KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Anthony Grimes (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) wakes up every day with a smile on his face. That may be difficult to fathom for the average person, with the daily grind of everyday life and how hard each day can be. Well, every day is hard for Grimes, but yet he is grateful for the daily grind of being a student-athlete on the Kutztown University football team.
 
Grimes is a redshirt-sophomore out of Barnegat, N.J., who arrived on campus in August of 2019, eager and excited to continue his playing career at the collegiate level and pursue a degree. He redshirted that fall like many freshmen new to college football do, and then had COVID-19 interrupt a season the following year.
 
That can be a difficult start to any young adult's college career, but the hits continued to come.
 
In July of 2021, Grimes experienced a life-altering event that no one should ever have to go through, especially a young and aspiring college student with everything in life in front of them.
 
Driving on the Garden State Parkway (N.J. Turnpike), Grimes began to feel lightheaded and passed out behind the wheel. He then hit a toll booth heading into his town, breaking his ankle and his tibia and fibula, dislocated his knee, tore a muscle in his right leg and his LCL, shattered his pelvis and ruptured his spleen.
 
Grimes is lucky to be alive. And he knows it. He also knew it would be a long road of recovery to ever walk again, let alone play the sport he loves.
 
"I just took every day one day at a time," said Grimes. "I was told that I might lose my right leg because of blood loss, but then when I found out later that I wouldn't lose it, my first thought was, 'when can I get back up and walk and play football again?' The doctors and medical staff told me it was going to be a fight and a long process and there was a lot of doubt that I was going to make it back. But I just pushed it and really wanted to get back out on the field with this team. And by God's grace I'm here."
 
After extensive time at Jersey Shore Hospital for treatment (his last day staying over was Oct. 5, 2021) and the Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., for his physical therapy, Grimes was cleared to participate in football-related activities, on a limited basis. As soon as he got word, he immediately called Brandon Nolt, one of Kutztown's athletic trainers, to begin the process of getting cleared.
 
"I couldn't believe it when he called me with that news," said Nolt. "To go through something like that, you never think someone would be able to play again, let alone walk. But Anthony is a fighter and such a tough kid. He shows up every day with a smile on his face, ready to go work."
 
Grimes works with Nolt and the KU staff working on his ankle and leg stretches early in the day and then will go back after practice for more therapy.
 
Head coach Jim Clements has also been a positive presence in Grimes' life. The soon-to-be program's all-time winningest coach has been like a second father to Grimes and checked in with him often after the accident.
 
"From the moment I was able to talk, I was on the phone with him," Grimes said. "He called me right away and asked what he could do and how I was feeling. He's a second dad to me. We talked almost every week, talking about life and my progress and recovery. I know that even if I couldn't come back to KU to play football, he was always going to be there for me in whatever way I needed. He's a regular hitting up my phone."
 
This fall is Grimes' first semester back on campus and first one taking classes again since spring 2021. He is a biology (allied health) major with three more semesters until he can graduate. From there, Grimes has plans to further his education by attending graduate school and continuing to study allied health here at Kutztown, while remaining with the football program.
 
He has a bright future ahead of him and he's ready for it. But Grimes is more interested in today and living it to its fullest.
 
"I don't take this game for granted and that's a message I relay to the rest of the team," said Grimes. "Just be happy with what you've been given; your athletic ability, your brain. We're collegiate student-athletes. Not everyone gets this opportunity. I have a smile on my face every day because life is good. I'm so excited to be back."

Grimes will join his teammates as a gameday captain and walk out for the coin toss before the game against No. 5 Shepherd Saturday, Sept. 24, at noon.