Gators receiver Trevon Grimes and his mom, Leah, at the Orange & Blue Spring Game in April. (Photo: Courtesy of Leah Grimes)
A Difficult Year Leads to Fresh Start for Grimes
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
His mom, Leah Grimes, recalls how natural the middle of her three sons was no matter what game he chose.
Pool. Basketball. Bowling. Track and field. It didn't matter, Trevon excelled.
"Some things you can teach and some you just have to be gifted with,'' Leah said. "It was just crazy to me how natural all those abilities were. He's worked hard since he was little. He just has that as an edge. I don't know how to describe it. He maximized what he's been God-gifted."
Born in Indianapolis, Grimes moved to South Florida in middle school and continued to blossom in sports, starring as a receiver at St. Thomas Aquinas High. That childhood dream, returning north to play for the Buckeyes, came true when he signed a scholarship and moved to Columbus in the summer of 2017.
However, just three catches and a half a season into his college career, Grimes sensed something wasn't right back home during his daily chats with Leah. The two have always shared a close bond.
Leah did her best to put on a happy voice, but the truth is, she was scared and uncertain about a lot of things, most importantly her well-being and what that could mean for her family.
"Trevon being so far and not knowing exactly what was going on with my health, that was the biggest issue,'' she said. "He's always been a momma's boy and no matter what, he's always been right there. I tried to spare him as much as I could, but you can't lie to your family."
Soon, Trevon learned of Leah's cancer diagnosis. A night-shift nurse at a local emergency room, Leah often relied on Trevon and his older brother Terrance to help care for their younger brother, 8-year-old Tylan.
Not long after he unpacked at Ohio State, Trevon returned home to be with his ailing mom. He finished the semester by taking online classes as initial thoughts centered on a return to Ohio State.
For Leah, it was one of the most difficult periods of her life.
"When we made the decision for him to come back down here, it was a relief, but it was also really hard because Trevon was where he thought he needed to be,'' she said. "He was just getting started and it was a lot to ask of him. But he wouldn't have it any other way."
Of course, Grimes never rejoined to the Buckeyes. He enrolled at Florida in January and on Aug. 1, soon after Gators head coach Dan Mullen called to inform him the NCAA had granted him a hardship waiver that permitted Grimes to play immediately at UF, he made a FaceTime call as fast as his fingers could work.
Leah was asleep after working all night in the ER. She didn't need a cup of coffee to wake up.
"I actually shed a little tear I was so excited to get on the field and be able to play this season,'' Grimes said. "She cried and she was just excited because she gets to go watch her baby play. I'm excited to go out there and play for her."
Almost a year after the life-altering experience of last fall, Leah has told few people of her cancer scare other than for Ohio State and Florida officials who dealt with the NCAA to resolve Trevon's playing status.
"I was very private. There hasn't been a lot said," she said. "It was pretty aggressive and I did some aggressive treatment and thankfully everything went well. It's one step at a time, but right now I'm doing well."
Leah has been busy this week preparing Tylan for the start of third grade and attending his football practices. She already has plans to attend Florida's season opener Sept. 1 against Charleston Southern to watch Trevon play.
As Trevon weighed his future, the most important factor was going to a school close to home. The UF campus is about 315 miles from Fort Lauderdale and much close than the 1,130 miles that separated Trevon from his family at Ohio State.
When Mullen and receivers coach Billy Gonzales reached out to gauge Grimes' interest, the Gators made perfect sense for the 6-foot-5, 210-pound sophomore.
"I knew that there was going to be a whole new coaching staff,'' Grimes said. "I felt like I put myself in the best position. I would be new and they would be new. I wouldn't fall behind. If I would have went to any other school, I would have been behind other players and would have had to learn the offense and learn different things that they would have already been a step ahead."
Instead, Grimes has an opportunity to start.
His new roommate, quarterback Feleipe Franks, is excited about the possibilities. He has been awed by some of Grimes' natural abilities the way Leah and others were a decade ago when Trevon first started playing football.
"When you get people who are naturally gifted like that, I think it makes it easier on my part,'' Franks said. "You know, just to put the ball up and let him go get it."
Leah is grateful how the family's fortunes have turned around. Trevon has always sacrificed for others, and his decision to leave Ohio State and transfer to a school closer to home is one she will be forever appreciative.
The look on his face when he called to share the news he could play this season made everything worth it.
"Trevon has a heart of gold. He has always been a kid who looked out for other kids. We weren't well-off by any means. I worked two jobs. We struggled quite a bit to put Trevon in private school and stuff, but whatever Trevon had, his friends around him had. He often gave away shoes and clothes and all kinds of stuff. He has always been genuine. If you had to use one word to describe Trevon, it would be that.
"The whole transition and the process has been a challenge for Trevon. It's something we didn't expect him to go through during his college career, but everything, like we say, happens for a reason. We believe he's in the place that he's meant to be."
It just happened to include a detour.
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