News
ENLARGE
Kevin Grimes brought Bear River fans to their feet so many times as a Bruin senior running back, the crowd at J. David Ramsey Stadium might as well had signed up for an aerobics class.
Two hundred and eighty-nine points were put on the scoreboard by Grimes during the 2005 season, which led the entire state of California in scoring. The 6-foot, 183-pound senior running back/linebacker/placekicker also rushed for 1,965 yards and 39 touchdowns as Bear River's team captain.
But after the big man on the south county campus graduated, it wasn't as though Division I college scholarship offers were falling at his feet. So, the Bruin went over the mountain and walked on to the team at the University of Nevada.
Five years later, Grimes made his first start in a Division I football game last Thursday night, but on the opposite side of the ball. The 6-foot, 205-pound senior stepped onto the Mackey Stadium turf as a starting outside linebacker with the Wolf Pack.
And, as has been the case since he arrived in Reno, Grimes didn't disappoint.
Grimes had four tackles, including one for a loss, as the Wolf Pack pulled away from Eastern Washington for a 49-24 season-opening win.
“It definitely feels really good (to be in the starting lineup),” Grimes said by phone the night before the season opener. “It feels like all the hard work is paying off. I want to have a good season.When it's your senior year, it has a whole added meaning to it.
“I just want to leave everything on the field.”
To reach his starting role, Grimes has followed a long and winding path through the Wolf Pack depth chart over the years. His first season, as a redshirt freshman, was essentially spent being practice meat. But he relished that role, showing up to work every day with only the intention of giving the team everything he had.
It showed. By the end of his first year with the program, one spent mostly as a bruised ballcarrier getting banged up daily by the team, he had earned the “Full-Speed Effort and Habit Award,” as the offensive scout teamer of the year.
His first season on the field was spent mostly on special teams, where he recorded 25 tackles and was voted by his teammates and coaches as the “Outstanding Special Teams Player” in 2007.
It also marked his first time receiving Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors, as he pursues a degree in business finance.
Heading into his sophomore season, he was moved to the defensive secondary and remained a special teams stalwart, finishing seventh on the team with 45 tackles.
"I didn't mind changing over to the defense,” he said. “You know, whatever gets you on the field faster.”
Change came again heading into his junior season last year, when he stepped forward a few paces in the defense and into the linebacker position he had last played during his Bear River days. He played in all 13 games and recorded 25 tackles, including a season-high four tackles against both New Mexico State and Boise State.
“Kevin came in as a walk on and earned a scholarship,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said prior to the 2009 season. “He's long in Nevada Football tradition as one of those guys that just hangs in there tough. He struggled at safety last year but we shouldn't have had him there. I moved him to linebacker at the end of last year and he has worked very hard. He will produce at outside linebacker this season. He has a tremendous work ethic and is one of those guys that will give everything he's got, no question.”
And now, in his senior season, he not only is a starter, but led the Wolf Pack onto the field for Thursday night's opener. He expects this year, the final year for Nevada in the WAC, to be a memorable battle for the conference championship — noting also that Boise State and Fresno State are leaving the WAC to join the Mountain West Conference and would like the crown one last time.
“Everyone will want that last WAC title,” he said. “We'll all have our eyes on the prize. Obviously, you can't take anyone lightly, but I think the three teams moving to the Mountain West are building a rivalry for that WAC title.
“I think we're set. We have all the pieces in place for a great season. It's just up to us to put it together and execute.”
He knows that means doing what he's done all along, whether as a walk-on scout team member or as a starting linebacker on scholarship: showing up ready to work each day.
And from there?
“I'm hoping to have a chance to play at the next level,” he said. “If not, then this road ends at the end of the season. And I want to be able to look back at it knowing everything I've given and be proud of what I've accomplished.
“It should be a great season.”
Contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton via e-mail at bhamilton@theunion.com or by phone at 477-4240.
Two hundred and eighty-nine points were put on the scoreboard by Grimes during the 2005 season, which led the entire state of California in scoring. The 6-foot, 183-pound senior running back/linebacker/placekicker also rushed for 1,965 yards and 39 touchdowns as Bear River's team captain.
But after the big man on the south county campus graduated, it wasn't as though Division I college scholarship offers were falling at his feet. So, the Bruin went over the mountain and walked on to the team at the University of Nevada.
Five years later, Grimes made his first start in a Division I football game last Thursday night, but on the opposite side of the ball. The 6-foot, 205-pound senior stepped onto the Mackey Stadium turf as a starting outside linebacker with the Wolf Pack.
And, as has been the case since he arrived in Reno, Grimes didn't disappoint.
Grimes had four tackles, including one for a loss, as the Wolf Pack pulled away from Eastern Washington for a 49-24 season-opening win.
“It definitely feels really good (to be in the starting lineup),” Grimes said by phone the night before the season opener. “It feels like all the hard work is paying off. I want to have a good season.When it's your senior year, it has a whole added meaning to it.
“I just want to leave everything on the field.”
To reach his starting role, Grimes has followed a long and winding path through the Wolf Pack depth chart over the years. His first season, as a redshirt freshman, was essentially spent being practice meat. But he relished that role, showing up to work every day with only the intention of giving the team everything he had.
It showed. By the end of his first year with the program, one spent mostly as a bruised ballcarrier getting banged up daily by the team, he had earned the “Full-Speed Effort and Habit Award,” as the offensive scout teamer of the year.
His first season on the field was spent mostly on special teams, where he recorded 25 tackles and was voted by his teammates and coaches as the “Outstanding Special Teams Player” in 2007.
It also marked his first time receiving Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors, as he pursues a degree in business finance.
Heading into his sophomore season, he was moved to the defensive secondary and remained a special teams stalwart, finishing seventh on the team with 45 tackles.
"I didn't mind changing over to the defense,” he said. “You know, whatever gets you on the field faster.”
Change came again heading into his junior season last year, when he stepped forward a few paces in the defense and into the linebacker position he had last played during his Bear River days. He played in all 13 games and recorded 25 tackles, including a season-high four tackles against both New Mexico State and Boise State.
“Kevin came in as a walk on and earned a scholarship,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said prior to the 2009 season. “He's long in Nevada Football tradition as one of those guys that just hangs in there tough. He struggled at safety last year but we shouldn't have had him there. I moved him to linebacker at the end of last year and he has worked very hard. He will produce at outside linebacker this season. He has a tremendous work ethic and is one of those guys that will give everything he's got, no question.”
And now, in his senior season, he not only is a starter, but led the Wolf Pack onto the field for Thursday night's opener. He expects this year, the final year for Nevada in the WAC, to be a memorable battle for the conference championship — noting also that Boise State and Fresno State are leaving the WAC to join the Mountain West Conference and would like the crown one last time.
“Everyone will want that last WAC title,” he said. “We'll all have our eyes on the prize. Obviously, you can't take anyone lightly, but I think the three teams moving to the Mountain West are building a rivalry for that WAC title.
“I think we're set. We have all the pieces in place for a great season. It's just up to us to put it together and execute.”
He knows that means doing what he's done all along, whether as a walk-on scout team member or as a starting linebacker on scholarship: showing up ready to work each day.
And from there?
“I'm hoping to have a chance to play at the next level,” he said. “If not, then this road ends at the end of the season. And I want to be able to look back at it knowing everything I've given and be proud of what I've accomplished.
“It should be a great season.”
Contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton via e-mail at bhamilton@theunion.com or by phone at 477-4240.
