The foundation of some families is tradition; for others, it’s legacy. For Colin Granger – aka Big Bird – it’s a blend of each. He’s a basketball star who is now signed with the Carolina Panthers as a tight-end prospect. At 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, he is the tallest player on Carolina’s roster.

Colin began his basketball career at Ohio University from 2020 to 2022, for two seasons. Here, he played 25 games in his first season, averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. He then transferred to Western Carolina University for the next two seasons (2022 – 2024), where he appeared in 64 games and contributed as a forward. His averages went up to 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. Granger concluded his basketball journey with Coastal Carolina (2024 – 2025), where he had his most productive season. Playing 31 games, he averaged 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

But Granger’s story is not just about numbers. His mom’s exceptional collegiate career and his father’s unyielding support have helped Colin reach great heights, and at 6-foot-9, he’s already there. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, his parents have had a major influence on his journey. Let’s explore a bit more about him.

Who are Colin Granger’s parents? What do they do?

Colin Granger’s parents are Murray and Suzanne Granger. Suzanne, a former collegiate athlete, competed in four Division I sports at Rutgers University and Mount Saint Mary’s College. Her standout career on track made her one of the most highly recruited athletes of her time.

Suzanne’s experience in sports gave her unique insights into collegiate athletics, which have influenced Colin’s upbringing. She excelled at multiple sports (track and field, basketball, volleyball, and softball) and maintained academic success, setting a powerful example for him. She is also involved in mentoring young athletes, passing down lessons learnt from her own experiences.

As for Murray Granger, there is no publicly available information about his time or sports involvement during his time at Rutgers University. But he is a big cheerleader of his son, that’s evident from his social media profile. 

Does Colin Granger have any siblings?

Colin Granger has two siblings, a brother and a sister. Their names, however, are not publicly available. As a family, they enjoy spending quality time together and going to watch games. Additionally, looking through his Instagram handle, we can see that he has many friends whom he considers to be like his family.

What is Colin Granger’s parents’ nationality?

Colin Granger was born in Suwanee, Georgia, USA. There is a high likelihood of U.S. citizenship among residents in the area. Census data identifies a majority of Suwanee’s population as White and Non-Hispanic. Murray and Suzanne Granger, like him, are probably also American nationals.

The Panthers are banking on his skills as a basketball center and aiming for him to follow in the footsteps of other basketball players who have made it big on the gridiron. Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, and Jimmy Graham are some names that have turned into very notable tight ends after making a switch from basketball courts to the gridiron.