Freezer is heating up
By Cliff Smith
3.14.2010
Nicholas Grigsby is hungry. Nowadays his
appetite is geared toward getting
recognition as one of the premier
football prospects in the state of Ohio.
That was not always the case though.
Grigsby’s head coach at Trotwood-Madison
HS let it slip that he’s had a nickname
since he was a little kid. When asked if
he prefers to be called Nick or
Nicholas, Coach Maurice Douglass had
this to say, “We all just call him
Freezer cause that’s what his mom calls
him.”
With my curiosity piqued, I had to find
out more from Grigsby himself. “My mom
started calling me Freezer when I was a
kid cause I was always in the fridge or
freezer looking for food. I had so much
energy all the time, I was always
eating.” revealed Grigsby. “I’d just run
right back outside and burn it off
anyway.”
Whatever his mother was feeding him all
that time sure seems to have helped him
develop into an outstanding football
player and vital member of his high
school team.
Grigsby completed his junior season last
fall and will be the team’s returning
leader in tackles and sacks for 2010.
He’s one of the more athletic
linebackers you’ll find in the Ohio
class for 2011. A review of his
highlights show a player that seems more
comfortable in space yet physical enough
to knock some heads between the tackles.
His abilities in coverage and to jam
receivers at the line are also earning
him kudos.
His junior season was one where his team
fell to the eventual Division 2 state
champions in a semi-final round playoff
game. As painful as accepting that loss
was, it only served to highlight
Grigsby’s eagerness to build for bigger
things in the future.
“It was hard but it’s in the past. Coach
(Douglass) has us working hard and
moving on.” He went on to detail some of
that work, “All the guys not in sports
now are working out as a team. After
those workouts are done, me and some
other guys are staying after to put in
more work. Coach expects the
upperclassmen to lead and that’s what
I’m going to do. We’ve got to show these
young guys what it takes so we can take
the next step this season.”
Asked if he’s vying to be elected a
captain on the team, Grigsby’s response
was, “It’d be cool if I am. If that’s
what Coach needs me to be, that’s what
I’ll be. I’m going to work just as hard
either way.”
And just what has all of that extra
training done to improve his game? A
look at some of the numbers he has
posted at recent combines tells the
tale.
On Jan. 30 of this year, Grigsby
attended the Next Level Football Combine
in Massillon, OH. He measured in at 6’1”
and 204 pounds but what really made eyes
pop were a couple of his testing
numbers. After starting with the third
best forty yard dash time of 4.67
seconds (laser timed) and ending with a
combine best (tie) 9’11” broad jump, the
scouts on hand were eager to get a look
at Grigsby in some actual football
drills. He obviously didn’t disappoint
in those exercises either as he was
named to the all combine team as a
linebacker.
A planned return trip to Massillon for
the Nike Football camp on March 6 was
jeopardized when Grigsby strained his
hip flexor the week before. “I had
already signed up for it and I know I
can hang with those guys even if I’m not
100%,” declared Grigsby. “It turned out
alright but I know I could have done
much better.”
“Alright” is a relative term considering
he not only attended but he posted a
SPARQ rating of 93.75. That score was
good enough to get him elected as one of
the top 7 performers out of the nearly
one thousand in attendance. I would
think that kind of recognition from “the
worldwide leader” would greatly increase
a person’s confidence.
“Not really. I never had any doubts I
could do that. None of the guys there
could intimidate me or make me doubt
myself. It’s nice to hear that, you
know. See my name up there and all. But
confidence was never a problem for me,”
asserted Grigsby.
Looking back at my notes confirms that
Coach Douglass agrees, “He’s really
coming on for us and starting to have
that look you want from your top guys.
If he keeps doing the right things, the
sky is the limit. He can be a big time
player.”
The question then becomes, do college
coaches agree with that opinion? It
seems more and more they do. Prior to
his impressive combine performances,
Grigsby had offers in hand from Akron,
Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State,
Miami (OH), and Toledo. “Toledo and BG
are showing the most interest,” said
Grigsby. “Michigan State and Illinois
are starting to look too. Those are two
teams I’ll look at hard.”
As for what factors will interest him,
Grigsby had this to say, “Position
doesn’t matter and most schools haven’t
really said. The academic program, the
training facilities, somewhere I’m
comfortable, and some place that’s not
too cold. I’m used to the weather here.
Michigan State doesn’t sound much
different but that’s about as far as I’m
thinking now.”
That sounds like distance from home
could possibly affect the decision, “I
don’t know yet. Leaving home is
possible. I just have to see where I fit
in first,” stated Grigsby. “I know I
want to take all of my visits so I can
be sure. And I’m not going to be rushing
anything so picking a school might take
til signing day.”
It doesn’t sound like schools will have
any concerns over accepting Grigsby
either, “I’ve been around a 3 on my GPA
all year. I’m taking the test (ACT)
again next month, I think. I didn’t like
my first score.”
With all that said, do any schools stand
out as a favorite at this time? “Not at
all. I’m wide, wide open as can be. I’m
listening to anybody who’s talking.”
Said Grigsby.
From the sounds of things, that talking
will do nothing but increase in the
coming months. After his combine
showings, Grigsby’s name is on many more
lips than it has been. Now that he’s one
of the hottest prospects in the Midwest,
it might be time to come up with a new
nickname for Freezer.
Nicholas Grigsby
Early Projected Ranking: 5.7/
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