The Rice Owls desperately want JT Granato to be their quarterback of the future. The Houston Kinkaid High School junior is a three-star recruit who led his team to an undefeated record last season, throwing for 3,500 yards, 42 touchdowns and only nine interceptions in the process. Earlier this week, Rice offensive coordinator Billy Lynch pulled out all the stops to land Granato.
Lynch somehow caught wind that Granato loves his cat, and he sent him a recruiting letter addressed to the feline. It was addressed to “Kitty Granato,” although the cat’s real name is “White Sox.”
“As you know we’re trying to convince J.T. Rice is the place for him,” Lynch wrote, according to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle. “I know you’d like to keep him close so he can feed you and change the litter box. Please help us to get him to choose us. Paw me if you have any questions.”
The unique pitch must have worked. On Thursday, Granato gave Rice a verbal commitment. His father announced the news on Twitter.
“@JGranato10 committed to Rice today,” John Granato wrote on Twitter along with the photo you see above. “Rice closed the deal by sending JT’s cat a recruiting letter. Well done Owls.”
JT also expressed his excitement.
Officially committed to Rice… can't wait for what lies ahead
— JT Granato (@JTGranato10) May 15, 2014
Coaches are always looking for an edge with recruits, and many of them think sending tons of recruiting letters in a single day gives them that. Sometimes all it takes is one letter to a high schooler’s cat to seal the deal.
