Grant Stuard impressed by SMU staff after receiving first offer
Oak Ridge junior Grant Stuard was just happy to attend SMU's Junior Day on Saturday.
His previous contact with Chad Morris' staff was limited before the visit, so Stuard, who plays outside linebacker and safety, was not expecting to be a priority for the staff during the visit.
But then shortly after he got home from the visit he got a call from the SMU staff to extend him a scholarship offer, his very first.
"It was an overwhelming feeling. I almost wanted to cry," Stuard told the HillTopics. "I've put in so much work and it's finally paying off."
The only thing Stuard could think to compare the feeling to was getting the call up to the varsity football team as a freshman.
"But getting an offer really supercedes that. My coach was putting me on varsity at 13 but these coaches are willing for me to play for them 4-5 years and put me on scholarship," Stuard explained.
SMU called the Oak Ridge head coach before the visit to express interest in Stuard. But the Mustangs needed to meet him in the flesh before extending the offer.
"They wanted to meet me in person to see my size and make sure I was a good person," Stuard said. "We went through all the facilities, dorm room. We were there for about five hours. I talked to each and every coach and got to know everyone. I got a genuine feeling from them."
Then Stuard and his father were invited into Morris' office, where the SMU head man broke down recruiting process and what it means to get a scholarship offer.
Stuard was impressed by the staff, saying they repudiated some of the stereotypes people told him about the recruiting process.
"I was informed that there would be a lot of coaches that would really talk up their school and say some crazy stuff," Stuard said. "But the guys at SMU they were really genuine guys. They would really care for my future regardless of if I went to SMU or not. That's real rare. I really felt that with those guys.
"I felt like they meant everything they said to me."
But actions speak louder than anything. And Stuard can see the promises Morris keeps.
"Coach Morris is a man of his word," Stuard said. "He said he'd hire these guys if he got to this level and like nine of those guys are on the staff. And one of his guys got hurt and coach Morris honored his word to him and he is still paying for him to go to SMU."
Stuard plans on visiting again soon to discuss his fit in SMU's defense. The visit will likely come after track season for Stuard, who competed in the 4-by-400 meter relay in the Junior Olympics last summer.
Stuard actually first wanted to be a track athlete but then he got into football and loved it.
That is paying off for Stuard. The day after receiving his first offer Louisiana-Lafayette extended one as well. He is planning Junior Day visits to TCU, Missouri, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana Tech.