Grant Frerking is a former University of Tennessee football player and entrepreneur whose career has included college football, the ground-cover business, and the rapidly developing name, image, and likeness (NIL) industry.
He first attracted attention as a teenager after starting Metro Straw, a pine straw and mulch company. He later played wide receiver as a walk-on at Tennessee and moved into the business side of college athletics through On3 and NIL-related work. The University of Tennessee says he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management in 2021 and was pursuing a master’s degree in management and human resources.
His public profile changed significantly in 2025 after media investigations reported customer complaints involving prepaid pine straw and mulch orders, followed by a police investigation and an arrest warrant in Georgia. Those reports involve allegations, and they should not be treated as proof of criminal guilt.
This article separates the verified parts of Frerking’s biography from claims that remain uncertain.
Quick Facts About Grant Frerking
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Grant Thomas Frerking |
| Date of birth | April 28, 1999 |
| Birthplace/background | Atlanta, Georgia area |
| Profession | Entrepreneur and former sports/NIL executive |
| College | University of Tennessee |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management |
| Football position | Wide receiver |
| Tennessee career | 2017–2022 |
| Former company | Metro Straw |
| Former sports employer | On3 |
| Known for | Entrepreneurship, Tennessee football and NIL work |
| Legal controversy | 2025 Georgia investigation and arrest warrant |
| Marital status | Not reliably established in the sources reviewed |
| Verified net worth | Not publicly established |
The University of Tennessee’s official biography identifies his full name, birth date, family background, education, football history and entrepreneurial activities.
Who Is Grant Frerking?
Grant Frerking is an American entrepreneur and former college football player who became involved in the business side of college athletics.
Rather than building his public profile primarily through football statistics, Frerking became known for entrepreneurship and his work around NIL. He founded Metro Straw as a teenager and later worked with On3, where his responsibilities included athlete network development and NIL education.
His Tennessee career also gave him a connection to one of the most recognizable college football programs in the United States. He spent six seasons with the Volunteers and was part of the team’s leadership structure before completing his college career after the 2022 season.
Early Life and Family Background
Frerking grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and attended Wesleyan School.
According to Tennessee’s official biography, he is the son of Susan and Bill Frerking. His father played basketball at the University of Missouri, while his siblings also pursued college athletics. His brother Andrew played football at Baylor, while his sisters Katie and Lauren competed in college sports.
His early exposure to sports and business became important parts of his later career.
Rather than waiting until after college to enter the business world, Frerking started a company while still a teenager.
Education and Tennessee Football Career
Frerking attended the University of Tennessee and played wide receiver for the Volunteers.
The Tennessee roster lists him as a walk-on receiver who spent six seasons with the program. He played in 13 career games and recorded three catches during his Tennessee career. His role was therefore different from that of a major statistical contributor, but he became known within the program for his leadership and work away from the field.
He completed his undergraduate degree in supply chain management in May 2021. The university also listed him as pursuing graduate studies in management and human resources.
His college years were important for another reason: they overlapped with the rapid growth of NIL opportunities in college sports.
How Grant Frerking Started Metro Straw
One of the most notable parts of Frerking’s early career was Metro Straw.
He reportedly started the ground-cover company at age 15 while attending Wesleyan School. The business focused on pine straw and mulch services for residential and commercial customers.
A 2022 profile from the University of Tennessee described Metro Straw as one of the largest ground-cover solutions companies in the Southeast, with operations in several cities. BusinessWire similarly reported that the company had grown into a million-dollar business serving customers across five states.
A 2022 profile from Teknovation provided additional context, reporting that the company had expanded substantially while Frerking was still a college student.
The business helped establish Frerking’s reputation as a young entrepreneur before he moved more deeply into the sports and NIL industries.
Did Grant Frerking Sell Metro Straw?
Yes. Available reporting indicates that Frerking was no longer associated with Metro Straw after selling the business in 2021.
This distinction became particularly important during the 2025 controversy because customers later alleged that Frerking continued to market pine straw and mulch services despite no longer being associated with the company.
Metro Straw’s current website specifically states that the company and Frerking have parted ways and that the business is not affiliated with him.
That means references to Metro Straw should be understood as part of Frerking’s earlier entrepreneurial history, not evidence that he currently owns or operates the company.
Grant Frerking’s Move Into NIL
After his college football career, Frerking became increasingly involved in NIL and athlete marketing.
On3 announced in December 2022 that it would hire him as director of On3 Athlete Network Development. The company highlighted his experience as an entrepreneur and his understanding of the challenges facing athletes entering the NIL marketplace.
His responsibilities were connected to helping athletes understand and navigate opportunities involving their name, image and likeness.
He also became associated with NIL University, an On3 initiative designed to provide resources and guidance for athletes, representatives, collectives and colleges. Tennessee’s official biography identifies him as president of NIL University and says he was named among On3’s Top 25 Most Influential Figures in NIL.
What Was Grant Frerking’s Role at On3?
Frerking worked on the business and development side of On3’s NIL operation.
