Background
Grove was born in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Grove was born in Johnson City, Tennessee.
He played college football for Virginia Technical, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played for the NFL"s Miami Dolphins.He is now a lineman coach at Jefferson Forest High School. He played high school football at Jefferson Forest High School in Forest, Virginia.
While attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Grove played for coach Frank Beamer"s Virginia Technical Hokies football team from 2000 to 2003.
In recognition of his outstanding college career as a Hokie, Virginia Technical retired his jersey number in 2006. Oakland Raiders
Grove was drafted in the second round (45th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, where he played from 2004 to 2008.
But in the 2007 NFL season, Jeremy Newberry became the starting center, as Grove started only two games for the 4-12 team He got his job back in the 2008 NFL season, starting in 12 games, though the team"s fortune stayed poor with a 5-11 record.
His Oakland tenure was hampered by injuries, and he only played in more than 10 games twice during his six seasons in Oakland.
Miami Dolphins
On March 2, 2009, Grove signed a five-year, $29 million ($145 million guaranteed) free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. The previous starting center for the Dolphins, Samson Satele, was traded to Grove"s old team, the Raiders. Grove suffered through another injury plagued year, playing in 12 games, starting 10 of them.
In the 2010 preseason, he suffered from nagging knee and shoulder injuries, and was cut by the Dolphins less than a year after signing his lucrative free agent contract in favor of Joe Berger.
He reportedly worked out for the Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots, but did not sign with another team, and is still a free agent.