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John Galloway and the Jacksonville Dolphins landed a commitment in the 2022 class out of the Volunteer State on Monday night, as Collierville, Tenn., midfielder/facreoff man Eli Grizzard announced that he would be taking his talents to Jacksonville.

He is the first DI commitment in the 2022 class from the state of Tennessee.

Grizzard is the sixth commitment in the class for the Dolphins and fifth at the midfield position, joining Woodbury, Minn., midfielder Colin Olson, Tully, Ohio, midfielder Will Hardy, Lawrence, Mass., midfielder Jack Taylor, Olentangy, Ohio, Gavin Angell, and Ridge Point, Texas, goalie Evan Sharp.

“I feel like I was under the radar as a recruit because of my location. So why not go to a school that’s arguably the best team in the south,” Grizzard said. “I can identify with the program and culture there. They are on to big things and I want to be apart of that.”

Jacksonville offensive coordinator Tyler Granelli initially reached out to Grizzard in late October and has had consistent contact with the staff. The Volunteer State native said that it was following a Zoom call with the staff that he knew he was ready to commit. ” I was already highly interested but after that zoom any doubts left my mind.”

Grizzard tallied 10 points (5G/5A), went 57-for-75 (.760), in four games for Collierville during the shortened 2020 season. As a freshman in 2019, he put up eight points (3G/5A) and went 216-for-331 (.653) while helping the Dragons to a TSLA DI Public state title game appearance.

An all-around type of player, Grizzard mentioned that he really wants to becoming more dynamic. “I would like to continue working on my athletic ability,” Grizzard said. “I want to improve on becoming the most dynamic face off guy as possible,” Mostly on getting a very high level shot left hand and right hand.”

Coming into his junior season, Grizzard has multiple goals for himself and his team that he is focused on. “My goals for my junior year is to put on as much lean muscle and becoming as explosive and fast as possible, and keeping my stick skills at as high of a level as possible, and getting my teammates open and feeding them the ball,” Grizzard said. “My main goal this year is the same as it is every year. Win state. I lost state my freshman year and that still sits with me. I think my teammates and coaches have the talent to take us there.”