How Liberty commit Cal Grubbs shows leadership on, off field for Maryville
Cal Grubbs is never short for motivation. The Maryville center’s drive to succeed at all costs — as well as his ability to block — has earned him a college scholarship.
Despite having offers from SEC programs like Ole Miss and College Football Playoff semifinalist Cincinnati, the reason Grubbs chose Liberty and coach Hugh Freeze was grounded in comfort.
“Honestly, they just kind of welcomed my family,” Grubbs said. “I mean, I barely even had to introduce myself. They already knew who I was. They just made it feel like home.”
Grubbs, a three-star prospect, is No. 7 on the Knox News Elite 8, a collection of the top football prospects in the Knoxville area as picked by the newspaper for the Class of 2023.
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His motivations can take many forms, and he was eager to share one particular source that he wears on every snap.
On his right wrist is a blue and red band that reads ‘Hilinski’s Hope’, a non-profit organization that focuses on awareness and education of mental health for student-athletes.
It bears the name of Tyler Hilinski, a 21-year-old quarterback who committed suicide in 2018 just weeks after his redshirt sophomore season at Washington State.
“I love it when people ask me what it means,” he said. “Because we have a lot going on that behind the scenes that some people just won’t notice. There’s a bunch of pressure on you — like constantly — to be your best.”
Wearing the Hilinski’s Hope wristband sends an invaluable message to everyone else on the team. That responsibility is nothing more than he is used to while going through his reads at the line of scrimmage.
“As a senior, you kind of have a big leadership role out there,” he said. “You're getting everyone doing what they need to do. You have control over the whole offensive line at that point. You're making the calls. I just love doing it.
“It's more than just snapping the football and blocking the dude in front of you.”
As important as his blocking and football IQ are on the field, Maryville coach Derek Hunt vouched for the senior’s leadership qualities.
“He's been phenomenal,” Hunt said. “He makes sure that our group stays focused on the offensive side and then also that we're giving great effort. He's got such great body language, great energy. He's super positive, which is what I love about him.”
Even with college football on the horizon, Grubbs remains present and not allowing his commitment to Liberty to cloud his focus for the 2022 season. When asked what he wants to improve and work on this year, individually or not, he maintained a group-oriented mindset.
Throughout spring and summer camps, Grubbs said he feels the Rebels’ chemistry is strong. Everyone is present at all practices and he couldn’t recall a single player showing up late.
“My goal is to align us all to become best friends and get super close because that's how we all work the best with each other,” he said.
Locker room leaders at the high school level like Grubbs are few and far between. The value of a college-committed player showing the same level of discipline as a younger player still trying to reach that level is not lost on the underclassmen.
“He embodies the Division I prospect so well for our younger kids,” Hunt said. “D-I prospects, they don't grow on trees, but for our guys, he has shown that it's still high school football, it’s still a team game.”
Ultimately, Grubbs hopes this season finishes with a state championship. He was a freshman the last time the program captured a state title, but Grubbs wants that feeling as an everyday starter. Maryville has fallen to eventual state champion Oakland in the Class 6A semifinals the past two seasons.
More than anything else, he wants that feeling for the rest of his teammates so the winning culture at Maryville can continue beyond his time as a Red Rebel.
“Man, we're just so fortunate that he's on our team,” Hunt said.
Alberto Camargo is a sports intern with the Knoxville-News Sentinel. Contact him at acamargo@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @albaretoe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Liberty commit Cal Grubbs leads by example
