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9 NWA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.29.2021 HARPS H O M E T O W N F R E S H Tailgating decisions made easy www.harpsfood.com want,'" Grant said. "I knew then I'd go to Arkansas and walk-on — and make it." When did he know he was an SEC player? "That's easy," he said. "My first fall camp when I saw Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw. I don't want to sound cocky, but the truth is that I knew I could be as good as them. "When I lined up with them, it made me mad that I was not on scholarship. I see Dre and Scoota Harris play in the NFL and think I can, too. I think I'm just as good. I'm so glad I picked the SEC. "My first spring when we were low on depth, I was running with the ones and twos in developmental practice. I felt then for sure I'd play." There is pride in making it as a walk- on. "Sure, it shows that I did something," he said. "To be included as a finalist for the Burlsworth (Trophy) is humbling. But it comes back to winning." There is a belief that the Hogs are going to do better than 3-7, perhaps a surprise to some last year. "I think we are so much better right now than last year and probably so much further ahead of where I thought we might be from two years ago," he said. "And we did it without a spring. "Where we are now with a spring is so much better. Our young guys have matured. I love how we are getting coached, so hard." Grant talks with pride about either head coach Sam Pittman or new linebackers coach Michael Scherer. "I can't talk highly enough of (Scherer)," he said. "I'm 23, so he's just four years older. But he's a genius. He knows every position on our defense and knows everything we are going to do against any set or scheme. If I've got a question, he's got the answer. "We just had the best spring that I've seen in my five at Arkansas for the linebackers. We made huge jumps with me and Bumper (Pool) and our younger players." Grant Morgan brings down a Texas A&M ball carrier in 2020. AP Photo/Sam Craft