'Leading up to the draft, I couldn't help but think that this should've been Eric's draft class,' Schiano said. 29, 2011, game and has remained close with Schiano. He led the Scarlet Knights onto the field for an Oct. LeGrand resumed his studies in spring 2011. Later, he became able to stand upright with the aid of a metal frame. LeGrand initially was told he would be a quadriplegic and would have to remain on a ventilator.įive weeks later, LeGrand began breathing on his own. He really just did this out of the kindness of his heart. You do the right things in life, good things happen to you. 'Dreams do come true if you really believe. 'It's something I always dreamed about, go to the NFL and retire and become a sportscaster,' LeGrand added. 'I said, 'I don't even know what to say to you right now, Coach. 'I said, 'Are you serious? You want to do this?' He said: 'It's the least we could do,' ' LeGrand said Wednesday during a conference call. Schiano called LeGrand's mother in New Jersey to let her know of his intention the night before breaking the news to his former player. 16, 2010, against Army, LeGrand suffered fractures of two vertebrae and a spinal cord injury. LeGrand played for Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano at Rutgers. In a symbolic gesture, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, whose playing career was ended by a spinal cord injury, on Wednesday morning.

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