Scots’ All-Time Leading Rusher Started Career at Defensive Back

Brian Grandison joined The College of Wooster football team in August of 1988, hoping to contribute in any way possible. More than 4,000 yards (4,042) later, he left as one of the most heralded tailbacks in school and North Coast Athletic Conference history.

Not bad for a kid whom the coaching staff originally had no intentions to even use at running back. That’s right, then-Fighting Scot coach and current Director of Football Operations at Ohio State University Bob Tucker recruited Grandison as a defensive back out of Akron East High School. However, after injuries and a lack of depth at tailback took their toll at that fateful training camp, Grandison was asked to change positions and "he unselfishly made the switch," according to Tucker.

Grandison was an instant hit, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the home opener vs. Alma. Overall, he finished with 762 yards and 11 scores during his freshman season, despite suffering an injury in that Alma game. He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player and second-team All-NCAC.

From there, Grandison went on to assault the Wooster record book. The 6-0, 190-pound back used his elusiveness, power, and speed to register back-to-back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns — the only Scot to do so.

An All-American as a sophomore and NCAC Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, Grandison copped first-team all-conference honors in 1989 and 1991, when he totaled a former school record of 1,236 yards, including 292 in his second-to-last game. That gave Grandison a chance to break the Scot career mark in his finale, which he proceeded to do, surpassing Tom Dingle and the 4,000-yard mark. His total currently ranks him No. 4 all-time in a league that has featured numerous great backs.

In addition to all of his yards, Grandison scored 43 touchdowns — 38 rushing, five receiving — during his career, which accounted for more than half (43-of-80) of Wooster’s offensive touchdowns. Also, Grandison only fumbled the ball four times — once each season — out of his 889 rushing attempts.

What made Grandison all the more impressive was that his accolades and statistics came during an era when the Scots struggled to an 11-29 record.

"He had to fight for a lot of hard yards," commented Tucker. "Obviously, the yards he ran for, he earned. We weren’t setting the world afire winning games back then. That’s not to take anything away from any of his teammates, but he had to really make his own way."

Tucker added that Grandison was "totally committed and an unselfish team player" and he was "everything you would want in a leader, a captain, and a teammate."

Grandison has used those qualities to build a successful professional career. After graduating with a degree in business economics, he moved to Dallas, Texas, and began working in information technology. He served in various capacities at three major corporations (Ernst & Young, IBM, and Compuware), and now owns his own IT consulting firm, BGV Corporation.

Personally, Grandison and his wife, Valaine, are the parents of a one-year old son, Braylen.