UCF puts out the welcome mat for transfer target Tylan Grable

After injuries limited his opportunities coming out of high school, Tylan Grable is learning what it's like to be recruited.

The All-American offensive tackle from Jacksonville State recently entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and has seen lots of interest this time around, including UCF which hosted him on an official visit this past weekend.

Grable grew up in the small town of Gordon, Ga., located about 20 miles east of Macon, and attended Wilkinson County High School. He was his team's starting quarterback, passing for a combined 5,000 yards between his sophomore and junior seasons.

"When I was being recruited in high school, I knew I wouldn't play quarterback in college," Grable said. "A lot of coaches thought I'd be a good tight end or defensive end. I had interest from UGA, Georgia Tech and Georgia State. UGA and Georgia State were saying I'd make a a good tight end. That was right before Georgia Tech switched to the spread, so they were saying d-end."

Then injuries took hold in the most inopportune time.

"I got hurt my junior year playing basketball, broke my foot," Grable said. "So I didn't get a chance to pick up more interest going into my senior year. My senior year, people said if I played tight end or d-end and got some film, then we'll offer you. So I get into my senior year and in the first game I broke my foot again. The same exact injury."

Sidelined as a senior with limited tape, Grable's sole offer was from Division II West Alabama.

"I went on an official visit there and was about to commit, but something told me not to," Grable said. "Just continue to wait it out. Signing Day was in February and in April I still didn't know what I was going to do. Coach (J.R.) Sandlin (at Jacksonville State) DM'd me, 'You looking for a home still?' I was like, 'Yes, sir.' He said I could play tight end for them. He wanted me to come visit. So I came down and watched their spring game and decided to walk-on as a tight end."

Grable redshirted his first season at JSU in 2018, learning the ropes at tight end. As he continued to bulk up and add size to his frame, his coaches thought offensive tackle could be the move.

"In the spring (of 2019), the head coach pulled me aside and asked if I knew about Tytus Howard," Grable said. "He went through the same thing I was going through and developed into a great tackle."

Howard, a first-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2019 that played collegiately at Alabama State, had a remarkably similar background. He too was a quarterback in high school that was recruited to play tight end before developing into a tackle.

"They felt like if I put in the work and trust the process I could do the same thing that he did," Grable said. "So during the spring they started transitioning me to tackle. Then going into the (2019) season, I was the No. 2 tackle and our starting tackle got hurt so I thought I was going to start then, but then all our tight ends got hurt."

He played both tight end and offensive tackle that year.

"(Going into the spring of 2020), my coach apologized and said it wasn't fair to keep moving me back and forth," Grable said. "There were days I'd be in a tight end jersey and other days I'd be in a o-line jersey. From that point he said, 'You're strictly an offensive lineman now. I feel like you've got a real high ceiling.'"

Grable was a starting tackle from that point forward.

"My coaches and teammates helped me so much in making the transition. I was always on Youtube watching other offensive linemen, trying to learn whatever I could. Every day my coaches and teammates were teaching me something new."

JSU played a split season in 2020/21 due to COVID with four games in the fall and another nine in the spring, advancing to the FCS playoffs. They finished 10-3, including a fall victory against FIU.

His first full season as a starting tackle was a big success with Grable earning second team FCS All-American status as well as a selection to the Ohio Valley Conference First Team.

"It felt great," Grable said. "Though I wanted to be a first team All-American. I was second team. Going into the season, we've got a bus load of talent on defense at Jacksonville State and they were telling me I was the best player they were going against, so I thought I was going to do well. My goal was to make first team All-Conference and first team All-American. I knew I could do it. I've seen other tackles and thought it was possible. I kept working at it, trying to grow. Then one day the announcement was made and Coach Sandlin tagged me on it. Wow, it really happened."

JSU made headlines this past season with a 20-17 victory at Florida State, winning the game on a miracle 59-yard touchdown pass as time expired.

