Grayson McCall has been known as one of college football’s most electrifying players within Coastal Carolina’s RPO-hybrid offense since he first took the field.
But the Chanticleers signal-caller is looking forward to expanding upon his game under new head coach Tim Beck with a different offense, showing some additional things in his toolbox that he feels people haven’t quite seen yet while being surrounded by a roster he says includes 50 new faces.
That comes down to the relationship he has with Beck and some of the differences in the way the Chants plan to do things offensively this season. McCall has also spent some time talking to current Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary, who he says has been helpful in the adjustment process after playing under Beck at NC State.
“Coach Beck has developed a lot of really good college quarterbacks into professional quarterbacks,” McCall said. “He’s going to allow me to put some new things on tape this year and throw it around a lot more and get on the center and do some pro style stuff that I haven’t really put on tape yet.”
McCall says he sees some differences between the way things are run, but a lot of it is familiar to him at the exact same time. What he’s called upon to do pre-snap is one of those things.
Obviously, McCall has to identify the front for the offensive line and for himself, along with identifying the defensive structure and the coverage.
But there’s more responsibility being leaned on him at the line of scrimmage after what he showed the coaches in the spring, McCall says.
It’s something that bodes well for him in the future.
“Just being able to get under center and make those checks and get in the profile system and just show the next level coaches that I can command a huddle and lead guys and make the guys around me better,” McCall said.
While McCall has received plenty of support and hype throughout the year, one of the biggest narratives he’s up against outside of that of the “level of competition” narrative is the idea that he doesn’t have adequate arm strength for the NFL level on top of question on how he’s going to fare through the season coming back from torn rotator cuff repair in his throwing shoulder.
It’s worth noting that several record-setting quarterbacks and even just those who have had solid college and professional careers did not have an absolute Howitzer for an arm.
While McCall isn’t going to blow anyone away with his arm strength the way an Anthony Richardson or a Will Levis might, the film still reflects that he has adequate zip on the ball.
“A lot of people doubted my arm strength and thought that I lost some of that arm strength,” McCall said.
Adding some weight and with a productive offseason, McCall feels like he’s gotten stronger and that if anything, he’ll be even more impressive as a passer than he was in 2022.
“I feel like the ball’s coming out of my hands faster with more authority and I feel confident that I can make all the throws on the field,” McCall said. “So you can go back and forth about the arm strength thing all day. It’s a great thing to have a strong arm, but I don’t think it’s completely necessary to be able to succeed at the quarterback position.”
McCall and the Chanticleers opened up the 2023 season on Saturday evening with a matchup against a tough UCLA Bruins team that most analysts had ranked in the top third of the FBS.
While McCall put on a gritty performance and helped to keep his team in the game despite not coming out on the right side of the win column as the Bruins won it, 27-13. McCall finished out the contest 27-of-42 passing for 271 yards with a rare two interceptions.
While this may not look like the most impressive stat line at first glance, McCall’s ability to stand in and take several rough hits really shone through as he was covered in grass.
Beck had nothing but praise for his quarterback following the contest.
“I love that kid,” Beck said. “I know right now, he’s probably beating himself up because he probably thinks he could have done better, and I’m just proud of the way he played. I’m proud of the way he stood in there.”
Look for McCall to bounce back and continue increasing his draft stock as Coastal Carolina faces Jax State on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.
