Carl GrandersonSouth Team

SUMMARY:

•2019 Invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl

•2018 Second Team All-Mountain West Conference

•2018 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

•2018 Ted Hendricks Award Watch List

•2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

•2017 First Team All-Mountain West Conference

•2017 Associated Press All-Bowl Team

•2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week vs. Utah State

SENIOR (2018): Carl Granderson had an outstanding senior season for the Wyoming Cowboys.  He earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors from conference head coaches and media.  Granderson was a leader of a Wyoming defense that ranked 19th in the nation in total defense, allowing opponents only 326.2 yards per game.  The Cowboys also ranked: No. 16 in the NCAA in fewest opponent first downs allowed (223), No. 25 in rushing defense (129.5 yards per game), No. 28 in scoring defense (22.0 points per game) and No. 32 in pass defense (196.7 yards per game).  He helped lead the Pokes to their third consecutive season earning bowl eligibility, with a 6-6 record.  Granderson ranked fifth in the Mountain West among all defensive linemen in tackles, averaging 3.1 tackles per game.  In spite of opposing teams trying to run away from Granderson, he concluded his senior season with: 40 tackles, including 28 solo stops; had 3.0 sacks; 7.5 tackles for loss; two pass break-ups; and one interception that he returned 61 yards for a touchdown at Hawai’i.  The Maxwell Football Club named Granderson to the 2018 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List in July.  He was also named to the 2018 Ted Hendricks Award Watch List and the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.  Among his best games of the season were: a 10-tackle performance, including six solo tackles in a home win over Air Force.  He also was credited with five tackles, all solo tackles, and had 1.0 sack and 3.0 tackles for loss in a road win at New Mexico.  He had four tackles and a quarterback hurry at Missouri.  Against nationally-ranked Washington State, Granderson recorded three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.  Versus Boise State, he made three tackles, 1.0 sack and 2.0 tackles for loss.

JUNIOR (2017): Granderson posted one of the great seasons by a defensive end in Wyoming school history.  He ranked No. 1 among all Mountain West defensive linemen in tackles (5.9 per game/77 total tackles).  His 9.5 sacks ranked him No. 16 in the nation.  He recorded 16.0 tackles for loss, ranking him No. 2 in the Mountain West.  He had an amazing two interceptions from his defensive end position -- one vs. Utah State that he returned six yards and one vs. New Mexico that he returned 37 yards.  He scored a safety with 37 seconds remaining in the game at Utah State to seal a 28-23 win for the Cowboys.  In Wyoming’s 37-14 win over Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Granderson returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown.  For his performance in the bowl game, Granderson was named to the 2017 Associated Press All-Bowl Team.  He was part of a Wyoming defense that led the nation in forcing turnovers (38 takeaways) and ranked No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 17.5 points per game.  One of Granderson’s top games of the year game on the road against MW rival Boise State as he recorded career highs in tackles (12), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (3.0).

SOPHOMORE (2016): Granderson appeared in six games and was one of the most effective pass rushers in the MW prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury vs. Air Force. He had 19 tackles with 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.  Granderson also broke up one pass and forced a fumble.  He recorded six tackles against Nebraska in a game in which he also added a sack.  He recorded a sack in each of the first three games of the season and in four of the six games he played. He added four tackles and 1.0 sack at Colorado State.  He recorded a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss against UC Davis.

FRESHMAN (2015): Granderson appeared in all 12 games for the Cowboys in his true freshman season.  He finished the season with 36 total tackles with 21 solo stops and 15 assisted tackles. He added 6.0 tackles for loss for 18 yards. and had 1.0 sack for five yards.  He recorded a career-high six tackles twice at Boise State and at San Diego State.  Against the Aztecs, he recorded four solo stops and two assisted tackles and added his first career sack and a tackle for loss for five yards.  Against Boise State, he added four solo tackles and a tackle for loss.  Granderson also recorded five tackles at Air Force and UNLV.  He was named to the Academic All-Conference team for his work in the classroom.

HIGH SCHOOL: Granderson played for one of the top high schools in the state of California -- Grant High School in Sacramento, Calif.  He helped lead Grant to 14-1 record and the 2014 California Section Championship.  The Pacers advanced to the 2014 Regional Championship game before losing their first game of the season, just one game shy of the California Division 1 State Championship Game.  Division 1 is the largest classification in the state.  Granderson recorded very impressive numbers as a senior linebacker.  He led his team in total tackles (172), sacks (15.0) and tackles for losses (34.0).  Granderson also intercepted two passes, recovered one fumble and forced one fumble.  He returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown.  As a junior, he was credited with 82 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 10.0 tackles for loss, one interception, three fumble recoveries and one blocked kick.  He played for head coach Mike Alberghini.  Granderson also received scholarship offers from Boise State and Washington State.

PERSONAL: Born December 18, 1996.  He graduated in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in social science.