“Simba,” the Swahili word for lion, serves as a nickname for a Houston defender on special teams whose competitive ferocity and long blond mane carry uncanny similarities to the African predator.
Freshman Grant Stuard’s road to Houston is as complex as the reasoning behind his five-year hiatus from visiting a barbershop. The Texas native grew up just 45 minutes north of Houston, where he attended Oak Ridge High School. After an impressive multi-sport career, the charismatic defender received offers to play football at the collegiate level.
SMU sent Stuard one of those offers, but when he attempted to commit, the coaches informed him that there were no spots available.