Senior Features: Grant & Mitchell
Oct 06 | Football
As seen in the Sept. 30 edition of the game day program
Janarion Grant: Setting Records
By Jimmy Gill
In the 2016 Big Ten opener against Iowa, Janarion Grant took a simple swing pass on the left side of the field and dodged several Hawkeyes for a 76-yard gain to put the ball inside the five. However, as Grant was adding extra yards after a hit, a defender came down on his ankle to end Grant's season. It was a play that exemplifies the speed, power, toughness and the threat to score each time he touches the ball, which makes Grant one of the most exciting players in college football.
Prior to the injury, Grant was establishing himself as one of the most versatile players in the nation. He already had 655 all-purpose yards in three-plus games, with six total touchdowns. That included three rushing scores, both a punt and a kickoff return to the end zone and even a passing touchdown.
Despite being in his fourth season of action, Grant was able to receive an NCAA waiver for a medical redshirt because the injury took place in the first part of the schedule. He considered making the jump to the NFL after rehabbing, but ultimately decided it was best to return to Rutgers for the 2017 season to continue building his resume.
"You just got to go through the process, take your time," Grant said of rehab. "Don't rush your injury – you always have to be safe and make sure you're 100 percent because if you rush it and something else bad happens, then you might not be able to play football again. This is the sport that I love and I'm willing to play for as long as I can."
Grant is now back in action for the Scarlet Knights and is all over the NCAA and program record books. His next kick return touchdown, punt or kickoff, will establish him as the nation's all-time leader in combined scores on kicks, as he owns eight overall. In addition, he is tied for the Big Ten record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns with five, a mark which has stood since 1970. Grant is first among all active players with 3,256 combined kick return yards.
"I look for my blockers, making sure they can get the right block," Grant said of his keys on a return. "I set it up, all they have to do is get in the way and I just do the rest. But I'm always willing, my motto is just 'touchdown.'
"It's full speed out there, but it's also slowed down and controlled. You just have to slow your mind down, you can't really rush anything. If you do, you might mess up and the play is a bust."
Grant has already set the Rutgers record for career kickoff return yards (2,697), totaling seven returns over at least 70 yards. His 984 yards off kickoffs in 2015 set a new school record and paced the Big Ten. On punt returns, Grant is third in the RU books with 559 career yards.
Another record within reach is the all-time Rutgers lead in career all-purpose yards. Grant has 4,537 yards and is 804 from taking the top spot. That would mean passing Scarlet Knight legends Brian Leonard (4,643), Ray Rice (5,260) and Terrell Willis (5,340).
A two-time all-conference selection, Grant is from Trilby, Florida, a town between Tampa and Orlando. He was not tackled much as a standout at Pasco High School, influencing the game from all over the field. He lined up at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punt/kick returner and defensive back and left with a county record 77 career touchdowns. As a senior, Grant missed six games, but still managed to find the end zone 20 times. That was after a year where the Class 5A First Team All-State selection piled up more than 1,800 all-purpose yards with 28 scores as a junior.
He decided to sign at Rutgers and immediately made an impact on his first collegiate touch. After Fresno State scored to start the game, Grant took the ensuing kickoff from goal line to goal line for a 100-yard kickoff return. Another memorable moment came in the 2015 game against Washington State when Grant set a school record with 337 all-purpose yards (195 kick return, 65 receiving, 56 punt return and 21 rushing), including taking both a punt and a kickoff to the end zone.
"I've enjoyed being at Rutgers a lot," Grant said. "It's coming to an end, but I've created memories each year with my teammates. It's crazy how much the chemistry builds over the years, and it's wonderful. This is a great place to be."
While he is focused on his final season as a Scarlet Knight, he is also working towards his degree as a labor studies major. His uncles, Darren (South Carolina) and Troy Hambrick (Savannah State), both graduated and played in the NFL.
"I'm focusing on the NFL after the season, but making sure I have my degree first because that's what you really need," Grant said. "You can't do anything without that paper, that's my first focus and it is very important to me. My uncles play in the NFL and they went on and got their degrees. So that's what I'm going to do and just carry on my legacy."
