Jeff Grau

Jeffrey Alan Grau (born December 16, 1979) is a former American football long snapper and tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at UCLA.

Jeff Grau
No. 58, 47
Position:Long snapper / Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1979-12-16) December 16, 1979
Inglewood, California
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:257 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school:Loyola
(Los Angeles, California)
College:UCLA
NFL Draft:2002 / Round: 7 / Pick: 230
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:27
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Grau attended Loyola High School, where he didn't have a specific position in the football team. As a junior, he played quarterback and defensive tackle, while the next year, he played tight end and defensive end. As a senior, he posted 64 tackles, 6 sacks, 8 receptions for 68 yards. He helped his team become the CIF Division I runner-up and received All-League honors at defensive end.

In baseball, he played as a first baseman and pitcher, earning All-League honors three times and team MVP twice. As a sophomore, he tallied a .373 batting average. As a junior, he had an 8-1 record (1.52 ERA) and a .380 batting average. As a senior, he had a 4-0 record (1.23 ERA) and a .408 batting average.

College career

Grau walked-on at UCLA, becoming a four-year starter after earning the team's long snapper job during his freshman season.[1] He was awarded a football scholarship prior to his junior season.

Professional career

Washington Redskins

Grau was selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round (230th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, to play as a long snapper. He was released on August 27.

Dallas Cowboys

In 2002, the Dallas Cowboys spent resources to sign free agent Jeff Robinson to upgrade the long snapper position, but he tore his Anterior cruciate ligament during training camp. Needing a replacement, the team claimed Grau off waivers on August 28.[2] He played in all 16 games and posted 6 special teams tackles.

On August 6, 2003, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a conditional draft choice (not exercised).[3]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On August 24, 2003, he was released after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to keep Ryan Benjamin as the starting long snapper.[4]

Miami Dolphins

In 2003, after long snapper Ed Perry was lost for the season with a knee injury, the Miami Dolphins first tried to replace him with Sean McDermott, before signing Grau as a free agent on October 14.[5] He was cut on March 2, 2004, after the team signed William Delahoussaye to compete with Perry.[6]

References
  1. "Redskins' Day 2 Picks". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  2. "Cowboys Claim Jeff Grau Off Waivers". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  3. "Bucs get Grau from Dallas". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. "Benjamin's Job Not So Secure". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  5. Marvez, Alex (October 15, 2003). "Dolphins release long snapper McDermott; sign Grau". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 17, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. "Long Snapper Perry, Punter Turk Re-up". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
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