It might officially be the college football offseason in Conway. Still, massive college football news broke late Monday afternoon, with legendary Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall returning to the program for the 2025 season.
Grayson McCall Set To Return To Coastal Carolina in 2025
Sadly for Chanticleers fans, McCall hasn’t found another year of eligibility. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the legendary quarterback, who once famously pledged his allegiance to the program by saying “I piss teal,” will join Coastal Carolina as an offensive analyst, continuing what has been one of the most storied college football careers in the modern era.
Shortly before Thamel reported the news, the official “X” account of Coastal Carolina football had posted a simple image that would evoke an emotional response among Chanticleers fans.
— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) January 6, 2025
The word legendary is bandied around so much that its meaning often loses the resonance that it should hold. However, there is no other way to describe McCall’s standing within the Coastal Carolina football program. During his five years with the program, he became synonymous with the Chanticleers, capturing the imagination and passions of a football fanbase.
At a time when the sports world was impacted by the global pandemic, McCall and Coastal Carolina resonated beyond Conway. With his gung-ho playstyle in Jamey Chadwell’s innovative offense, the quarterback and program brought light into a dark spot for college football. A fledgling FBS outfit, the Chanticleers climbed as high as ninth in the AP Poll that year.
During his time in Conway, McCall became the only player in college football history to be named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. He still holds the program records for total touchdowns responsible (106), touchdown passes (88), and career passing yards (10,005). Meanwhile, his college football resume contains a laundry list of honors.
Following the 2023 college football season, McCall entered the transfer portal, immediately becoming one of the most sought-after quarterbacks available. Landing with the NC State Wolfpack, it appeared like he would finally get the opportunity to prove himself at the Power Four level, but after a disappointing start to the season, injury curtailed his college football career.
Now, he’s coming back home.
“So fired up to come back home!” McCall said, via a press release. “I’m very thankful for Coach Beck and Coach Hollingshead for giving me such a great opportunity. Can’t wait to light up the scoreboard in Brooks just like old times!!! Chants Up!”
“Thrilled to be able to welcome Grayson McCall back home to Teal Nation,” head coach Tim Beck said, before touching on the contributions the former quarterback has made to Coastal Carolina football.
“I have spoken before on the immeasurable impact he made here – both on the game and in our community – and we couldn’t be more excited that he will start his coaching career at Coastal. I am looking forward to seeing what Drew Hollingshead and Grayson can do while working together to elevate our offense to new heights.”
During his absence from Conway, the Chanticleers struggled. They finished the regular season with a 6-6 record before losing the Myrtle Beach Bowl on their own turf. An offense that ranked 60th in the country for scoring lacked the pizzazz of the units featuring their former star quarterback, and the end of the year saw an exodus of talent via the transfer portal.
Their season apart was hardly kind to Coastal Carolina or to McCall. There’s an element of poetry to that, some kind of synergy where one needs the other to survive and to thrive. Now back together for the 2025 college football season, the Chanticleers may be set to return to the forefront of fun football.
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