ALLEN PARK -- His stay so far has been brief, but Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard appears to be enjoying life in the Midwest.
Born in Conroe, Texas, Stuard was used to a certain lifestyle -- even down to the type of place he and his family called home. But the move north has introduced him to a different way of living, both personally and professionally.
Stuard signed a one-year deal with the Lions in the offseason after playing the previous three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
The high-energy linebacker has quickly carved out a role on special teams, bringing a level of versatility the Lions haven’t had from someone at his position in recent years.
As part of this week’s five questions segment, MLive caught up with Stuard to discuss life in Michigan and how he’s adjusting to the Lions’ culture.
**You’ve been here for a couple of months. What’s been the one thing you’ve appreciated most about being inside this locker room?**
I would say my ability to be myself in the workplace. I’m a guy, that’s pretty intense. I like to respond in an intense way during practice, whether that might be physically, vocally, sometimes emotionally, and it’s not something that’s going to linger or something, but sometimes you got to get it out, you know what I’m saying?
And just kind of like the acceptance in the locker room with something like that. And just understanding my passion. I love that here. I had to be myself and just work through practice as I do, work through game week as I do. So I like just my daily, the daily monotonous things that a workplace for sure.
**Just a fun one -- between you, Christian Mahogany, Alex Anzalone and Tate Ratledge, there are a lot unique of hairstyles in here. Who has the best hair? Who’s using the most shampoo?**
I don’t know if I’m using the most shampoo. I only wash my hair once a week. Roy (Lopez) probably used the most shampoo. He be brushing his hair every day. But I think I do like Anzo hair, you know what I’m saying? He got a golden shine to his joint, you know what I’m saying? Mine are changed colors. When the sun out, it look red, then it’s gold, then it’s brown. But Anzo, that consistent shine, you know what I’m saying? I like Anzo.
**We saw you earlier doing kick returns. What kind of rush do you get being out there on kick returns.**
Yeah, I mean, it’s a whole nother world. And I mean, I might’ve did it once since high school. I think I did it once in my sophomore year in college and ran out of bounds. But it is definitely a different world back there. You’re in one world before the ball’s kicked. It’s adrenaline. The video board is on you. They talking about you on the TV -- ‘Grand Stuard, the linebacker.’ See what I’m saying? So it’s a lot of adrenaline and expectation, but just the ability to have that tunnel vision and shut that out.
I gained a lot of appreciation for those guys the few weeks I’ve been back there. And then when the ball’s in the air, that’s a whole nother world, especially with how the teams are kicking it this year. They might kick it on the ground to the left, to the right, to the middle.
So just being agile and being confident, you know what I’m saying? You got to be confident when that ball’s in the air. And then once you get the ball, you know what I’m saying? Everybody’s different. You see somebody like (Kalif Raymond) might be fast, but under control, ready to make a cut. (Jacob) Saylors are the same but a little bit more downhill. I get that joint, I’m downhill. I ain’t thinking about nothing, you know what I’m saying?
And when you get in the trenches, it’s all about ball security, you know what I’m saying? So it’s like different little stances that my mind go through when I’m back there, and I’m sure as I get more experience at it, it’ll just be one fluid motion, but it’s definitely not that yet. Keep it a stack. Yeah.
**Sticking with special teams, every time we talk with Dave Fipp, he has some funny or unique story for us. Do you have any stories or experiences with him yet?**
With Fipp? No, not really. No, not yet.
**And lastly, as a newcomer to this city, what’s one thing you’ve found unique about being in Detroit?**
Man, I got a basement. Yeah. Just the whole basement joint. I’m from the South -- ain’t no basements, it’s attics. So the fact that I got a basement, I can go to the basement and just duck off and it’s a whole nother temperature down there, you know what I’m saying? And you got to use the heat and the cool at the same time because at nighttime it’s going to be X and in the daytime it’s going to be Y.
So you got to have a unique little setting. And then I got two babies. So it’s like that setting got to be right or we going to be in that joint freezing last night. You got the 41 (degrees), I going to cut the heat on. So that’s definitely been the biggest difference. I don’t go outside for real, so I don’t really know what’s going on in Detroit, but it’s in my house. It’s a different world in that joint for sure.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our [User Agreement](https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/user-agreement.html) and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our [Privacy Policy.](https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/privacy-policy.html)