His LinkedIn profile identifies him with On3 and describes a career centered around sports, entertainment and entrepreneurship.
On3’s own earlier announcement described his role as director of On3 Athlete Network Development and explained that the Athlete Network was intended to help athletes understand their NIL valuations and identify revenue opportunities.
According to later reporting, Frerking’s employment with On3 ended on May 27, 2025, following allegations involving his outside business activities.
Grant Frerking and Tennessee Football
Frerking’s relationship with Tennessee athletics continued after his playing career.
The university announced in December 2022 that he would become a member of the Tennessee Fund’s Shareholders Society through a philanthropic gift. Tennessee described him as an entrepreneur and former player who had spent six seasons with the Volunteers.
Later reporting revealed that he also had a consulting relationship with Tennessee football.
Front Office Sports reported that the university had hired Frerking as a consultant to advise coaches, staff and players on NIL-related matters and broader college-football developments. The report said the agreement paid $7,500 every six months, with the final payment scheduled for January 2025.
FootballScoop separately reported that the arrangement represented a two-year contract worth $30,000.
The situation attracted attention because Frerking was also working with On3. On3 founder Shannon Terry said the company had not known about Frerking’s relationship with Tennessee and claimed Frerking had been instructed not to engage with the university or its associated collective.
Why Did Grant Frerking Become a News Story in 2025?
The major change in Frerking’s public profile came in 2025.
News organizations reported that multiple customers had accused him of accepting advance payments for pine straw and mulch services that were not completed.
Atlanta News First reported that residents in the Atlanta area had made complaints involving payments for ground-cover services that they said were not delivered. The station later reported that more than two dozen customers had made allegations.
These reports should be described as allegations and customer complaints, rather than as established criminal conduct.
Frerking disputed the characterization and told Atlanta News First that customers had either received installations, been refunded, or were in the process of receiving refunds. He also said he intended to complete the refunds.
What Are the Legal Issues Involving Grant Frerking?
The legal controversy centers on allegations involving advance payments for pine straw and mulch.
According to WSMV, police in Roswell, Georgia, obtained an arrest warrant for Frerking on a charge of theft by deception. The report said investigators had identified multiple police reports from customers who alleged that they paid money in advance but did not receive the promised ground-cover services.
Atlanta News First later reported that Roswell police had issued the warrant and that investigators had identified 10 police reports across several metro Atlanta jurisdictions involving Frerking.
The reported allegations involved several different customers and jurisdictions. Some customers subsequently received refunds.
Because these are allegations connected to a criminal investigation, it is important not to describe Frerking as convicted or guilty unless a court has established that outcome.
Was Grant Frerking Arrested?
Public reporting reviewed for this article confirms that a Georgia arrest warrant was issued in July 2025.
WSMV reported that the warrant was for theft by deception and that authorities said Frerking had agreed to surrender himself but had not provided a surrender date at the time of the report.
Atlanta News First reported the same point later in July, stating that authorities said Frerking had agreed to surrender but had not provided a date.
However, I could not verify a reliable later source establishing that he was ultimately arrested, convicted, acquitted, or that the warrant was otherwise resolved. For that reason, this article should not claim a final criminal outcome that cannot be verified.
What Happened to Customers Who Paid for Services?
Reports indicate that some customers received refunds after the allegations became public.
Atlanta News First reported several examples, including refunds to individual customers and a larger group of customers in one subdivision. The station said Frerking told them he expected all refunds to be completed within 30 days.
This is an important part of the story because the customer disputes were not simply about the existence of payments. The central issue reported by investigators was whether services were delivered after payments were made.
Frerking’s own response, as reported by Atlanta News First, was that customers had either received their installations, been refunded, or were in the process of receiving refunds.
Grant Frerking Net Worth: What Can Actually Be Verified?
There is no reliable public figure that establishes Grant Frerking’s current net worth.
Some websites publish estimates ranging from several million dollars to much higher amounts, but those figures are not supported by audited financial statements, verified asset disclosures, or other strong evidence. One frequently indexed biography page even contains conflicting financial figures within the same article, which makes it unsuitable as evidence of a precise net worth.
What can be verified is that Frerking had significant entrepreneurial exposure at a young age.
Metro Straw was described by BusinessWire as a million-dollar business, while other profiles reported substantial revenue expectations for the company during its earlier expansion. Those figures describe a company’s business activity, not Frerking’s personal wealth.
Likewise, compensation reported for his Tennessee consulting agreement should not be confused with net worth. A salary, contract payment, company revenue, and personal assets are four different financial measures.
Bottom line: a precise current Grant Frerking net worth cannot responsibly be stated from the reliable public evidence reviewed.
Is Grant Frerking on LinkedIn?
Yes. A public LinkedIn profile under Grant Frerking identifies him with On3 and lists a professional background involving sports, entertainment and athlete development. The profile also shows his connection to the Nashville area and his work in the NIL space.
There are also multiple people named Grant Frerking online, so readers should be careful when attributing information from social-media or professional-network profiles to the former Tennessee football player.