Until then, Grant is looking forward to electrifying stadiums across the Big Ten with his speed and toughness. Each big play has a chance to set a new record.
Damon Mitchell: Big Play Duwop
By Bradly Derechailo
Damon Mitchell is used to putting on a show, no matter how big the crowd is.
It started when he was two years old and in his mother's kitchen. As Lauryn Hill's "Doo-Wop (That Thing)" blasted over the stereo, the rambunctious toddler could not help but perform as his mom encouraged him.
"I didn't budge a muscle to any other song that came on the radio," Mitchell said. "But when that one song came on, I guess I would stand up in my high chair and I was happy as one could be. Then my mother would say 'look at my doo do the duwop' and next thing you know, my nickname was born."
Affectionately called "Duwop" by nearly everyone in his circle, Mitchell carried the nickname with him throughout his playing career, which began on the Pop Warner fields in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.
There, fans could witness his mother, then pregnant with his brother, Ahmir, sprinting the length of the field as Mitchell broke off big play after big play.
"She would run up and down the sidelines at my Pop Warner games screaming 'go Du-Wop, go!'" Mitchell said. "Now my teammates all call me that and 23 years later here I am."
Thanks to his mom's support, Mitchell now finds himself with the Rutgers football team, arriving in Piscataway after he transferred as a graduate student from Arkansas. Mitchell was a three-year letterwinner for the Razorbacks from 2014-16, but decided to play elsewhere in 2017. When Rutgers head coach Chris Ash presented the opportunity to play his final collegiate season "On the Banks," Mitchell could not pass on the chance to come home.
"For my final year, I'd rather be home where I could see my mom and my family around and have them watch what I love to do during my last year," Mitchell said. "Just in case the next level doesn't work out, they can now have an opportunity to say that they saw me play at a high level in person."
Mitchell's relationship with Ash dates back to his time at Cedar Creek High School. A standout dual-threat quarterback for the Pirates, Mitchell helped the school to 11 wins and an appearance in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 2 championship game as a senior. That year, Mitchell threw for 2,025 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 1,027 yards and 21 touchdowns.
His performance on the gridiron caught the attention of Ash, who was then the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. When Ash moved on to become the defensive coordinator at Arkansas, he wanted Mitchell to join him in Fayetteville. The highly-rated recruit liked the fact Ash never forgot about him, so he followed him down south.
"Him going all the way across the country and still showing interest in me as a player meant a lot to me at a young age," Mitchell said.
Ash's interest in Mitchell has paid off for the head coach and the rest of the program. In four games for the Scarlet Knights, Mitchell has hauled in nine receptions for 122 yards, which included two games with three or more receptions. His 33-yard catch on Sept. 9 against Eastern Michigan is his longest so far in 2017.
"'Duwop' is going to have a huge role on our football team," Ash said during the offseason. "He's big and physical. He's a big, athletic body, and he's got a good football IQ. We're excited about what he brings to the table."
His athletic attributes are not the only thing Mitchell has brought to Rutgers. A graduate student in the adult and continuing education program at the University, Mitchell's visions of his future after football are wide.
"I would love to go into teaching," Mitchell said. "I'm currently getting my master's degree in learning cognition and development, and that would be my foot in the door to be either a guidance counselor or an educational counselor. My dream is to go into the academic field, and be the head of the educational department within an athletic department."
Mitchell believes football has provided him with all the opportunities to succeed in whatever he decides to do after college. He knows he wouldn't be here without his mother, who provided everything Mitchell needed to do well, even his nickname, Duwop.
"I wouldn't have a football career if it wasn't for my mom," Mitchell said. "I started when I was eight and when we had to do physical training, I wanted to walk off the field. She told me I had to finish what I started and would not let me leave. So after that, I got good on the field, got a nickname and from then, I loved the sport."
