Former Rutgers Football Player Eric LeGrand Signs Two-Book Deal
Eric LeGrand, a former Rutgers University Scarlet Knights football player who was paralyzed from the neck down after sustaining a spinal injury on the field, has signed a two-book deal.
Both books will be published by HarperCollins and are scheduled for release in September. One of the books, Believe: My Faith and the Tackle That Changed My Life, will target adult audiences, while the other book, Believe: The Victorious Story of Eric LeGrand, is aimed at young readers.
I hope 'Believe' will not only help to inspire people who have disabilities, but will resonate with anyone who has suffered in any way, LeGrand said in a publisher statement. If I can thrive despite my injury and never give up hope, maybe they can do the same thing.
I hope this book will bring more attention to people with spinal cord injuries. Everything that has happened since that fateful day on the football field has showed me that there is a higher power at work and a plan for me, and I will do everything I can to embrace this still-unfolding future for me and for anyone who reads my story.
LeGrand, 21, broke two vertebrae and suffered a spinal cord injury in October 2010 while playing in a Rutgers game against Army. The defensive tackle collided with an Army kick returner, according to a Sports Illustrated report. The collision left him paralyzed from the neck down.
LeGrand has kept up a positive attitude since sustaining his injury. He's even posted photos of his physical therapy sessions.
In October 2011, a year after his accident, he led his Rutgers teammates onto the field in his wheelchair. (That was voted by Sports Illustrated readers as the best moment of 2011).
LeGrand recently got a brand new gig: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as a broadcaster in May.
His book should be required reading for anyone who takes life for granted, HarperCollins senior vice president and director of creative development Lisa Sharkey said in a statement. We are proud to publish this incredibly special young man's story of football, faith and triumph over adversity.
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