Role American football player Name Jeff Grau | College: UCLA Weight: 257 lb (117 kg) Height 1.91 m | |
Position: Long snapper / Tight end Date of birth: (1979-12-16) December 16, 1979 (age 36) High school: Los Angeles (CA) Loyola Education University of California, Los Angeles | ||
Place of birth: Inglewood, California | ||
Jeffrey Alan Grau (born December 16, 1979) is a former American football tight end and long snapper in the National Football League (NFL). He played two seasons in the NFL, one with the Dallas Cowboys and another with the Miami Dolphins. He played college football for UCLA.
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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 earned All-League honors after posting 64 tackles, 6 sacks and 8 receptions for 68 yards.
In baseball, he played as a first baseman and pitcher, earning All-League honors three times and team MVP twice.
Grau walked-on at UCLA, becoming a four-year starter after earning the team's long snapper job during his freshman season.
Washington Redskins
Grau was selected in the seventh round (230th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, 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. He played in all 16 games.
On August 6, 2003, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a conditional draft choice (not exercised).
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.
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. He was cut on March 2, 2004, after the team signed William Delahoussaye to compete with Perry.