By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
jtoland@telegram.com

Worcester, MA --- R.C. Grady helped the WPI men's basketball team to the NCAA Division 3 Tournament as a freshman, Cody McGregor did the same with the baseball team last spring, and now, both senior wide receivers agree, it's time to lead the Engineers' football team to the NCAAs.

"The better we do, the better the team does," McGregor said. "In the end, hopefully it gets us a couple more wins and maybe the Liberty League championship."

Last season, the Engineers posted seven victories - their most since 1992 - thanks in large part to Grady and McGregor, who combined for 109 catches, more than 1,600 yards and eight touchdowns. They seamlessly stepped into the top receiver roles vacated by Mike Butler and Matt Berger the year before.

"Last year, it fell on me and Cody to make big plays and get first downs in key moments," said Grady, who ranked second in the Liberty League in receiving yards per game (81.1).

At 6-foot-5, Grady is obviously a big target who draws the attention of opposing defenses. A former two-sport star at St. Bernard's, Grady, who hails from Shirley, played just the one season of basketball at WPI, seeing action every game and averaging 5 points and 2.2 rebounds for the NEWMAC champs.

He decided to switch to football his sophomore year. He saw limited action that season, but has transformed into an all-league performer.

"Two years ago, when he first came out, R.C. lacked confidence," WPI coach Ed Zaloom said, "and because he lacked confidence, he lacked a certain amount of assertiveness. Now, he's probably the most confident player out there, and he's extremely assertive, and he's an extremely intelligent player. Not only does he know his role and his assignment, he knows the game. He sees the concept, the big picture."

Grady started the '08 season with a 142-yard effort in WPI's epic, five-overtime victory over UMass-Dartmouth. He also topped 100 yards in a loss to RPI and finished the year with 54 receptions for a team-high 811 yards and four TDs.

McGregor, who's more Wes Welker-like in stature, came back from a broken tibia suffered midway through the '07 season to lead the Engineers with 55 catches for 750 yards and four TDs last year.

In the spring, McGregor is WPI's starting center fielder. Last year, he batted .303 while helping the Engineers to a program-record 30 wins and their first NCAA appearance.

"Cody is one of the most competitive kids I've ever met," Zaloom said. "There is a burning desire in him that says, ‘I've got to be the best player out there.' When he comes to practice, when he plays in games, he proves it. He's a good athlete, and those two guys (McGregor and Grady) are great weapons, and combined with our other skill kids, it's going to be hard for defenses to focus on who to stop."

Sophomore Nick Bean returns as the third receiver.

They'll all be catching balls from a new starting quarterback this year. Senior Mike Swanton, who backed up Justin Wells last season, will step into the starter's role.

Grady, McGregor and Bean are all familiar with Swanton. He has taken snaps in each of the last three years and appeared in five games last season, completing 19 of 31 passes for 204 yards and three TDs.

"He has experience," Grady said. "Where Wells was more of an option guy, Swanny's a lot more pocket oriented. He's strong-armed and delivers strikes. It shouldn't be too hard of a transition."

McGregor and Swanton have been roommates since they arrived on campus. Swanton first got to know Grady playing pickup basketball. All three worked out together this summer, with junior linebacker Jack Mulhern of Worcester joining in to provide coverage on the receivers.

"The passing game looks like it's coming together," Grady said, "and the offense looks pretty solid."

Story appeared in Worcester Telegram and Gazette - Thursday, August 20th
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090820/NEWS/908200750/1009/SPORTS