Rapper Toosii Set To Play Football At Syracuse
In a move that feels ripped straight from a movie script, multi-platinum rapper Toosii is swapping the recording studio for the gridiron. The 25-year-old artist, born Nau’jour Grainger, announced he’s committing to play Division I football for Syracuse University. You read that right. The man behind the chart-topping hit “Favorite Song” is trading his microphone for a helmet and pads, proving that it’s never too late to chase a different kind of dream.
This isn’t some spur-of-the-moment decision. This summer, he hit pause on his music career, a bold move for someone with over five million Instagram followers and billions of streams. He’s been putting in the work, training relentlessly at NC State’s facilities in Raleigh, looking less like a rap star and more like a man on a mission.
“I’m chasing history,” Toosii said back in August. “First multi-platinum recording artist to go back to school and play DIVISION I football. Next year I’m gonna be on somebody’s team mark my words!”
From Syracuse To Stardom and Back Again
For Toosii, this isn’t just about playing football; it’s a homecoming. Born in Syracuse, he moved to North Carolina at age 12, where his music career eventually exploded. He became a household name with tracks like “Love Hurts” and the viral TikTok sensation “Favorite Song,” which climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went double-platinum. His albums, Poetic Pain and Naujour, have solidified his place in the music industry.
But the call of the field was too strong to ignore. When Syracuse coach Fran Brown reached out, Toosii knew it was a sign.
“To be born in Syracuse and move to North Carolina at age 12 and haven’t been back since. When Coach Fran called, I knew it was a sign from God,” Grainger said in his announcement. “So with that being said, Cuse I’m coming home.”
Can Toosii Actually Play?
Let’s be real, this is the question on everyone’s mind. It’s one thing to have a dream, but it’s another to compete at the D-I level, especially when your last competitive snaps were at Rolesville High School back in the 2015 season. He’s listed at 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, which is a bit undersized for a typical wide receiver.
But don’t count him out just yet. He’s expected to have four years of eligibility, and his highlight reel from high school shows a quick player who also returned kicks. He’s not walking on as a total novice. He drew interest from Duke and Sacramento State before choosing the Orange. This isn’t just a publicity stunt; it’s a genuine attempt to make a roster.
Will he be the next great walk-on story, or will this be a short-lived experiment? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for certain: Syracuse football just got a whole lot more interesting. And you can bet every sports fan and music lover will be tuning in to see if Toosii can turn his gridiron dream into a reality.
