When Cedric Van Plan Granger's career as a professional football player ends, he may begin a second career as an artist. He has a talent for drawing and studied fine arts as an undergraduate at the University of Georgia.
As an artist, he put a lot of thought into whatever he put on paper. He was meticulous and introspective. He never rushed the finished product and wanted his work to reflect that the end result, when it came, had meaning and purpose.
In everything he was involved in, the process was accompanied by determination and perseverance to explore all options and objectives, and his calm, thoughtful demeanor helped him to be the perfect leader for a Georgia football team that enjoyed extraordinary success during his time as a student-athlete, including two national championships and an SEC title.
He grew up in New Orleans, but like any big city, New Orleans had its problems and hardships. He benefited from a good upbringing and remained close with his parents, although they chose to live apart. However, both parents paid close attention to their son.
That dedication and parental support has been passed on to Cedric, who now aspires to be an offensive lineman for the aspiring Buffalo Bills team in the National Football League.
His mother, Keon Van Plan Wilts, instilled in him the value of education, while his father, Cedric Granger, advised him on his future as a footballer, with each influence being crucial to his development and football career.
Their son grew into a compassionate man who cared about his fellow man and thanked God every day for the good fortune he had in his life.
But it wasn't easy: Keown was robbed at gunpoint twice, and when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, she was forced to briefly move to Baton Rouge with her son Cedric, who was just a toddler at the time.
Cedric's mother wanted a better life for her son and concluded early on that the best way to achieve that was through education. Although she was not a big fan of soccer, the idea that it could provide her son with a free education was very appealing. In fact, she was so dedicated to her son's schooling that she would sometimes stay up until 2 or even 3 a.m. to help him with his homework, then head to work the next day with only 3 or 4 hours of sleep.
His mother was a rhythm and blues singer, and some of his fondest memories are of her music. “My mom had a beautiful voice,” he smiles. “I remember her singing me to sleep.” One day, Cedric would like to take his mom to a big concert to thank her for having been such a positive influence in his life. A successful NFL career could help him achieve that goal.
His father, Cedric Granger, indirectly provided him with a connection to Georgia, a coincidence he will forever be grateful for. In 2018, he and his father were visiting relatives in Marietta when they saw Georgia play Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl and were impressed with the grit and determination of the Bulldogs team.
“I was really impressed with how Georgia played, and so was my dad. When the game was over, he said to me, 'It would be awesome if you could play for Georgia one day,' and I loved that,” Cedric said.
“A few months later, Coach Smart invited me to summer camp. Georgia offered me at camp and everything just fell into place.”
Offensive scrums energize Cedric. Just like in high school, he called out blocking schemes for each play with the Bulldogs. In the heat of competition, he often becomes fully immersed, analyzing his body movement, foot position and signs of fatigue. Being in that state allows him to make split-second decisions and keep the offense moving lively down the field.
His exceptional leadership means a lot to the UGA program and he is committed to sharing his knowledge to help those less fortunate. He is a shining example of how ambition and humility can coexist in a well-rounded person.
During a 6:30 a.m. phone call earlier this week (he was taking a break from studying the playbook), he sounded positive and motivated. “Things are going well,” he said. “I'm enjoying the learning experience.” He's spending all his time off the field understanding the playbook “end to end.”
“The nuances of the offense are very subtle and important,” he said. Hard work has always been his motto, and it suits the Buffalo community. “This is a blue-collar city. We try to apply the work ethic to put a winning team on the field.”
Star quarterback Josh Allen made sure to greet Cedric and the team's other rookies as soon as they arrived, making them feel welcome and comfortable. “He's a special talent,” Van Plan said. “But the good thing about him is he was a good teammate and comfortable. That's one of the good things about Coach (Kirby) Smart and Georgia. We all put the team first, and that's why we won games and we won championships.”
