Senior Job Grant has stepped into a new role for Navy football this spring, one that reflects his versatility and growth as a leader heading into his final season.
Grant, who is from Kansas City but attended high school in Virginia, has moved to the “Raider” spot in the Navy defense after previously playing inside linebacker. At 6-foot-2 and roughly 230 pounds, Grant will be tasked with handling a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role.
The position change presents Grant with both challenges and opportunities. Grant believes the Raider role allows him to show his athleticism and football IQ, while Navy co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Ricky Brown said Grant’s background across multiple positions made him a strong candidate for the switch.
“He’s such a big, athletic, rangy guy,” Brown said. “I think he’ll be able to do a lot of good things there.”
Brown also emphasized Grant’s mental side and his understanding of the game.
“I put up an offensive formation, and I’m like, ‘What play are we expecting?’ And Job Grant is like in batting practice,” Brown said. “He’s hitting home run after home run after home run, because he just knows it.”
Despite his versatility, Grant says there are adjustments he needs to make because he is now closer to the line of scrimmage than before.
“I’m taking on a 300-pound tackle from the line of scrimmage … so it’s a little bit different trying to take on that block and then maintain my ground in that position,” Grant said.
Brown said that Grant has handled the change well, despite the learning curve.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to coach guys that when you tell them something, they are striving to do it exactly as you say it,” Brown said.
Grant’s numbers have steadily ticked up during his career with Navy. He appeared in nine games as a sophomore in 2024, recording 11 tackles (one for loss). He played in 11 games in 2025, totaling 33 tackles with 16 solo stops, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
Beyond his on-field role, Grant is embracing leadership responsibilities as one of the team’s rising seniors. Navy totaled 21 wins the past two seasons but just lost key seniors like safety Jaxson Campbell, slot back Eli Heidenreich, quarterback Blake Horvath and nose guard Landon Robinson. Players like Grant will need to step up.
“On the field, I’m a little bit more vocal than I am [off] the field,” Grant said. “I’m trying to get the guys going.”
Defensive tackle Griffen Willis, another rising senior, vouched for Job’s leadership and athleticism.
“Job is a very good lead-by-example type,” Willis said. “… He’s strong, he’s fast, he’s athletic and he’s learning a new position, and he’s doing a really good job with it.”
Brown described Grant as “kind of an old soul” regarding his personality and approach to team culture.
“He’s kind of a mild-mannered guy, but when it’s time to go, he goes,” Brown said.
Grant said that the Naval Academy has shaped his leadership and perspective by teaching him lessons that aren’t just about football. His father Craig taught him the value of patience growing up, which has proven to be beneficial at Navy.
“It’s just patience and staying consistent throughout your work,” he said.
As Navy starts to prepare for the 2026 season, Grant said his goals are pretty simple, starting with having fun.
“It’s easy to forget about that part of the game. You stress about winning games. You stress about making plays and what your coaches are going to say about you after the next practice, after the next game,” Grant said. “… Kind of enjoying the moment, being in the moment and hopefully winning comes along with that.”
This is what Brown wants for Grant in his final season as well.
“I just want him to have fun,” Brown said. “I want him to have a great senior year … by leading the room, by helping other people.”
After football is over, Grant wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an officer in the Marine Corps. His dad served in the military for 34 years.
But until then, Grant is focused on making the most of his final season with his teammates.
“I know in an instant, it’s going to be gone,” he said. “I know [past players] kind of miss those moments that they had in the locker room with the guys.”
That sense of brotherhood is what sets Navy apart from other programs, according to Grant.
“It’s really about creating trust within your teammates and within your brothers on the team that carries onto the field,” he said.
As Grant steps into his new roles on and off the field, his journey reflects the program’s emphasis on growth, leadership and resilience, which will define his last season in Annapolis.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox