Grant Haley | Penn State, DB 2018 NFL Draft

➤ Career Notes and Records
Career: Became the first player in school history to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown vs. Ohio State (10/22/16), taking it back 60 yards following a Marcus Allen block.

Season: Broke the Penn State season record with 32 kickoff returns in 2014 (Chaz Powell, 27; 2011), a mark since topped by Miles Sanders (33; 2016)…His 659 kickoff return yards in 2014 rank third on the school season list behind Powell (733 yards; 2011) and Sanders (688; 2016).

➤ 2017 ➤ Senior Season
Awards: Earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media voters…Named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, along with teammate Marcus Allen…Earned Midseason All-America honors from The All-Athletic and USA Today…Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week on Sept. 12 after grabbing his first interception of the season vs. Pittsburgh…Earned Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following his effort vs. Indiana (9/30)…Garnered a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week on Oct. 10 after a three-tackle, three-pass breakup effort at Northwestern…Notched a slot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after his efforts at Maryland (11/25)…Earned the Captain’s Award and Bob Mitinger Memorial Award, along with Torrence Brown and Josh McPhearson, as the squad member who exhibits courage, character and social responsibility, at the annual team banquet…Named Academic All-Big Ten.

Season: Started all 13 games…Selected team captain prior to the season…Recovered his first career fumble at Iowa (9/23)…One of 21 Penn Staters to enter the Fiesta Bowl having already earned a degree.

Rankings: Finished tied for No. 10 in the Big Ten in pass deflections per game (0.9).

➤ High School
A four-year letterman as a standout two-way player for head coach Mike Muschamp at The Lovett School…A two-year team captain…Named the Associated Press Georgia Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year and the South Fulton All-Area Offensive Player of the Year as a senior…Compiled more than 1,500 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns as a running back and added six interceptions at cornerback during his final prep season…Led the Lions to the Georgia Class AA State Championship…Was named to the MaxPreps Small School All-America second-team in 2013…Selected to play in the Georgia Rising Senior Bowl and the Georgia East-West Bowl…Selected all-state as a junior and was a three-time team MVP…Rated as a three-star prospect by all four major recruiting services…Ranked among the nation’s Top 50 defensive backs by 247Sports and ESPN…Also lettered four times in baseball, twice in basketball and twice in track and field…Earned a bronze medal on the National Latin Exam.

➤ Personal
Full name is Grant Dennis Haley…Son of Leon Haley Jr. and Carla Neal-Haley…Has one younger brother, Wesley, and one younger sister, Nichelle…Mother was a member of the Penn State track and field team…Majoring in advertising and public relations…Would like to pursue a career in sports broadcasting or network television administration…Born January 6, 1996 in Southfield, Michigan.

Mom and dad, both doctors elected to not have Haley play football until seventh grade. From that point on he was a terrific athlete who excelled on the field. Growing up in a small town in Georgia, roughly 500 kids at his school, he was a key piece to Lovett School winning a championship.

Scouting Penn State, Haley is a good cover corner who can blanket his man. It is quick to notice he has that extra gear that allows him to keep calm and go stride for stride with his receiver. Arrive at NFL Combine and ran the 11th best forty (4.44) amongst a very fast defensive back class. He was a team captain who excelled on special teams. Haley looks smooth and comfortable in coverage. While not the biggest defensive back you can find, he is tough and poised. Haley is a relentless competitor who I have pegged to earn second contract in NFL.