CCU QB Grayson McCall, DE Josaiah Stewart have surgery. What that means moving forward
Coastal Carolina University quarterback Grayson McCall announced last month that he was returning to the Chanticleers for the 2022 season, but when he’ll return to the field remains to be seen.
McCall, freshman All-American defensive end Josaiah Stewart, and redshirt junior tight end TJ Ivy Jr. will all miss spring practice due to offseason surgeries, the school announced Thursday.
Spring practice is tentatively set to begin Tuesday, Feb. 8.
McCall, who said he contemplated a transfer before announcing he would return to Conway, posted Thursday afternoon on Twitter a picture while posing with renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews saying the surgery went better than expected.
McCall had a sling on his right arm — his throwing arm. He missed two games in November with a shoulder injury. The school did not release any more details on the surgeries or when the players will be available to return to practices.
McCall led the Chants’ spread-option offense to rankings of fifth in both scoring offense and total offense in FBS in 2021.
He is the two-time reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and 2021 Cure Bowl MVP. He set an NCAA FBS record for passing efficiency at 207.7, shattering the single-season record of 203.1 set by Mac Jones at Alabama in 2020. He also led all of FBS in yards per pass attempt by nearly 2 yards at 11.92 yards, and was second in passing yards per completion at 16.32 yards.
McCall is fifth in the nation in completion percentage at 73% and threw for 2,873 yards in 11 games with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 2021. For his CCU career, McCall has completed 71% of his passes with 54 touchdowns and six interceptions, and has rushed for 870 yards and 11 scores. He is 20-2 as a starter, including 10-1 in 2021.
Stewart was fifth in the nation with 12.5 sacks this past season, led all true freshmen nationally in sacks and tackles for loss with 15.5, and has been named to multiple freshman All-American teams.
He was named to the 2021 Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, The Athletic’s 2021 College Football Freshman All-America team and the 2021 Pro Football Focus (PFF) College Football All-True Freshman team.
He was also named a 2021 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist and was recognized by Pro Football Network as a third-team All-American, the Best Interior Defensive Lineman of the Year, the Sun Belt Defensive Lineman of the Year, and the Sun Belt Defensive Rookie of the Year. Stewart also picked up 2021 All-Sun Belt first-team honors.
Ivy is a transfer from Indiana.
This story was originally published January 20, 2022 at 1:01 PM.
