HOUSTON – George Fant identified something rare in Colin Granger as he scouted the Coastal Carolina basketball player. It was something that hearkened back to his own unique path to the NFL.
Fant, a veteran offensive tackle, launched his idea of starting a business of training college basketball players with the athletic potential to become NFL players. Granger is his first client, and their contact began through a direct message from Fant on social media.
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And the 6-foot-8, 245-pound signed with the Carolina Panthers on Monday, days after working out for NFL teams. With just a few weeks of training, Granger recorded a a 40-inch vertical leap and a 40-yard dash time of 4.8 seconds. He caught the football smoothly and showed potential as a route-runner weeks after playing his final basketball game for Coastal Carolina. With more time to train, Granger is believed to be capable of running a much faster time.
“We found Colin Granger, he was the first one,” Fant told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview. “I got to handpick him. I went through this database and I found him and a couple of other guys. He committed to it. The good thing about Colin is he was 100 percent bought-in from the first day. Colin has the ability and he has the right attitude.
“To be able to do these things, bro, and get signed to a team, he just did his Pro Day on Friday, this doesn’t happen. I really think I found a niche. This year was a trial run. Next year, I plan on loading up with six to 10 guys. No one has done this before.”
As far as a business of converting basketball players to football players, it’s unprecedented. As a football player coming from basketball, there are some success stories like Fant, Graham and tight ends Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Mo Alie-Cox.
Fant was an all-conference basketball player at Western Kentucky where he resisted overtures to play football for his first four years of college. He finally decided to transition to football after weighing his options of playing basketball overseas in Poland.
Fant bulked up from 250 pounds to 296 pounds to play tight end and studied former basketball player turned NFL tight end Jimmy Graham. After one season, Fant impressed the Seattle Seahawks and they signed him to play offensive tackle after he ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.84 seconds. Now, he’s played in the NFL for eight years and started 75 games overall for the Seahawks, New York Jets and Texans. A free agent, Fant is weighing his options and interest from a few NFL teams that could be a fit, including the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens.
Now, Fant is helping athletes with similar goals and background to make it to the NFL. Granger is the first, and the experiment worked.
It takes more than length and athleticism, though. Football requires toughness and intelligence and determination.
“The traits I’m looking for as far as valuating these players is obviously size and athletic ability,” Fant said. “All those guys have that. From there, it’s how physical are these guys? Are they able to go out there and fight and not get out of control and move their body and play with great leverage, use their body.”
From hoops to the gridiron: new #Panthers tight end Colin Granger, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound former @CoastalMBB basketball player trained by veteran #NFL tackle @GeorgeFant74 a former @WKUBasketball player @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/IXtftuB4ba
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 8, 2025
“Looking at these big guys, you’re looking for their leverage and looking for guys who get offensive rebounds. Creating leverage is a skill. It takes timing and traits that I know will stick and transition to football. It’s an easy thing to look for.”
Once Granger committed to Fant’s training program, he lived with him and his family in Bowling Green, Kentucky to train with him and trainer, Jacob Davis. Roughly three weeks later, Granger worked out for NFL teams at his high school in Georgia.
“Colin is a big guy with great hands,” Fant said. “He can catch the football at its highest point.”
Granger, represented by Fant’s veteran agent, Jeff Whitney, signed his contract Monday and celebrated by eating lunch in the Panthers’ cafeteria.
From not playing football since the eighth grade to signing with an NFL team, it’s a remarkable journey.
Granger played five seasons for the Chanticleers and averaged 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in his final year. He previously played for Ohio University and Western Carolina and was known for his rebounding skills and effort.
Granger played football and lacrosse through middle school.
“This isn’t surprising for me knowing Colin,” Coastal Carolina coach Justin Gray said. “He is one of the most committed athletes I’ve ever coached. I told him before he’d be successful in anything because he’s always been disciplined and attacks everything with all he has. Those are the ingredients that bring success, and he possesses those. He knows the work has just begun and we are all here to support him.”
Having Fant’s connections helped, too. He knows Panthers general manager Dan Morgan and coach Dave Canales from their time together in Seattle.
Fant hasn’t come up with a name for his business yet.
“We’ll work on it,” Fant said. “The thing that stands out is watching different players. I think I have a good eye for who can do this program and is able to translate it to football. For me, all I’ve got to do is evaluate these guys in college basketball.
“Jacob and Nacarius Fant, my cousin, they worked with Colin on everything: route running, building endurance, taught him a three-point stance, how to block, how to come off the line. Colin put in the work and now he has a great opportunity in Carolina.”
How did former @CoastalMBB standout Colin Granger go from basketball to #NFL as #Panthers signed 6-9, 245-pounder Monday?Crash course in football with veteran tackle George Fant @GeorgeFant74 a former @WKUBasketball standout 'Colin really embraced the training,' Fant to @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/fyMQ2MpZXl
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 7, 2025
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com