Cam Grandy

Early life

Grandy was born on November 19, 2000, in Benson, Illinois. He attended Fieldcrest High School where he played defensive back, defensive end, quarterback and tight end; he was a first-team All-HOIC selection at quarterback, second-team at defensive back and honorable mention at defensive end. He was also named the News Tribune Small School Player of the Year, the Peoria Journal Star Offensive Player of the Year, Academic All-State and an honorable mention All-State selection. He committed to play college football for the NCAA Division II Missouri Western Griffons.

College career

At Missouri Western, Grandy transitioned to being a tight end. As a freshman for the Griffons in 2018, he appeared in eight games, recording six receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown, and the following year, he played in all 12 games, four as a starter, and caught 20 passes for 261 yards and five touchdowns, being named honorable mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Grandy did not play in the 2021 season, before returning in 2022 and catching 31 receptions for 275 yards while being named second-team All-MIAA.

Grandy transferred to the NCAA Division I FCS Illinois State Redbirds for a final season in 2023. He started all 11 games for the Redbirds, totaling 63 receptions for 612 yards and three touchdowns, being named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), a consensus first-team FCS All-American, to the MVFC All-Newcomer team and the Illinois State Male Athlete of the Year.