By Jimmy Gill
In the 2016 Big Ten opener against Iowa, Janarion Grant took a simple swing pass on the left side of the field and dodged several Hawkeyes for a 76-yard gain to put the ball inside the five. However, as Grant was adding extra yards after a hit, a defender came down on his ankle to end Grant's season. It was a play that exemplifies the speed, power, toughness and the threat to score each time he touches the ball, which makes Grant one of the most exciting players in college football.
Prior to the injury, Grant was establishing himself as one of the most versatile players in the nation. He already had 655 all-purpose yards in three-plus games, with six total touchdowns. That included three rushing scores, both a punt and a kickoff return to the end zone and even a passing touchdown.
Despite being in his fourth season of action, Grant was able to receive an NCAA waiver for a medical redshirt because the injury took place in the first part of the schedule. He considered making the jump to the NFL after rehabbing, but ultimately decided it was best to return to Rutgers for the 2017 season to continue building his resume.
"You just got to go through the process, take your time," Grant said of rehab. "Don't rush your injury – you always have to be safe and make sure you're 100 percent because if you rush it and something else bad happens, then you might not be able to play football again. This is the sport that I love and I'm willing to play for as long as I can."
Grant is now back in action for the Scarlet Knights and is all over the NCAA and program record books. His next kick return touchdown, punt or kickoff, will establish him as the nation's all-time leader in combined scores on kicks, as he owns eight overall. In addition, he is tied for the Big Ten record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns with five, a mark which has stood since 1970. Grant is first among all active players with 3,256 combined kick return yards.
"I look for my blockers, making sure they can get the right block," Grant said of his keys on a return. "I set it up, all they have to do is get in the way and I just do the rest. But I'm always willing, my motto is just 'touchdown.'
"It's full speed out there, but it's also slowed down and controlled. You just have to slow your mind down, you can't really rush anything. If you do, you might mess up and the play is a bust."
Grant has already set the Rutgers record for career kickoff return yards (2,697), totaling seven returns over at least 70 yards. His 984 yards off kickoffs in 2015 set a new school record and paced the Big Ten. On punt returns, Grant is third in the RU books with 559 career yards.
Another record within reach is the all-time Rutgers lead in career all-purpose yards. Grant has 4,537 yards and is 804 from taking the top spot. That would mean passing Scarlet Knight legends Brian Leonard (4,643), Ray Rice (5,260) and Terrell Willis (5,340).
A two-time all-conference selection, Grant is from Trilby, Florida, a town between Tampa and Orlando. He was not tackled much as a standout at Pasco High School, influencing the game from all over the field. He lined up at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punt/kick returner and defensive back and left with a county record 77 career touchdowns. As a senior, Grant missed six games, but still managed to find the end zone 20 times. That was after a year where the Class 5A First Team All-State selection piled up more than 1,800 all-purpose yards with 28 scores as a junior.
He decided to sign at Rutgers and immediately made an impact on his first collegiate touch. After Fresno State scored to start the game, Grant took the ensuing kickoff from goal line to goal line for a 100-yard kickoff return. Another memorable moment came in the 2015 game against Washington State when Grant set a school record with 337 all-purpose yards (195 kick return, 65 receiving, 56 punt return and 21 rushing), including taking both a punt and a kickoff to the end zone.
"I've enjoyed being at Rutgers a lot," Grant said. "It's coming to an end, but I've created memories each year with my teammates. It's crazy how much the chemistry builds over the years, and it's wonderful. This is a great place to be."
While he is focused on his final season as a Scarlet Knight, he is also working towards his degree as a labor studies major. His uncles, Darren (South Carolina) and Troy Hambrick (Savannah State), both graduated and played in the NFL.
"I'm focusing on the NFL after the season, but making sure I have my degree first because that's what you really need," Grant said. "You can't do anything without that paper, that's my first focus and it is very important to me. My uncles play in the NFL and they went on and got their degrees. So that's what I'm going to do and just carry on my legacy."
Until then, Grant is looking forward to electrifying stadiums across the Big Ten with his speed and toughness. Each big play has a chance to set a new record.
