Photo by Steve Buchanan Photography
Easton graduate Grant Copper might just be one of most laid-back high school athletes off the field you’ll ever meet. Copper is humble and doesn’t say much. He responds to questions often in mono syllables. But his play speaks volumes on the football field. The wide receiver’s combination of speed, toughness, and size has earned him a football scholarship to rising Division II Frostburg State University.
“It seemed like a good fit for me,” Copper says of the program that has won 39 games over the past four seasons. “I know people that go there. I get along well with the coaches. They are a good football team and they are something I really want to be part of. And it’s always been my goal to play college football.”
Several Division I schools also recruited Copper. “I expect him to have a great career at Frostburg,” Easton Football Coach Pat McGlinchey says. “I think he can play right away. With his athletic ability, he can play on offense and defense.”
At Easton, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Copper made a lot of eye-catching plays as both a starter on offense and defense while serving as the team’s co-captain for two seasons. The four-year starter at receiver finished his career with 23 touchdowns, but with limited and low-key celebrations. After scoring, he would quietly hand the ball to the ref and would return the sidelines. Any celebrations were provoked by teammates.
On defense, Copper keeps opposing wide receivers from catching many passes. And he also helped his team with key interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries. “He is just on a different level than everyone else,” says Easton quarterback Ryan O’Conner, who will play at Delaware in the fall. “I have been playing three years on the varsity and every single week he is the best athlete on the field. I have been lucky not having to go against him.”
Copper’s junior year jumped off the page. He caught 49 passes for 831 yards and scored a whopping 13 touchdowns. Copper also dominated in a pair of games when the 2020 season was moved this spring because of the pandemic.
He hauled in six passes for 67 yard and three touchdowns in 26-21 win over Kent Island and he had 10 receptions for 143 yards and a score in a 42-20 rout of Stephen Decatur. “He does absolutely everything you want a receiver to do,” O’Conner says. “He blocks with the best of them, can make any catch, and run any route. He is a quarterback’s best friend.”
The Easton coaching staff loved the athleticism Copper showed as a freshman, so they inserted him into the starting lineup at cornerback. That surprised him, but he went onto to start three seasons at the position before moving to free safety as a senior.
Copper’s best season came in 2019 when he intercepted a team-high four passes. This season, he had a sack and forced fumble against Kent Island.
“I never played corner before, but as soon I got into high school, I was starting,” Copper says. “It took some getting used to. I decided to move to safety because some college coaches wanted to see me there. I had a good season, and it wasn’t too hard to pick up.” Copper also started for two years on the varsity basketball team at center, and he could easily dunk a basketball.
“I have coached for 18 years and I put him in the top-five of the most athletic kids I’ve had,” McGlinchey says. “He was actually a quarterback for many years prior to coming to high school. He really could play any position.”
Do you have a local athlete to nominate? Send What's Up? an email to editor@whatsupmag.com.
