If Colin Grunhard comes across as a guy with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, it’s hard to blame him. Regarded by many as the best offensive lineman in Kansas City, the Roeland Park (KS) Bishop Miege center just capped off his high school career with a third consecutive Class 4A Division I State Championship, yet he doesn’t have a single Power 5 offer to show for it.
“It is frustrating,” the 6-foot-1, 270-pound senior said of his recruitment. “Especially when the coaches say that I could play at their school early. But it is also motivation to get better and prove people wrong, wherever I go.”
It’s hard to imagine Grunhard could have much left to prove after one of the great runs in recent Kansas high school football history. The Stags standout started every game in his four years at Miege, compiling a record of 46-4 under head coach Jon Holmes, going 13-1 in postseason play.
“It was an amazing experience to go through,” Grunhard said of his string of 50 consecutive starts. “And winning three straight was something that our program has never done before. It was amazing to be a part of that.”
A finalist for the Bobby Bell Award, honoring the Most Outstanding Small Class Lineman/Linebacker in Kansas City, Grunhard set the protections for an offense that piled up more than 5,000 yards and 78 touchdowns in 2016. A First Team All-Eastern Kansas League, Class 4A-I All-State, and All-Metro Kansas City honoree, he was also a Kansas Football Coaches Association Top 11 selection. But despite the accolades, he has drawn only preferred walk-on opportunities from FBS programs.
“They usually say it is dealing with numbers,” he said of the Power 5 coaches recruiting him. “Not enough spots this year, even when that particular school has very few commits. Most of the preferred walk-ons are the two-for-three deal, where after two years, they would guarantee a scholarship spot.”
The youngest son of former Kansas City Chiefs center Tim Grunhard, Colin knows recruiters look at him differently because of his father’s 11-year NFL career. He believes his father’s success may be part of the reason college coaches are asking him to cover the cost of his education.
“I think that may come into play,” Colin said of his father’s history as a professional athlete impacting the decision not to offer. “They would not be able to give those opportunities to people who couldn’t afford to pay their own way for two years.”
Grunhard does hold offers from Air Force, Colgate, and South Dakota. He has also drawn interest from each of the local schools, with Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri all extending preferred walk-on opportunities. NC State has followed suit, with Kansas City native and Bishop Miege alum Dave Doeren working to lure Grunhard to Raleigh.
“He stays in touch with Coach Holmes,” Grunhard said of Doeren. “He has sent us videos and good luck before, so that helps.”
Asked who is his favorite at this point, the all-state center pointed to his father’s alma mater. Having made countless trips to South Bend to watch the Fighting Irish and visit his older brother, Grunhard is very familiar with Notre Dame. His twin sister will be a swimmer there next year, and he could join her with the other incoming freshman athletes.
“The Notre Dame walk-on is interesting right now,” he said of the opportunity with head coach Brian Kelly’s program. “I would say Notre Dame is appealing because of the high-quality education that I would receive, and I would have two siblings there as well.”
Though the Irish are a natural fit for Grunhard, he said at least one of the local schools has a chance to keep him closer to Kansas City. Having already visited Air Force, Notre Dame, and South Dakota, he will make the trip to Columbia next month to talk with head coach Barry Odom and the staff at Missouri.
