Grayson scores a great summer job

fort collins » As soon as GarrettGrayson was old enough to understand what playing quarterback involved, hewanted to be one. And from the time he was 11, he longed to play football’s glamour position like his favorite player— PeytonManning.

Grayson even dreamed of following his hero’s footsteps to the University of Tennessee, but theVolunteers didn’t comecalling. He settled for wearing Manning’s No. 18 jersey once he arrived at Colorado State.

So Grayson has no trouble admitting that when he received a voice mail in March from Archie Manning, Peyton’s father, saying he had been invited to the prestigious Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., the CSU quarterback didn’t exactly play it cool.

“I had a number onmy phone from Louisiana, and I didn’t answer it because I thought it was a wrong number,” Grayson recalled. “Then I listen to the voice mail and it says, ‘Hey, this is Archie Manning …’ and boom, I called him right back. I was freaking out. I called my mom and my dad right away. It’s one of those moments that gives you butterflies.”

When the Manning camp begins Thursday, Grayson will serve as a counselor to the 1,000-plus high school players in attendance, working alongside peers such as HeismanTrophywinner JameisWinston of Florida State, Brett Hundley of UCLA and Marcus Mariota of Oregon. There also are periods that give the college quarterbacks an opportunity to spend meeting time with the Mannings. That time essentially serves as question-and-answer sessions with foot- ball royalty.

It’s easily the part of the camp Grayson is most looking forward to.

“It’s been a dreamof mine to pick (Peyton Manning’s) brain,” said Grayson, who has nevermet the Broncos quarterback. “I hope I can learn just one thing and bring it back here.”

Grayson and the Rams are hopeful the experience will be the launching point of a successful senior season for him. After throwing for a school-record 3,696 yards last year, Grayson will enter August camp as CSU’s unquestioned leader, filling in a role vacated by center Weston Richburg, who was selected 43rd overall by the New York Giants in the NFL draft in May.

“Garrett’s done a great job of embracing the leadership role last season and into this