LeGrand's Journey From Injury Inspires Local Youth

By Laura Silvius

Students from East Hanover Middle School and East Hanover Central School learned about the virtues of persistence and hope Wednesday from someone who knows better than most.

Woodbridge native Eric LeGrand was at the height of his college football career, in his junior year playing for Rutgers University, when he was injured in a game against the Army Black Knights in October 2010. He broke two of his vertebrae and was paralyzed from the neck down.

Despite the injury, LeGrand continuted his coursework at Rutgers via Skype and wrote a book entitled "BELieve: My Faith and the Tackle That Changed My Life." When he spoke at East Hanover Middle School Wednesday, several students brought copies of his book for him to sign.

LeGrand spoke to students about not giving up, about keeping faith and hope alive even when it seems all is lost.