Grassi's old-school style wears well at Southeast

~ The senior fullback will gladly trade the spotlight for a devastating block any day

Even if Nick Grassi cared about individual glory, he would find it hard to attain.

Fullbacks in these days of college football are about as anonymous as players come.

Fortunately for Grassi, he has never sought the spotlight. He delights in the simple pleasures of the game, like being a good teammate, helping his offense pick up yardage and score points. ... and laying absolute waste to an opponent.

"The most fun I have on the field is the iso block," Grassi, Southeast Missouri State's hard-nosed, good-natured senior, said with a smile following Tuesday's practice. "Just knocking somebody's head off."

Nick Grassi, listed at 5 foot 10 and 240 pounds, runs for yards after a catch during practice this past weekend. (Southeast Missouri State photo)

Although Grassi hasn't spent much time with the ball in his hands, he has been on the field plenty during a solid if unspectacular college career that began with him seeing extensive special teams action as a true freshman in 2006.

"I don't care if I touch the ball," Grassi said. "I just want to block. I love blocking. I always have. Getting my head in it, getting in the mix."

With the popularity of the spread offense, many college football programs no longer even use a fullback.

Southeast still does, at least part of the time, which allowed Grassi to start 10 games last year -- he missed the other two contests with an injury -- and has him listed No. 1 on the depth chart entering the 2009 season.

"Fullbacks tend to go unsung, but in our offense you have to have some really good fullbacks," said Southeast coach Tony Samuel, whose squad is in its first full week of fall camp and has its first of two scrimmages set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Houck Stadium. "They do a lot of blocking, a lot of special teams.

Southeast senior fullback Nick Grassi has had just 10 total rushing attempts in his three previous seasons at Southeast, but he has made his presence felt with his bruising style in both special teams and in the Redhawks' offensive backfield. (Southeast Missouri State photo)

"They don't carry it much, but we throw it to them some. Nick has good hands and he's a tough, hard-working kid, kind of a throwback-type player. He's a captain and one of our team leaders."

Grassi's career offensive statistics include 10 carries for seven yards, along with 13 receptions for 78 yards. Last year he carried twice for three yards and caught three passes for 26 yards.

"I can catch the ball," he said with a laugh.

But the rock-solid Grassi -- he is listed as 5-feet-10 and 240 pounds -- knows offensive highlights are never going to be what define him as a player.

"I'm not a genetic freak or anything like that. I'm not a finesse guy. I just like to hit," he said.

It didn't take long for Grassi's toughness and competitiveness to show through after he came to Southeast as a member of Samuel's first recruiting class.

Grassi is proud that he became an immediate regular on all of Southeast's special teams as a true freshman in 2006.

"I break the wedge on kickoffs," he said in citing one of his favorite football activities.

With his appetite for knocking heads on the field, Grassi might sound a bit barbaric, but he is a well-rounded student-athlete who is respected around campus.

Grassi was not only voted a captain this year by his teammates, he was also voted vice president of Southeast's Student Athletic Advisory Committee.

"Those are both big honors that show a lot of respect," Grassi said.

Grassi said he doesn't take either responsibility lightly, especially his role of team captain.

"A lot of responsibility comes with it, on and off the field," he said. "My goal as a leader is to set an example for the young guys on and off the field."

After all, not so long ago Grassi was one of those youngsters just starting his college career.

Grassi, a native of the Portland suburb of Wilsonville, Ore., said he was being recruited by several schools in the Northwest before an injury caused them to back off.

"I broke my arm the last game of my senior year," said Grassi, an all-state running back and linebacker in high school. "They [Southeast] were the only school that left a full [scholarship] offer on the table."

Grassi figured Southeast was a natural fit anyway since he has known offensive coordinator Vincent White "since eighth grade. One of his good friends was my high school coach."

Grassi doesn't regret his decision.

"I'm really glad it worked out, and it's been a great experience," he said. "We've got a great coaching staff. They taught me how to be a man."

Grassi, a mass communications major with a minor in graphic design, said he might like to run his own screen printing company.

Before that, he has his sights set on helping Southeast post its first winning record since 2002 and just the program's third winning mark since moving up to Division I-AA in 1991.

"I think we have a great core group of guys, and the feeling on our team is we're going to turn it around," Grassi said. "We're tired of losing. It's time to win some football games."

If the Redhawks do finally break through, maybe it will come with the help of some touchdowns from Grassi -- who has not posted a TD since arriving at Southeast.

Asked how nice it would be to finally break the end zone with the football, Grassi -- who once scored five first-half touchdowns during a high school game -- grinned.

"It'd be cool, but if it doesn't happen, I won't be devastated," he said.

Not as long as he gets to put plenty of licks on the opposition.