Damon Mitchell: Big Play Duwop
By Bradly Derechailo
Damon Mitchell is used to putting on a show, no matter how big the crowd is.
It started when he was two years old and in his mother's kitchen. As Lauryn Hill's "Doo-Wop (That Thing)" blasted over the stereo, the rambunctious toddler could not help but perform as his mom encouraged him.
"I didn't budge a muscle to any other song that came on the radio," Mitchell said. "But when that one song came on, I guess I would stand up in my high chair and I was happy as one could be. Then my mother would say 'look at my doo do the duwop' and next thing you know, my nickname was born."
Affectionately called "Duwop" by nearly everyone in his circle, Mitchell carried the nickname with him throughout his playing career, which began on the Pop Warner fields in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.
There, fans could witness his mother, then pregnant with his brother, Ahmir, sprinting the length of the field as Mitchell broke off big play after big play.
"She would run up and down the sidelines at my Pop Warner games screaming 'go Du-Wop, go!'" Mitchell said. "Now my teammates all call me that and 23 years later here I am."
Thanks to his mom's support, Mitchell now finds himself with the Rutgers football team, arriving in Piscataway after he transferred as a graduate student from Arkansas. Mitchell was a three-year letterwinner for the Razorbacks from 2014-16, but decided to play elsewhere in 2017. When Rutgers head coach Chris Ash presented the opportunity to play his final collegiate season "On the Banks," Mitchell could not pass on the chance to come home.
"For my final year, I'd rather be home where I could see my mom and my family around and have them watch what I love to do during my last year," Mitchell said. "Just in case the next level doesn't work out, they can now have an opportunity to say that they saw me play at a high level in person."
Mitchell's relationship with Ash dates back to his time at Cedar Creek High School. A standout dual-threat quarterback for the Pirates, Mitchell helped the school to 11 wins and an appearance in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 2 championship game as a senior. That year, Mitchell threw for 2,025 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 1,027 yards and 21 touchdowns.
His performance on the gridiron caught the attention of Ash, who was then the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. When Ash moved on to become the defensive coordinator at Arkansas, he wanted Mitchell to join him in Fayetteville. The highly-rated recruit liked the fact Ash never forgot about him, so he followed him down south.
"Him going all the way across the country and still showing interest in me as a player meant a lot to me at a young age," Mitchell said.
Ash's interest in Mitchell has paid off for the head coach and the rest of the program. In four games for the Scarlet Knights, Mitchell has hauled in nine receptions for 122 yards, which included two games with three or more receptions. His 33-yard catch on Sept. 9 against Eastern Michigan is his longest so far in 2017.
"'Duwop' is going to have a huge role on our football team," Ash said during the offseason. "He's big and physical. He's a big, athletic body, and he's got a good football IQ. We're excited about what he brings to the table."
His athletic attributes are not the only thing Mitchell has brought to Rutgers. A graduate student in the adult and continuing education program at the University, Mitchell's visions of his future after football are wide.
"I would love to go into teaching," Mitchell said. "I'm currently getting my master's degree in learning cognition and development, and that would be my foot in the door to be either a guidance counselor or an educational counselor. My dream is to go into the academic field, and be the head of the educational department within an athletic department."
Mitchell believes football has provided him with all the opportunities to succeed in whatever he decides to do after college. He knows he wouldn't be here without his mother, who provided everything Mitchell needed to do well, even his nickname, Duwop.
"I wouldn't have a football career if it wasn't for my mom," Mitchell said. "I started when I was eight and when we had to do physical training, I wanted to walk off the field. She told me I had to finish what I started and would not let me leave. So after that, I got good on the field, got a nickname and from then, I loved the sport."
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballDefensive Coordinator Travis Johansen - 03/31/26
Tuesday, March 31
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Kirk Ciarrocca - 03/28/26
Saturday, March 28
Head Coach Greg Schiano Spring Press Conference - 03/27/26
Friday, March 27
Movie Knight at SHI Stadium
Tuesday, March 24
