WILKINSON COUNTY, Ga. — Tylan Grable watches the NFL draft every year, but this one will be different.
"Feeling great about the whole thing. The whole process has been fun. I know it's been long but it's something I've been waiting for my whole life," Tylan said.
On Friday, he is hoping to be drafted into the NFL as part of the 2024 NFL Draft. The offensive tackle from the University of Central Florida started his football career here in Central Georgia, as a student in Wilkinson County.
"That's the cool part. I'll be honest. It hasn't all the way set in. It's definitely been sinking but like you said like once you like see yourself a part of it that's when it really hits you like I'm really here," Tylan said.
Getting here wasn't the smoothest path.
"Many challenges I didn't foresee coming when I was younger. For instance, like the position change, walking on to college like those were things that I really wasn't expecting for them to happen but I knew it wasn't going to be easy," Tylan said.
Tylan played under center at Warrior Stadium, but when he got to college there was a lot of change — 100 pounds of it and a move to offensive tackle.
He used his QB experience to excel at the new position.
"At quarterback, you're always responsible for everything going on the field and you're responsible for having to see things that maybe the coach can't see on the field so once I moved up into the offensive line, it definitely helped me in my game because some stuff I would see on the field. I could tell something was about to go on," Tylan said.
Wilkinson County High School is known for their hoops and Tylan etched his name in history by winning a state title three years in a row, but that third basketball season cost him his senior football season after he broke his foot.
"Definitely devastated but once I like found out what it was, it was like me being sad, me crying it's not going to help anything at that point," Tylan said.
So, what do you do when you don't have recent highlights to send coaches? Well, Tylan started sending his basketball highlights to prove he healed from his injury.
"I broke my foot but obviously I can move around. I can still play," Tylan said.
He decided to walk on at Jacksonville State University where he earned several accolades including All-American and even played with his brother. He said he had to surround himself with the right people to get better.
"Four of my best friends shoot they were all on scholarship and that was my goal to be like them to get on scholarship, so whenever they did anything, I was always out there working," Tylan said.
He later transferred to the University of Central Florida's squad and earned his degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. His mom, Teresa Grable, made sure Tylan never lost sight of what the goal was.
"Help him keep the main thing the main thing and that was to be a student-athlete because it's always books before ball," Teresa said.
After another season with the Knights, Tylan entered his name in the NFL Draft and started training for his head-turning combine performance. His athleticism score topped all of the offensive tackles at the event.
Tylan said he was happy but not satisfied.
"It's a blessing I was happy. I kind of wanted a few better numbers, but I always known that the work I had put in before I knew everything that would happen out there," Tyan said.
Despite the challenges, Tylan said he wouldn't change anything and he's grateful to represent his hometown.
"A lot of times it gets overlooked, but it really goes to show younger kids boys and girls like if you really put your mind to it. You can accomplish anything you want," Tylan said.
Teresa said she's looking forward to watching the draft this year.
"It's just so emotional so I know it's going to be different. I'm just hoping I can sit there and I can just stay calm and just watch it. I'm looking forward to it," Tylan said.