Is Grant Frerking From Tennessee?
No. Frerking is associated with the Atlanta, Georgia, area rather than being originally from Tennessee.
The University of Tennessee lists his hometown as Atlanta, Georgia, and identifies Wesleyan School as his high school.
His connection to Tennessee came primarily through his college football career at the University of Tennessee, his later consulting work with the football program, and his professional activity in Nashville.
This explains why searches for Grant Frerking Tennessee remain common even though he was originally from Georgia.
Does Grant Frerking Have a Girlfriend?
Reliable public sources reviewed for this article do not establish the identity of a current girlfriend or spouse.
Some online discussions make claims about his personal relationships, but those sources are not strong enough to present a private relationship as established fact.
For a biography focused on verifiable information, it is better to state that his current relationship status has not been reliably confirmed than to repeat an unverified name.
Grant Frerking’s Professional Timeline
2010s: Early entrepreneurship
Frerking started Metro Straw while still a teenager. The company focused on pine straw and mulch services and eventually expanded beyond the Atlanta area.
2017–2022: Tennessee football
He joined the University of Tennessee football program as a walk-on wide receiver and remained with the program for six seasons.
2021: Metro Straw transition
Available reporting indicates that Frerking sold or left Metro Straw in 2021. The company’s current website says it is no longer affiliated with him.
2021–2025: On3 and NIL
He moved into the sports business and NIL sector, eventually becoming associated with On3 Athlete Network development and NIL University.
2022: End of Tennessee playing career
Frerking’s final Tennessee season ended with the 2022 Orange Bowl period, after which the university announced his participation in its Shareholders Society.
2023–2025: Tennessee consulting relationship
Later reporting revealed that Frerking had also worked as a paid consultant for Tennessee football, advising the program on off-field and NIL-related matters.
2025: Legal controversy
In June and July 2025, media investigations reported customer complaints, a police investigation and an arrest warrant related to allegations involving prepaid pine straw and mulch orders.
What Is Known About Grant Frerking’s Current Status?
The most reliable public information reviewed establishes that his On3 employment ended in May 2025 and that Tennessee did not plan to renew his consulting relationship.
The legal reporting from July 2025 confirms the issuance of a Georgia arrest warrant and says authorities indicated that Frerking had agreed to surrender.
Beyond that point, the publicly accessible sources reviewed do not provide enough reliable information to state a definitive later legal outcome.
That limitation matters. A responsible biography should distinguish between what was reported at the time and what has been legally established.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Grant Frerking?
Grant Frerking is a former University of Tennessee football player and entrepreneur who became known for starting Metro Straw as a teenager and later working in the NIL industry with On3.
How old is Grant Frerking?
Grant Frerking was born April 28, 1999.
What did Grant Frerking do at Tennessee?
He played wide receiver as a walk-on for six seasons and later worked as a consultant for Tennessee football, according to reporting about his consulting agreement.
What is Grant Frerking known for?
He is known for his early entrepreneurship with Metro Straw, his Tennessee football career, and his work in the NIL industry with On3.
What is Grant Frerking’s net worth?
There is no reliably verified public figure for his current personal net worth. Online estimates are inconsistent and are not supported by sufficient financial evidence.
What happened to Grant Frerking’s Metro Straw business?
Frerking started Metro Straw as a teenager and later left or sold the business. The current Metro Straw website says the company is no longer affiliated with him.
Why was an arrest warrant issued for Grant Frerking?
According to WSMV and Atlanta News First, Roswell police issued an arrest warrant related to a theft-by-deception allegation after customers reported paying for pine straw and mulch services that they said were not delivered.
Was Grant Frerking convicted?
The reliable sources reviewed for this article confirm the 2025 arrest warrant but do not establish a final conviction. The allegations should therefore not be presented as a conviction.
Is Grant Frerking married?
A reliable current source confirming a marriage was not identified in the research reviewed.
Does Grant Frerking have a girlfriend?
His current relationship status has not been reliably confirmed by the sources reviewed.
Where is Grant Frerking from?
He is from the Atlanta, Georgia, area. He attended Wesleyan School before playing college football at Tennessee.
Conclusion
Grant Frerking’s story combines college football, teenage entrepreneurship, the growth of NIL, and a later legal controversy that received significant media attention in 2025.
The verifiable part of his career is substantial. He founded Metro Straw as a teenager, played six seasons at Tennessee, earned a degree in supply chain management, moved into NIL and athlete development through On3, and later worked as a consultant for Tennessee football.
The most sensitive part of his biography is the 2025 controversy. Multiple media reports documented customer complaints and a Georgia arrest warrant alleging theft by deception. Frerking also disputed aspects of the allegations and said refunds or installations had been completed or were being addressed.
Because the sources reviewed do not establish a final criminal disposition, the responsible way to describe the matter is as an investigation and arrest-warrant controversy, not as a proven conviction.
For readers researching Grant Frerking, the strongest sources are official Tennessee records, primary company information, professional profiles, and established news reporting rather than unsupported celebrity-biography sites.
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