was 8-4 and reached the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, accumulated 7.5 TFLs for -21 yards in loss, had a sack for -5 yards, recovered a fumble, had six quarterback hurries and registered a past breakup in playing all 12 games...was a key member of a defense that finished fifth in the NCAA DII in total defense at 260.7 yards per game and also ranked fifth in team passing efficiency defense (94.15).
2018 - Finished with a team-high 70 tackles (27th in NSIC) for USF's defense which ranked 21st in DII and third in the NSIC in scoring defense (19.0 ppg), 32nd in DII and sixth in the NSIC in rushing defense (120.2 ypg) and 54th in DII and fourth in the NSIC in total defense...had 35 solo stops, 2.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions for 48 yards, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in earning his first-ever All-NSIC second-team selection...starter in all 11 games...was named Academic All-NSIC...had double digit tackles twice with a career-best 12 stops against Bemidji State...also had 10 tackles, career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in USF's win over Minnesota State Moorhead...had a 48-yard interception return against SMSU (also had six tackles - three solos) and also had an interception against No. 1 Minnesota State...recorded nine stops with four solo stops against Concordia St. Paul on 8-30-18....had eight tackles with four solo stops against No. 1 Minnesota State on 11-3-18...had six or more tackles seven times and at least seven tackles in a game on five occasions...had four solo tackles in a game six times.
2017: Played in 12 games for the 9-3 USF Football Team that reached the postseason for a fourth straight year and third straight playoff appearance...key member of defense as USF fielded one of the nation's best defenses in 2017, ranking second in DII in total defense (244.3 yards per game), second in scoring defense (12.5 ppg), third nationally in rushing yards per game (67.8 yards per game), seventh in first down defense (158) and ninth in sacks (3.33 per game, 40 total)... had 30 tackles, including 17 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback sack...also recorded two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and recovered a fumble...named to Academic All-NSIC squad...11 times had a tackle in a game...seven times had three or more tackles in a game...recorded season-highs of four tackles against No. 22 Winona State and at Wayne State...recorded season-high three solo stops with TFL and first career sack in 34-0 home shutout against Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 23...On Sept. 9 at home, had a tackle and recovered a fumble with a 15-yard return in win over Northern State...recorded three tackles against No. 8 Minnesota Duluth on Aug. 31, U-Mary on Sept. 16, Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 23, Concordia St. Paul on Oct. 21, and No. 1 Minnesota State on Nov. 11...had two solo stops and two quarterback hurries in "Key to the City" win over Augustana on Oct. 28.
2016 - Appeared in three games... part of team was was 12-1 and 11-0 in the NSIC while advancing to final 16 in NCAA DII with 1-1 playoff record...contributor on defense that ranked second in the NSIC and 19th nationally in scoring defense (18.6 ppg), second in the league and 39th nationally in rushing defense (111.8 ypg), 12th nationally and second in the NSIC in interceptions and second in total defense (348.1 ypg), 16th nationally and fourth in the NSIC in team sacks (3.23 per game), while ranking 25th in DII in turnovers gained (27).. recorded two solo stops...recorded solo tackle vs. Concordia St. Paul (10/22) and Upper Iowa (11/5).
2015 - Redshirted
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished high school career as was one of the state’s top players, twice (junior and senior seasons) earning 9B All-State honors and selection to the Argus Leader Elite 45 as both a junior and senior...led the Chargers to consecutive state 9B title game appearances, including a 9B title in 2014... named the Joe Robbie MVP after accounting for four TDs and rushing for 173 yards in a 34-8 win over Faulkton in the 9B championship...also named Outstanding Back by SD Football Coaches Association...totaled 444 carries for 3,622 yards and scored 62 TD in his career on offense...also had 177 tackles, 163 solo stops, 4.5 sacks, five interceptions and eight forced fumbles as a standout defender for the Chargers...as a senior QB had 176 carries for 1,833 yards and 34 TDs with nine 100-yard rushing game...his career with 15 100-yard rushing games and three games over 250 yards (263, 287, 307)...completed 130-of-284 passes for 2,449 yards and 36 TDs with 14 interceptions and as a senior was 38-of-83 for 810 yards and 13 TDs...also had 6,090 total yards...had 112 tackles and an interception as a senior...played for head coach Jeff Sheehan...three-time Eastern Coteau Conference selection...earned conference defensive MVP honors in 2013...also participated in Basketball, Track and Baseball in high school...participated in FCA and was member of Student Council.
PERSONAL: Son of Wesley and Cindy Grantham....three siblings Ryder, Chloe and Nash...biology major.
