Paralyzed Rutgers player Eric LeGrand to release inspirational biography

The inspirational story of Eric LeGrand will now become a must-read biography as the paralyzed Rutgers defensive tackle is set to become an author this September.

LeGrand was paralyzed in October 2010 from a hit suffered in the third quarter of the Knights' game against Army at MetLife Stadium. He may have seen much of his junior and all of his senior seasons evaporate due to the injury, but his story continues to amaze, including his return to the field this past fall, which was named by the readers of Sports Illustrated as "Their Best Moment of 2011."

The former three-star recruit according to Rivals.com continues to make progress in his desire to walk again and his wide range of emotions following the injury are chronicled in Believe: My Faith and the Tackle that Changed My Life, an adult memoir, and Believe: The Victorious Story of Eric LeGrand, the young readers edition.

"I am so happy for this opportunity to share my story in book form," LeGrand said in a statement released by published HarperCollins. "I hope BELIEVE will not only help to inspire people who have disabilities, but will resonate with anyone who has suffered in any way. If I can thrive despite my injury and never give up hope, maybe they can do the same thing. I hope this book will bring more attention to people with spinal cord injuries.

"Everything that has happened since that fateful day on the football field has showed me that there is a higher power at work and a plan for me, and I will do everything I can to embrace this still unfolding future for me and for anyone who reads my story."

Since the injury, LeGrand continues to work towards his goal of walking again. He now sits up on his own and regularly uses an arm bike as part of his rehab. In addition, he told Yahoo! Sports in April that he is close to completing his degree in labor studies and this fall, he will co-host a midweek radio show with first-year Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood. He also will continue to do television work as he transitions to broadcasting.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now coached by LeGrand's former head coach at Rutgers, Greg Schiano, signed him to an honorary contract in May. This April would have been the season where LeGrand, who played immediately as a freshman at Rutgers, would have been a senior and likely would have been eligible for the NFL draft.

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