Grant tabbed David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Charlotte, NC – Anthony Grant came to New Mexico Military Institute as a transfer student-athlete from Florida State University. Grant played his freshman season (2018) for the Seminoles as their primary kick returner, then red-shirted in 2019 before coming to play for the Broncos during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. As a Bronco student-athlete, Grant achieved unprecedented success, tackling hurdles and overcoming various obstacles.
The Georgia native's top athletic accomplishments include leading the NJCAA in total rushing yardage with 1,730, leading the NJCAA in total rushes with 241, leading the NJCAA in average yards per rush at 7.2, and coming in at No. 2 in both rushing touchdowns with 18 and in rushing yards per game with 144.2. In two seasons with New Mexico Military, Grant played in 20 games, possessed 2,549 rushing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns, 357 rushes, 127.5 rushing yards per game, 88 yards as longest rush, 21 receptions for 116 yards in two touchdowns, 16 kick returns for 354 yards, and averaged 7.1 yards per rushing. In the two 2021 NJCAA Division I Football playoff games, Grant rushed for 590 yards and six touchdowns on 60 carries, averaging 295.0 rushing yards per game and 9.8 yards per carry, helping New Mexico Military win their first-ever NJCAA DI Football National Championship title under first-year head coach Kurt Taufa'asau.
Following his career at New Mexico Military, Grant signed to play at the University of Nebraska to continue his academic and athletic career. In the Husker's spring intersquad scrimmage, Grant rushed 6 times for 69 yards, including one for 60 yards and a touchdown.
"Anthony Grant is simply what junior college athletics is all about," said Kurt Taufa'asau, New Mexico Military head football coach. "With little to no chance at making it back to the highest level of competition in college football, he found a way to persevere through adversity. He has earned everything he worked for here at New Mexico Military Institute."
NJCAA Athletic Accomplishments
- 2021 NJCAA Football DI Offensive Player of the Year
- 2021 NJCAA Football DI Rushing Champion
- 2021 NJCAA National Championship Game MVP
- 2021 NJCAA Football DI First Team All-America Offense selection
- 2021 Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) Offensive Player of the Year
- 2021 SWJCFC First Team Offense selection
- 2021-22 New Mexico Military Institute Male Athlete of the Year
- 2020 NJCAA Football DI Second Team All-America Offense selection
Grant will be honored during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, held on Friday, June 10 at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown at 6:30 PM ET. The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, in addition to the 2022 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame and the 2021 inaugural NJCAA Hall of Fame class.
To learn more regarding the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, visit: NJCAA Foundation Awards
To learn more about past NJCAA Male Student-Athletes of the Year, visit: David Rowlands Award Winners
About the NJCAA David Rowlands Award
David Rowlands was an active member of the NJCAA from 1972-1988. He was a regional director during that time and from 1975-1988 was the chair of the NJCAA baseball committee. Rowlands, a baseball coach at Truman College (Chicago, IL), served on the NJCAA gymnastics, golf, executive and eligibility committees. Rowlands was the perfect model of hard work, discipline, ethics, and excellence in community college athletics. This award is given annually to the NJCAA Student-Athlete that best exhibits these traits.
