Nixa linebacker Tanner Grant isn't afraid to try seemingly anything and everything, including carrying the ball out of the Eagles' offensive backfield.
He's also not afraid to make a mistake.
From his middle linebacker post, Grant vows to play with reckless abandon in pursuit of the ball, as he showed by recording a quarterback sack and a tackle for a loss in jamboree action Friday.
He already realizes there will be times in which he over-pursues, but figures the risk will be worth the reward.
"I'm going to try to be really physical, stop the run and blow things up," said Grant, who had 33 tackles as a junior last year and five as a sophomore two years ago. "Causing havoc and blowing things up, that's going to be part of my game, There are going to be those plays in which you're over-aggressive and they run by you. But you've got to play hard and see where it goes."
With his sack and TFL Friday, Grant was surely at the center of many discussions among Nixa fans concerning the Eagles' defense. Likewise, he has been the talk of Nixa's camp due to the versatility he has shown out of nowhere.
He's displayed talents coach John Perry and Grant himself did not know he possessed.
"One day coach Perry asked us who can kick the ball the furthest. I went over and kicked it," Grant said, "He was looking for another long-snapper and I said I would give it a try. It worked out. Now I'm doing both."
Indeed, Grant is listed on Nixa's depth chart as Kaleb James' backup at punter and Eli Frazier's backup at long snapper.
"He's like a swiss army knife. He can do it all," Perry said. "He's a natural at all of them. He's a pretty talented kid. The first time he (long-snapped), I was like, 'Wow.' For having never done it before, he was impressive.
"He can do a little bit of everything," Perry added. "We're going to try to get him get his CDL (Commercial Driver's License), so he can drive the bus."
Grant has added to his wardrobe by proving his strength at running back in short-yardage scenarios during practices. Defensive end John Gholson and linebacker Jaden Aven were used in that manner last season and helped finish off Nixa scoring drives.
Aven carried the ball 44 times for 297 yards and five touchdowns, while Gholson had three carries for 11 yards and one touchdown.
Like Gholson and Aven, Grant now sports a 'Freaks' black T-shirt Perry awards to Eagles who play on both sides of the ball.
"I run power-I, so I said, 'Coach Perry, how about my Freaks jersey?'" Grant said. "He said, 'All right, I'll get you one.'"
