Grady Jarrett’s house burned down as he waited to be drafted
Clemson defensive tackle Grady Jarrett saw his home burst into flames as he waited to hear his name called in the 2015 NFL Draft.
This was supposed to be the best weekend of Grady Jarrett’s life as the Clemson defensive tackle waited to get drafted and find out where he would begin his NFL career.
Jarrett was projected to be taken as soon as the second round so when he and around 50 friends and family gathered inside his family’s home they noticed a strange smell coming from within the house. It wasn’t coming from the kitchen but from the upstairs where the game room was engulfed in smoke.
According to Fox Sports, the scene turned one that was supposed to be a joyous celebration to a panic with people yelling to call 911.
“It was an unexplainable feeling,”Jarrett said. “It was hopelessness. It was disbelief. At that point I wasn’t thinking about the draft. There’s no feeling that describes watching a house burn. The important thing was everyone got out safe. We lost some things that we can’t get back, but for the most part it’s just material things and as a family we’re just happy to be safe.
Thankfully everyone was safe and some of the material things Jarrett mentions were lost included his trophies and sports memorabilia.
Half of the house burned down. Nobody was injured, but they lost all of Jarrett’s Clemson memorability.
— Ross Jones (@RossMikeJones) May 2, 2015
Yes, it is very unfortunate that stuff was lost to the fire, but that’s also just material possessions and Jarrett sounds aware of the fact that it’s replaceable and family isn’t.
With all the commotion going on with half the house in flames, Jarrett also didn’t get drafted in the second or third rounds, adding to his miserable evening.
However, there is a happy ending here for Jarrett who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 137 overall pick as he watched the draft with his family at his cousin’s house in Covington, GA.
“Throughout the night I kept an eye on the draft and that just got me even more down because I was projected to go in the second round. It was just frustration and disappointment, but with Atlanta taking me today it’s a blessing. It lifted my family’s spirits so high. Everything that was lost can be replaced, man. It’s a really special time for us.”
When Falcons owner Arthur Blank heard of the fire he responded with a move of total class.
Arthur Blank told @mortreport that he told the staff to go get Grady Jarrett some clothes after the fire happened.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) May 2, 2015
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