Trade Brings Rupert Grant Back To Kats
March 22, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
NASHVILLE (Mar. 22, 2005) â The Nashville Kats have acquired fullback/linebacker Rupert Grant, who played for the original Kats franchise from 1999-2001, including their ArenaBowl seasons of 2000 and 2001, in a trade from the Orlando Predators in exchange for future considerations.
Grant (6-1, 240) is in his seventh season in the AFL and returns to Nashville, where he accumulated 318 rushing yards â the second highest total in franchise history â in his three-year tenure with the Kats. Since the Kats were sold and moved following the 2001 season, Grant has played for three different teams. He missed the entire 2002 season as a member of the Georgia Force after suffering an Achilles injury in training camp. In 2003, he played for the Detroit Fury and had a team-high five rushing TD's. Grant moved on to Orlando in 2004, where he had perhaps the best season of his career, tying a Predators record with 9.5 sacks â one of the highest sack totals for a "Mac" linebacker in AFL history. He earned second-team All-Arena honors and had 121 rushing yards and six touchdowns in addition to three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense.
This season, Grant had 12.5 tackles with two quarterback sacks in seven games for the Predators. The veteran from Howard University also had three touchdowns rushing, and he has continued to add to his reputation as one of the best blocking fullbacks in all of arena football.
"Rupert is a great player and we are excited to have him back in Nashville," said Kats head coach Pat Sperduto. "He can do a lot of things for us. He gets after the quarterback on defense and does a great job protecting his quarterback on the other side of the ball. Plus, he is a good team player who is great in the locker room."
Kats fans remember Grant fondly, not only for his integral role in the team's back-to-back ArenaBowl seasons, but for his charismatic personality and his "Doghead" nickname. He had 16 rushing TD's in his three years in Nashville, which he always followed with his patented "Doghead" end zone dance, and he had a Kats career-record 100 carries while with the club.
In order to make room for Grant on the active roster, Nashville moved WR/DB Jermaine Lewis (6-3, 210) to injured reserve. Lewis, who has eight receptions for 68 yards and a TD, has tonsillitis and has not practiced this week.
The Kats (1-6) play host to the Arizona Rattlers (1-7) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Tickets are available at the GEC box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.
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