Larry Grantham

James Larry Grantham (September 16, 1938 – June 17, 2017) was an American professional football player who played linebacker for the New York Titans/Jets of the American Football League and, after the league's merger, the National Football League. Born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, he was overlooked as a football recruit because of his size, never weighing more than 195 pounds. His path to a college roster instead ran through baseball. In a 1956 American Legion game between Crystal Springs and Brookhaven, Grantham faced a play at the plate in which Brookhaven's Lance Alworth, a future star at Arkansas, tried to score from second base on a bunt. Grantham dipped his shoulder and blocked the plate. Watching that day were Tom Swayze, the head baseball coach at the University of Mississippi, and Buster Poole, an assistant football coach. Grantham was signed to a baseball scholarship at Ole Miss and offered a tryout as a linebacker on the football team, going on to play college football for the Ole Miss Rebels. He later played professionally for the Florida Blazers of the World Football League.