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Q & A WITH GRANT LOWER

I can remember sophomore year at picture day, you were the biggest guy on the team back them and I remember making a comment to coach (Marc) Wiese. He has always been impressed with your size and told me back then that you could be a good one if you put in the time. You have certainly done that. Just talk about your progression as a player.

“There’s been a lot that’s gone into it, honestly. Every summer I would come out on the field doing drills and working on technique, or I would be in the weight room trying to lose fat and build muscle — all that sort of thing. Then I’d have wrestling and that helps a lot and then I’d build more strength during the track season. Things just carried over year to year.”

You have transformed your body from a physical standpoint. You went from 285 as a sophomore, to around 265 as a junior, and now your back up around 280, but you’re way stronger. What was that process like?

“Last year during wrestling I actually got down to as low as 255. And then I’m around 280 now…It’s about your diet. I started to focus on what I was eating after my sophomore year and then worked a lot in the weight room. It was the spring and the summer is when I would hit the weight room the hardest.”

You had to play both ways last year, and even a little this year. What’s that like?

“It takes a lot of mental toughness to keep going, because it gasses you. Being able to keep going — being able to keep grinding — that takes a lot of mental toughness. This year, I’m getting a little more of a break on defense, so that has really helped me focus on offense.”

Because of all the work you’ve done on and off the field, you’ve put yourself in position to play college football and have committed to (Division II) Bemidji State. Has playing in college been something you have always wanted to do?

“I really think it became a reality my junior year. It was always my goal, but last year I just told myself ‘you know what, I really want to play in college’ and there are certain things I have to do. There are certain steps I’m going to have to take. I started putting myself out there (to college coaches) at that point.”

Getting that initial feedback from college scouts, how did that help with the entire recruiting process?

“When (college) coaches started reaching out to me, it helped my confidence for sure. I just knew I could do it and I started believing.”

Bemidji State. When did they start recruiting you, and ultimately what was it about the program and the school overall that made you decide that it was the place to be for the next four years?

“I think my top three schools were Bemidji, then Winona (State) and Minnesota State (Mankato). I think we had our first contact around the end of the school year last year. When I went up there for a visit, everything came together. I just loved everything about it. It was amazing. The school was nice, the facilities were awesome. And they are a really good team, which really helps. The campus, it was…’

Picturesque?

“Exactly.”

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