Furman University

2019 — Enters the season with an active streak of 11 consecutive made field goals, one shy of Furman record currently held by Danny Marshall (2001)...his 144 career points rank 10th in program history, two shy of former teammate Jon Croft Hollingsworth (146, 2014-17)...named to Street and Smith’s Preseason All-America team.

2018 — Followed up an impressive freshman campaign with an even better sophomore season, earning consensus first team All-Southern Conference honors in voting by head coaches and media, and also second team Associated Press All-America laurels...strong performance played a key role in Furman claiming a share of its 14th SoCon championship...converted 11-of-13 field goals, including his final 11 attempts (active streak heading into 2019 season), just one shy of record 12 currently held by Danny Marshall (2001)...four of his field goals covered 50+ yards...his two missed field goals (vs. Elon) were from 48 and 50 yards...converted 29-of-33 extra point attempts to lead the team in scoring with 62 points...was the SoCon’s top multi-purpose specialist who also averaged 42.8 yards on 47 punts (4th in SoCon) and 60.6 yards on 55 kickoffs, leading the league by far with 29 touchbacks...collected SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week honors three consecutive weeks (Oct. 20-Nov. 3) in performances versus Samford, The Citadel (28-17 win), and Chattanooga (16-10 win)...named STATS National Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking four field goals, including efforts from 27, 50, 51, and 53 yards, versus Samford on Oct. 20 — the three makes from 50+ yards representing the first by a Division I player in a game since 2006 (Sam Swank of Wake Forest) and first by an FCS player since Jesse Garcia from Louisiana-Monroe vs. McNeese in 1983....the 53-yarder is the third longest in Furman history...averaged 50.9 yards on seven punts against The Citadel, including a career long 81-yard effort (third longest in Furman history)...recorded five of eight kickoff touchbacks against both Western Carolina (44-38 win) and VMI (49-13 win)....named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll.

2017 — Delivered an outstanding freshman campaign, handling all of the squad’s PATs and field goals and earning SoCon All-Freshman Team honors in voting by league head coaches...played a key role in Furman’s 8-5 season that netted a FCS playoff berth and No. 19 ranking in the STATS FCS Final Poll...tallied 82 points, converting all 55 PAT chances and 9-of-13 field goal tries...82 points marked the sixth highest season tally in program history...paced the SoCon in kick scoring and ranked fourth in overall scoring (second on the squad behind Antonio Wilcox’s 90 points)...productive foot helped Furman lead the SoCon in scoring offense (32.6 ppg)...made his first collegiate field goal attempt (20 yards) against Wofford in season opener...went on to connect on six of his first seven field goal tries, including a pair of 46-yard attempts along with a 34-yarder against N.C. State...made a 41-yard field goal in the Paladins’  playoff season finale at Wofford...booted 48 and 42-yard field goals in Furman’s Purple-White spring games...named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll.

High School: 2017 graduate of Boiling Springs (5A) High School...football coach was Rick Tate...handled kicking and punting chores...converted 13-of-18 field goal attempts and was a perfect 62-for-62 PATs as a senior in helping Boiling Springs register a 13-2 record (best in school history), Region 3 title (first for Boiling Springs since 1965), Upper State Championship, and state runner-up finish, falling to Dutch Fork, 28-21, in title game...kicked a school record 50-yard field goal in a 40-6 win over Ashley Ridge and booted a game winning, 27-yard field goal in overtime to beat Spartanburg, 24-21...led all South Carolina kickers with 101 points in 2016 and received the South Carolina High School Sports Coverage Chandler Catanzaro’s Top Kicker in South Carolina Award...two-time all-area, all-region, and all-academic selection during his prep career...member of three state championship golf teams at Boiling Springs...attended Palmetto Boys State...recipient of Bradley Pinion Student Outreach Award for his Grayson Atkins Kick It To Cure Campaign that raised over $5,000 for pediatric cancer research...effort generated $1 from family and friends for every extra point, $3 for every field goal, and $5 for every touchback.

Personal: Full name is Grayson Ryan Atkins...born March 30, 1999, in Spartanburg, South Carolina...son of Brian and Tonya Atkins...has a brother, Garrison...great-grandfather, grandfather, and great uncle attended Furman...communications major.