Rutgers University Athletics

Born in Haleburg, Alabama, before moving to Orange, New Jersey, as a child, Grimsley, a World War II veteran, played for the Scarlet Knights during the “Golden Era” between 1946 and 1949.
 
Following serving in the US Army as an aquatics engineer, Grimsley, a graduate of Orange High School, enrolled at Rutgers and became a star running back for head coach Harvey Harmon’s teams, compiling a 28-8 record during his time in scarlet. He won the George T. Cronin Trophy in 1946 as the varsity football player who manifested the most improvement and progress. That season was highlighted by an upset road victory at No. 17 Harvard.
 
Overall, Grimsley rushed for 28 touchdowns, still sixth-most in the program record books, with 11 multiple-score games. Graduating in 1950, he capped his career by racing 63 yards in characteristic fashion for a touchdown against Fordham in his final contest.
 
Grimsley became an assistant coach, the first Black coach in Essex County high school football, helping South Side in Newark to a city championship in 1954, also later coaching football at Piscataway High School. He worked as a teacher, later moved to Illinois for a job as a university recruiter before moving back to New Jersey in 2014.
 
Grimsley was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993. He served as an honorary captain during the coin toss for the Scarlet Knights’ 2015 game versus Washington State.