Hokies’ Cody Grimm makes most of his playing time

By Nathan Warters
Media General News Service
Published: September 17, 2008

BLACKSBURG — Fifteen minutes of fame would have been enough for Virginia Tech linebacker Cody Grimm. The 5-foot-11, 198-pound former walk on has been in the spotlight for much longer than he expected.

Grimm thought he’d be little more than a special teams contributor for the Hokies. Maybe he’d get into a blowout or two in the fourth quarter.

But playing meaningful downs in the Orange Bowl? Being sixth on the team in tackles three games into his junior season? Somebody pinch him.

“When I came here I thought I’d be happy to be on special teams and stuff like that,” Grimm said. “I don’t know, I guess I just took advantage of opportunities that came up.”

Grimm, the son of former Redskins offensive lineman Russ Grimm, made his second career start Saturday against Georgia Tech. He was filling in for injured starting whip linebacker Cam Martin, who was hurt a week earlier against Furman.

Like every other time he’s played, Grimm made the most of his playing time.

He had three tackles and intercepted a fourth-quarter pass that the Hokies later turned into a field goal in their 20-17 win over the Yellow Jackets.

Grimm is no one-game wonder, either. He has 12 tackles (seven solo), one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble this season.

“I feel like I’m doing pretty well in there,” he said. “I definitely have my mistakes here and there. That first play of the (Georgia Tech) game, I missed a sack I could have had, but I think I’m playing pretty well when I am in.”

Grimm got his first dose of playing time last season as an injury fill-in for Martin.

He started the Oct. 25 Thursday night game against Boston College, played 20 snaps in the ACC championship game against BC and recorded six tackles against Kansas in the Orange Bowl.

So far, Grimm’s career has been more than he could have asked for.

He received only one Division I scholarship offer, from FCS school William & Mary, out of Oakton High School in Fairfax.

He decided to accept Virginia Tech’s offer to walk on, because his brother Chad played for the Hokies and because his mother, Karen, liked the school.

Also, close friend Brett Warren played at Tech. Warren’s father is Don Warren, the former Redskins’ tight end, and the younger Warren and Grimm have been friends for almost their entire lives.

“I didn’t really think I’d earn a scholarship and stuff like that,” said Grimm, who earned his scholarship last winter. “It was more of just getting playing time and stuff. It was one of those things where I was like, ‘Well, my parents are going to pay either way, so I might as well come to a school I like.’”

His small stature hasn’t kept him from making plays. Grimm, whose father was 6-3 in his playing days, is quick to the ball. He says that’s one of the reasons he has been so productive.

“If you get in your gap, size doesn’t matter that much. It definitely helps,” Grimm said. “I’m not going to try to run through an offensive lineman or nothing like that.”