Five years, 3,310 rushing yards and an All-Northeast Conference team appearance is a solid career for most collegiate running backs.
But for sixth-year Malik Grant, the University of Rhode Island was still in his future. Grant played at Sacred Heart University for five seasons before entering the transfer portal in the offseason.
“I wanted an opportunity to move up in a level of competition that I was facing during the season,” Grant said on his decision to transfer to URI.
Grant also had another factor that persuaded his decision: fifth-year wide receiver Shawn Harris.
“We played back in high school together as well,” Grant said. “We won a couple championships together and, you know, it’s both of our last years, so we said, ‘What better way to end our college career than coming back together at Rhody and then win the championship for Rhody.’”
Harris and Grant played together at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York where they won the 2017 and 2018 Catholic High School Athletic Association New York State Football Championship.
Harris wasn’t the only man with URI Football that wanted Grant to play in Keaney blue. URI Offensive Coordinator Patrick Murphy also wanted to bring in the all-conference player.
“We just had Jaden McKenzie graduate [in 2023] who did a great job for us, and [we] thought [Grant] would be a good fit for the system,” Murphy said.
Grant reciprocated the praise for his new coach, adding that they have made his transition from SHU easier than he expected.
“He simplifies it for you,” Grant said. “Even if it’s something hard, he’ll find a way to simplify it for everyone to make it easier for them. Just having a great coach like that made everything easier.”
Grant is not new to the spotlight after earning multiple preseason awards in five seasons at Sacred Heart. Grant was thrust into headlines this week following his 141-yard, three-touchdown performance against Long Island University on Sept. 21. Instead of taking the credit himself, Grant opted to give it to the teammates who made it possible for him.
“I would definitely say the big guys up front [did well to create running lanes], those five guys, the five men and our tight ends,” Grant said. “It was just great to see those guys open up holes for me because they don’t get a lot of love, but I definitely shout them out every single time because they did their jobs on Saturday.”
Although the numbers are what make the headlines, Murphy did not let other parts of Grant’s performance go unnoticed.
“He’s done a great job blocking,” Murphy said. “He could run inside, he can run outside, he can catch and he can block.”
Grant did not have specific goals for himself this season, but knows that the Rams can go far.
“With the guys doing what they do, I think it will make for a really great season for me,” Grant said. “We’ll win, we’ll win a lot of games and we’ll be very successful this year, we just need to lock in, come together, stay true to each other and all believe.”
Grant and the Rams will look to continue their strong Coastal Athletic Conference play on Saturday as they face off against Hampton University in Virginia at 2 p.m. The game is available to stream on Flo Football.