Top college quarterback announces NFL Draft decision in irreverent fashion

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce that he will not declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead, the two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year will return to Coastal Carolina in 2022 and lead the Chanticleers offense as it looks to clinch its third bowl game in three seasons.

McCall’s Twitter announcement made waves in the college football world, not just because the redshirt sophomore could have been an NFL Draft selection, but also because of the nature of his announcement.

“Teal Nation. What an unbelievable two years it has been for this football program and university. I am so incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to be apart of such a historic run in Coastal football history,” McCall wrote on Twitter. “With much speculation going on all across the country, I felt like you guys should be the first to hear the truth from me. I am coming back to play another year of college football, and it will be in Conway, South Carolina.

“When I say I piss teal, I mean it. One last ride baby! Let’s do it! Chants forever,” McCall concluded in emphatic fashion.

McCall was far from a heralded recruit coming out of high school, but the Indian Trail, North Carolina native has erupted onto the scene in his short time at Coastal Carolina. He was a three-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, and was just the No. 153 quarterback in his year. However, he’s made the most of his time with the Chanticleers, leading the program to its first Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2020.

McCall redshirted his 2019 season at Coastal Carolina before making his way into the starting lineup in 2020. That season, McCall, a redshirt freshman, was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team, after throwing for 2,488 yards with a 68.8 percent completion rate, coupled with 26 touchdowns and three interceptions. Meanwhile, he added 569 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns to his total.

McCall was the 2020 Sun Belt Player of the Year and was also named a Maxwell Award Semifinalist as he guided Coastal Carolina to an 11-1 campaign, Sun Belt Championship and bowl berth, as the Chanticleers ranked as high as No. 9 in the AP Poll. He came back for his redshirt sophomore year in 2021 only to put on another historic display, completing 73 percent of his passes for 2,873 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions, adding 290 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to his total. Once again, McCall earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors and was a Maxwell Award Semifinalist.

“A two-star quarterback from Indian Trail, North Carolina with just a few offers was welcomed here with wide open arms and I am forever grateful for that,” McCall continued on Twitter. “The first day I stepped on campus I knew this was my home. To the fans that have helped paint this nation teal, none of this would have been possible without you guys. The support is unmatched and is always so appreciated. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”