10 Questions With ... Grant Conaway -- Football

Our next installment of "10 Questions With ..." features Orange Coast College defensive end Grant Conaway.

1. As a defensive end, what is your absolute favorite part about football?

"I love that I get the opportunity to hit someone on every play. As a defensive lineman, that's what our job is – getting off of the ball and hitting someone every play and making the play. I grew up as an offensive lineman in high school, but when I went to OCC, I beefed up a bit and they moved me to D-line. It was a great, new experience. Learning how to get out of stance with speed and power was something I really had to learn my first year."

2. I remember going from Newport Harbor HS to Saddleback to try out for baseball and I couldn't believe just how much better the sport was at that level. As a freshman last year, what was the biggest difference you saw between playing football in high school to this level? 

"For me it was just the immense size of the people at this level. In Huntington Beach, you've got some big guys playing football, but here, it's that EVERYONE is so much bigger than I was used to playing against."

3. With this COVID situation, probably no other sport we have is affected as much as football. What have you done and what are you continuing to do during this fall to get yourself both mentally and physically ready for the upcoming season?

"I'm training every single day. I took a break for a bit, but I got right back on it. I've been working on my speed work, positioning, lifting weights and on the mental side, we've been doing lots of online team meetings. I enjoy being a student of the game. Normally, I get to see these guys every single day and now it's months apart. I miss just not being able to play the game. Going from every day to what it is now, it definitely weighs on you. I miss not seeing the coaches, but it's also been a blessing to let your body heal and really gather an appreciation for what we get to do out there on the field."

4. Obviously last year was a rough one for the Pirates, but I definitely saw this organization take a huge strides in the right direction. From a player's perspective, what positives did you take out of last year and as a sophomore this year, what type of leadership skills will you be bringing to the team this year?

"Last year I saw a lot of real good things. Defensively, we came out every single game and gave it our best effort every single week. Our defensive coach, Twin Fernandes, is a real good coach and a real good guy. He always had us prepared week in and week out. Offensively we sputtered a bit, but I saw some good things there as well. We always had a good offensive gameplan for whoever we played against. Our defensive line was young last year and as a sophomore this year, I'd like to be more of a guiding hand and bring more to my position."

5. Is there a player in the NFL that you pattern your game around?? What is it about that person that peaked your interest in following that person's example?? 

"(Houston Texans player) J.J. Watt has been my favorite player for a long, long time. Now that I'm playing DL, I've really been paying attention to how he plays. He's not the fastest guy but his visibility and to use his body and mental game through football is something I definitely look up to." 

6. If I gave you a 24-hour pass from COVID and you could do anything that you used to do, what would it be?? What do you miss the most from this isolation??

"The obvious one is playing football … but besides that,  I miss going to the Orange County Fair.  Just being with the people and eating the food and going to the rodeos there. They have great Hawaiian shrimp wraps and of course, you can't beat the corn dogs."

7. All kids like to eat … what are your favorite meals??
   1. Favorite food in general – "It's gotta be my dad's pot roast … the meat,  the potatoes and the carrots. It's so good!"
   2. Favorite pregame meal – "Before a game, I enjoy chicken and rice from Flame Broiler. It always makes me feel good."
   3. Favorite meal afterwards –  "Last year, we went to In 'N Out a lot after our games."  

8. When you're not playing football, what do you enjoy doing?? Any hobbies or interests???

"I enjoy any kind of exercising or weightlifting. I also love to go play basketball at the Recreation Center with my friends. And, I also enjoy working on cars. I just got a 1969 Chevy C-10 truck that I'm working on so I'm real excited to get that running and looking good."

9. What kind of coach has Coach Bubba been to you?? What lessons has he taught you the most about football or about life in general?? 

"He's been awesome. He really makes you feel like you're at home on this team. You can always go to him if you need anything. Also, he's a very smart football coach, who always finds a way to get the guys ready and he never gives up on them. He's always trying to instill discipline to help them in life, not just football." 

10. What would you like to do AFTER Coast?? Are you majoring in anything at the moment?? Any long-term career goals???

"I plan to go to the four-year route after OCC and I'd like to keep playing. After that, I'd like to be a firefighter. I just want to be able to help as many people as possible."