Future Gopher Q&A: Grayson Levine

GopherSports.com will be posting interviews with all the newest Gophers from the 2011 signing class throughout the remainder of the spring. The next profile in the series is a conversation with Minnesota product Grayson Levine, a defensive back out of Eden Prairie.

Levine was rated as the No. 8 overall prospect in the state of Minnesota by Rivals.com. He was listed as the No. 117 safety in the nation by ESPN/Scouts Inc. He earned a three-star rankings from Rivals.com. He will join the Golden Gopher Football program this summer.

GopherSports.com: Now that summer is right around the corner, has it sunk in that you're officially a Golden Gopher?

Grayson Levine: "Yeah it definitely has. Once I committed, I knew that's where I wanted to be. I am just excited to get on campus this summer. I went to spring practices and stuff so I'm just really excited to start getting with the team, meeting everyone and getting into the mix."

GopherSports.com: What made you want to come to Minnesota?

Grayson Levine: "The coaches. I love the coaches. The philosophy of hard work. The mentality that you need to have just to play. I feel like I am also a hard worker and I feel like I have a great opportunity to play early and hopefully get in the mix next year."

GopherSports.com: When did you decide that you wanted to play Division I football?

Grayson Levine: "I probably decided when I first started playing football that I wanted to keep doing it. But I realized after my junior football season when I started getting calls from coaches that I actually could chase after my dream."

GopherSports.com: What are some of your goals for your first season as a Golden Gopher?

Grayson Levine: "Get on the field. Get in the mix right away. Hopefully get on some special teams. That's probably my biggest goal right there. Then just try to be a good leader to the freshman class and hopefully be a little bit on the field. Be a good role model to my teammates and show hard work and show what I can do."

GopherSports.com: What are some of your long-term goals for your college career?

Grayson Levine: "I'd like to start by sophomore year. My second year, I hope to be starting. Also, get a Big Ten Championship and hopefully a national championship after that. I definitely think Coach Kill can get us there."

GopherSports.com: Do you know what position you'll be playing?

Grayson Levine: "Safety is my main defensive position that I will be playing. They also talked about special teams and returning kicks. I might be doing that next year and in the next couple of years, I'll start returning some kicks. For special teams, I'd assume I'll be on kickoffs."

GopherSports.com: What are you most looking forward to coming to the University of Minnesota?

Grayson Levine: "Just competing. I miss football a lot and I just want to compete and show the coaches and the players what I can do and that I can succeed under Coach Kill."

GopherSports.com: What are your thoughts about staying in your home state to play?

Grayson Levine: "I'm definitely excited to stay in state. The campus is about 20 minutes from my home. I can drive there and come back on the weekends if I need to. In the summer I can still hang out with my friends before they go to college. I know I'll be busy, but it is 20 minutes from home. So I'm not too worried about getting homesick or anything like that."

GopherSports.com: What is your favorite football memory?

Grayson Levine: "Last year playing for the state championship at the Prep Bowl. That is probably my favorite football memory."

GopherSports.com: Is there anyone that you've idolized throughout your football career? If so, who and why?

Grayson Levine: "Not really. I've always looked up to any NFL player, any player above me, just because of how hard they work to get there. I envied that and I just wanted to do that for myself and hopefully get to that level some day."

GopherSports.com: Do you play any other sports along with football?

Grayson Levine: "I've played basketball since I was in second grade."

GopherSports.com: What made you choose to pursue a collegiate career in football over basketball?

Grayson Levine: "I have way more love for the game of football than I do for basketball. Don't get me wrong, I love basketball. But I have a different passion and a different drive for football than I do for anything else."

GopherSports.com: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Grayson Levine: "Not really, beside my iPod. I just need my iPod and I listen to that pretty much up until the last second until the coach starts talking. That's what I've been doing in high school."

GopherSports.com: What is some of your favorite music to listen to?

Grayson Levine: "It pretty much changes every week. I'm a big music guy, so I am always downloading music. A song that is always on it is 'Like Yeah' by Tech N9ne. That's the only one that I constantly listen to. Main pump-up song right there."

GopherSports.com: What are your favorite movies?
Grayson Levine: "All-time favorite movies: American Gangster, Remember the Titans and Shooter.'

GopherSports.com: Do you have any 'must-see' television shows?

Grayson Levine: "I watch TV, but it's not like I have to watch every week. Some shows I like are Big Bang Theory and Modern Family."

GopherSports.com: Do you have any hidden talents that not many people know about?

Grayson Levine: "I'm a great cook. I love to cook. I'm also pretty good at drawing. But other than that, it's pretty much sports for me."

GopherSports.com: Do you have anything else you'd like to say to Gopher fans who are reading this?

Grayson Levine: "I have to think of something good here. The whole world's going to read it...no big deal. Gopher football is coming back within the next couple of years. I just think we are going to succeed and surprise everyone this next season. Hopefully get that W the opening game against USC and show everyone that we are a great team that can play with the best."
-Interview by Athletic Communications Assistant Kate Wadman

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