ATLANTA, GA | This past Saturday, February 22, senior Caleb Grant was awarded the opportunity to participate in the 2025 HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 
In preparation for the Legacy Bowl, Grant has been training rigorously with his coach and former NFL player Julius Williams, as well as Morehouse strength and conditioning coach Bobby Thomas. "My coach once told me that preparation kills pressure," Grant said, emphasizing that hard work alleviates nerves. "It's either you do or you don't." With a combination of weight training and conditioning five times a week, he has been focusing on refining his natural strength and improving his speed.
 
"The love and support I have received from my coaches, teammates, and family has only made me more prepared for the biggest game of my life," Grant shared.
 
Hailing from Gwinnett County, Georgia, Grant, a kinesiology major, began his journey as a walk-on at Morehouse.
 
"Coming into Morehouse, I knew that I was going to have to work ten times harder than everyone else," he said. "I wanted to stay at Morehouse, but I also didn't want my parents to have to pay out of pocket for my education. At 5'7, I've been considered undersized my whole life. But with determination and hard work, I earned a starting position on the team my sophomore year."
 
By his second year, Grant had secured the role of starting linebacker. He credits his teammates and mentors for pushing him to succeed and challenging him amid his adversity.
 
"Being at Morehouse all four years and facing all of the trials and tribulations that come with being a student-athlete made me stronger," he said. "My bond with my teammates also became unbreakable—we are lifelong brothers."
 
Grant was named a team captain in his junior year, but he fully embraced the leadership role as a senior, knowing his teammates looked up to him more than ever.
 
Nicknamed "Tackle Machine" as a freshman, Grant lived up to the title throughout his collegiate career.
 
"In my ten years of playing football, my senior season has prepared me the most for this stage," he said. "At the beginning of the season, I almost didn't play because I was going through a lot mentally. But I realized that playing selflessly is one of the most important things an athlete can do. I finished the season not only for myself but for my teammates as their captain. That decision led to the best season I've ever played—I was named first-team all-conference and later invited to the HBCU Legacy Bowl."
Grant highlighted the importance of the game and the representation of HBCUs on a national stage.
 
"It means so much to me to represent Morehouse at the highest level for HBCU players," he said. "Morehouse is an extremely prestigious college with a legacy of greatness. To be able to showcase that in the HBCU Legacy Bowl is truly a blessing."
 
Reflecting on his time at Morehouse, Grant emphasized the life lessons he gained beyond football.
 
"Morehouse taught me the value of resilience and perseverance," he said. "There were moments of struggle, but I learned that every setback was an opportunity to grow. I had to accept losses just as much as I embraced wins and keep pushing forward no matter what."
 
As a player, Grant believes his biggest strength is his heart.
 
"No matter where I am in the play, I'm going to be around the ball, I'm going to hustle, and I'm going to show more effort than anyone else," he said.
Off the field, Grant has built a significant social media presence by combining his passion for motivation, fitness, and anime.
 
"In high school, I made motivational and gym videos, and people made fun of me for it. But it shaped me into who I am today," he said. "When I got to college, I struggled with the expectations of being a student-athlete. That's when I decided to revisit content creation. I started making videos again on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and they just took off."
 
His growing platform has allowed him to inspire others.
 
"People have come up to me on campus and told me how much my videos have motivated them," Grant said. "That means the world to me."
 
The HBCU Legacy Bowl players were split into two teams, Team Gaither and Team Robinson. Grant played for Team Robinson, who secured the victory.
 
"It was an honor and a blessing to be part of such a legendary experience," he said. "I hope it inspires fellow Morehouse athletes, Division II players, and underdogs everywhere to believe they can make it anywhere if they work hard, have faith, and never give up. Always be the hardest worker in the room."
 
Looking ahead, Grant plans to pursue a master's degree in exercise science at Georgia State University while interning under Morehouse's football strength and conditioning coach. He also aims to continue growing his social media presence.
 
The legacy he hopes to leave behind is one of perseverance.
 
"No matter what obstacles arise, you can overcome them as long as you keep fighting," Grant said.