Loris senior defensive lineman Tyrone Grove signed a college scholarship to play at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas earlier this week.
Grove said he failed to qualify academically at a four-year institution and is heading to Coffeyville hoping to improve his academic standing as well as draw attention from college coaches.
"My [senior year] was my only year that was good," Grove said. "[Before that] I was getting in trouble and not doing well in school. But that is behind me now."
Grove, a 2009 Toast of the Coast selection, had 84 total tackles and seven sacks as a senior. He played in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Game Classic in San Antonio in January and was named co-MVP among defensive linemen at the event.
"I had some coaches looking at me there, but I didn’t stay in touch with them," Grove said.
It’s likely Grove will redshirt this fall due to rules that prohibit Coffeyville from suiting up more than 12 out-of-state players for games.
Recent Grand Strand players to attend Coffeyville include Myrtle Beach’s Eddie Jones, a receiver, and Georgetown’s Larry Ford, a defensive end. Jones’ time at Coffeyville ended after one redshirt season due to the out-of-state restrictions, but a subsequent commitment to Coastal Carolina fell through due to academic issues. Ford spent two seasons at the community college before playing at West Virginia, where he will be a senior in his third season this fall.
