Nick Grant to play in East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 3

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

UVA linebacker Charles Snowden (11) looks on as teammate Nick Grant (1) celebrates after returning his first career interception for a touchdown against William & Mary (Photo by Matt Riley, UVA Media Relations).

Senior defensive back Nick Grant has accepted an invitation to play in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 3 in Las Vegas.

The Shrine Bowl, America’s longest-running college football all-star game, which supports Shriners Children’s®, will be played at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders as part of NFL Pro Bowl week.

Grant has seen action in all but one game this season and has made eight starts in the Cavalier defensive backfield. He has been credited with 50 tackles, including 34 solo, the third most on the team. Grant has nine passes defended, tied for the fourth-most in the ACC. He is one of four players in the ACC with two or more forced fumbles in 2021. He dislodged a ball late in the fourth quarter against Virginia Tech to give the offense a chance to tally the go-ahead score.

For his career, Grant has appeared in 48 games, accumulated 88 tackles and recorded four interceptions. He had a career-best, 10 passes defended in 2019, helping Virginia to its first ever Orange Bowl appearance.

Grant is the 35th Cavalier to accept an invitation to the game and is the fifth player in the last three seasons to be invited. Joe Reed was the last UVA player to be invited (2020).