"It was crazy," Grable said. "That play happened on fourth down, but I got my helmet snatched off on the second down play so I had to come out for third down. At first I didn't want to come out, I was like he snatched my helmet off, but nah, I had to come off. We sent in the backup and we were comfortable with him, Then I'm checking back in for the fourth down play. I saw (Zerrick Cooper) release the ball from my periphery, it's flying through the air and I'm like I hope he catches it. Once I saw (Damond Philyaw-Johnson) catch it, he still had 10 yards to go. I saw Ahmad (Edwards) lay the block and once he crossed over into the end zone I was freaking out. Florida State was my dream school. I always wanted to play there. I was so crazy. I was so exhausted afterward. I almost passed out from all the yelling and screaming."

Shortly after his redshirt junior season concluded last month, Grable entered the transfer portal with hopes of landing at an FBS school that could offer more exposure. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"It's been real crazy," Grable said. "I didn't get any of this interest coming out of high school. I didn't even have FCS schools. It's been real crazy. I don't see how people deal with it. It's definitely a blessing though, but it's also hard. It's a hard decision. There's so many schools and there's a dead period coming up. The schools want you in January, so you really have to dig deep into the coaches, the players and the school just to figure out what's a great fit for you as a person."

UCF was one of the first schools that reached out to him.

"I've been paying attention to UCF lately," Grable said. "They've been a school on the rise, getting a lot of attention. Once they hit me, I was like I've got to see what they're all about. I had a few teammates that had family members who played at UCF or had previous experiences with some of the coaches there now and I heard great things from everybody. I had to go down and check it out."

The official visit began Friday. Grable said he enjoyed getting to know the players and coaches while seeing what UCF and the area had to offer. Some of the activities included a Saturday night outing at The Keg Social and Sunday morning breakfast at Gus Malzahn's home.

His player host was Adrian Medley, who will likely start at guard next season. He also spent a lot of time with Chidoziri Maghiro and Landon Woodson.

What stood out the most?

"It was the people," Grable said. "At the end of the day, no matter where I go whether it's Orlando or Gordon where I'm from, it's the people that are going to make your experience great. If you can't get along and vibe with the people, you're going to be miserable. Everybody at UCF welcomed me in. I swear, it felt like I knew them already. Knew them for years. The players welcomed me in. They were all real cool."

Grable really connected with the coaches.

"(Offensive line coach Herb Hand) was showing me how I'd fit in with my athleticism and just how they use their tackles in different ways," Grable said. "He was showing me things from a developmental standpoint, how I can get better, how I could help the team and how they could help me."

He was already familiar with head coach Gus Malzahn.

"It was great meeting him," Grable said. "He's a great coach. I actually met him in high school at a basketball camp and took a picture with him. I showed it to him. I said, 'Coach, you don't remember me but I remember you. I took a picture with you when you were at Auburn.' He was so nice, back then too. Small world. Who would have thought. I love Coach Malzahn. He's a great dude."

With two years left to play, Grable could have the opportunity to be part of UCF's first Big 12 team in 2023.

"They talked about that," Grable said. "I was already aware of the news with teams changing conferences. That's one of the reasons why Jacksonville State is going FBS. Moving to the Big 12 is going to be amazing with more exposure and bigger competition."

Though he hasn't made a decision, Grable could see a future in the Black & Gold. Though he's lived mostly in small towns between Gordon and Jacksonville, Ala., he felt comfortable in the environment around UCF.

"I know people think of Orlando and UCF and think it's so big, but once I got down there and was able to see it, it's more like it's own area," Grable said. "It's not like it's in a downtown like Georgia Tech or Georgia State. I liked it."

Coastal Carolina, Arizona State, South Alabama, Louisiana Monroe, Tulane and Houston are among the other schools showing strong interest, but Grable wasn't sure yet if he intends to take another visit.

"I told (UCF) I'd have a decision soon," Grable said. "I don't want this to be a long process. I know I don't have too much time to choose. I wanted to do a bunch of research on my end before I went anywhere. I wanted to already have a good feeling about the school. I told them I'd have a quick decision and would let them know soon."