Dexter's Grams is already built for success at next level

The biggest task facing a lot of high school senior athletes embarking on the next step in their careers at the collegiate level is to develop their bodies physically for that challenge.

In the case of Dexter High School senior running back Jett Grams, he may need to reshape his body to some degree, but size-wise?

“He doesn’t need any more weight,” third-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said of Grams recently.

Grams recently signed to play football next fall at the NAIA program Evangel University in Springfield.

“It was definitely the atmosphere and the coaches,” Grams said of what drew his interest to Evangel. “(Evangel Coach Chuck Hepola) really poured into me what it meant to be a Christian athlete.”

Grams was one of 25 signees with the Valor program this month and was one of five running backs. At 250 pounds, Grams is 65 pounds heavier than any other running back signed by Hepola.

“The film doesn’t lie,” Jamerson said. “When you look at the film on Jett, you’ll see a guy who gets downhill in a hurry. He runs aggressively and runs behind his pads.”

What that translated to in layman’s terms is that Grams runs hard, fast, and with bulldozing power.

He helped the Bearcats to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the MSHSAA Class 3 quarterfinals, which was one of the – if not THE – best season in Dexter football history.

“He is a force to be brought down,” Jamerson concluded.

Grams led Dexter with 1,272 yards gained and 17 touchdowns scored. He also caught nine passes out of the backfield.

“In today’s college game,” Jamerson said, “with all of the spread (offense) stuff, the movement, the shifts, and the motions, to have a guy who can run inside zone (reads) and get downhill in a hurry is a valuable asset at the next level.”

Jamerson utilizes a myriad of athletes within his offense, so only on one other occasion has he had a runner gain 1,000 yards in a season. So, for Grams to have done so this past fall was impressive and historic.

“He is only one of two 1,000-yard rushers that I have ever had in my offense in 12 years,” Jamerson said during this past season, “because I spread the ball around so much.

“That is quite a testament to him.”

Grams earned All-SEMO Conference Central Division First Team honors last season, as well as being named to the MFCA Class 3 All-State Second Team.

“Offensive coordinators and (offensive line coaches) will both be appreciative,” Jamerson added, “at the next level, that Jett can get you three yards and a cloud of dust.”

Grams will be moving from one successful program to another.

The Valor has won 26 of 32 games over the past three seasons.

“Coach Hepola said that football is good,” Grams said, “but you get your playing ability from God. That gave me so much confidence (in) that was the school that I wanted to be at.

“The students were very outgoing. They show the Christian walk all the way through. That is something that I want to be in.”