Green Bay Packers fans love a good blue collar, no-nonsense player. Even though Kurt Warner’s stint in Green Bay was incredibly short, fans still talk about how the team gave a chance to a future Hall of Famer who was stocking grocery shelves at the time. That is why fans will love seventh round wide receiver Grant DuBose, who detailed his journey to the NFL at the team’s rookie mini camp this past weekend.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Grant DuBose Worked Four Jobs Waiting for a Chance
The esteemed Packers beat writer Bill Huber interviewed DuBose during the team’s rookie mini camp. He learned a great deal about the rookie pass catcher, who did not receiver any Division I offers when he was coming out of high school in Montgomery, Alabama. Since no offers came in from the 133 Division I football programs, DuBose accepted a scholarship to play at Miles College, a Division II school near his home.
According to Huber, DuBose caught only eight passes in his freshman season of 2019 and then saw his 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19. Ahead of the 2021 season, DuBose made an incredibly risky decision: he entered the transfer portal.
DuBose discussed this decision with Huber:
“Once you enter the transfer portal, you can go back but my scholarship was taken. t’s not like I entered the transfer portal as a four- or five-star (prospect) and I knew certain offers or I had 1,000 yards.
“I entered the transfer portal as a true freshman with 100 yards on the season. Just took that leap of faith, hoping that opportunity would come. My parents were very supportive of the decision because they knew what I wanted, and I appreciated it.”
While he waited for a chance to play Division I football, DuBose worked four different jobs (not at the same time). He was a DoorDash driver, bagged groceries at Wal-Mart, worked in a commissary on a military base, and loaded cars at a manufacturing plant.
A childhood friend was the backup quarterback for Charlotte and helped get DuBose a tryout with the coaches. After running just three routes, the coaches offered him a spot on the team. It worked out for both parties. DuBose was an instant contributor to the team and caught 62 passes for 892 yards and six touchdowns in 2021. This past season, he caught 64 passes for 792 yards and nine touchdowns.
According to Huber, DuBose planned to return to Charlotte for his final collegiate season in 2023, but woke up one morning and changed his mind.
And now he is in the NFL.
What a story!
Can Grant DuBose Crack the Green Bay Packers Roster?
Of course, Dubose is not the only wide receiver the Packers drafted. Jayden Reed was taken in the second round and Dontayvion Wicks was taken in the fifth. They join last year’s draft picks Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure in the Packers’ wide receiver room. Watson and Doubs are considered the team’s starters with Reed most likely acting as the team’s slot receiver. That will leave the remaining three young wide receivers to compete for playing time with Bo Melton, Jeff Cotton, and two other undrafted free agent receivers that the Packers signed.
It is not impossible that DuBose will crack the rotation, but he has an uphill battle. Fortunately for him, he is used to uphill battles.
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