Jonesville — There’s no such thing as growing up too fast in the game of football.

And no one knows that better than Block High School head coach Benny Vault Jr. He has watched his offensive lineman Grant Meiling grow from a 6-foot-1 freshman to a 6-foot-7 junior.

Vault said the growth spurt was difficult for Meiling to get used to, but he had to learn how to use his new size to his advantage.

“He’s a mammoth of a kid,” Vault said. “But he was soft-hearted, and he had to learn to get aggressive.”

Vault said the best way for Meiling to adapt to the physicality of the game was to simply play.

“I threw him into the fire, and let him play,” Vault said. “I was really hard on him. When he had a great play, I’d let him know that’s how he’s supposed to do it. When it’s bad, I really let him know.”

Meiling said going out and playing was the best teaching instrument he could’ve had.

“It took a lot of adjusting to get used to the intensity,” Meiling said. “I just had to learn on the fly.”

After years of training, Meiling said his knowledge of the game has grown just as fast as his height has. He also said he has worked on his foot speed and dropped a few pounds to help his cause.

Meiling went from 320 pounds to 290 pounds. Vault said Meiling’s size, knowledge and work ethic makes him college football material.

“I don’t recall him missing any workouts,” Vault said. “He attacks each drill with confidence.”

Meiling said his confidence has increased tenfold since his freshman year.

“My confidence is a lot higher than its ever been,” Meiling said. “Whatever coach asks me to do, I know I can do it.”

Meiling said his knowledge of the game helps him learn every aspect of what’s expected from him and the offense.

“I understand why we do certain things within our plays,” Meiling said. “I know our entire offense, and I know what everyone is doing.”

Vault said Meiling’s leadership as a lineman is important for his offense to be successful.

Block possesses a run-oriented team and players like Meiling are essential to his game plan.

“With what we do, it’s very important that we block,” Vault said.

When things go wrong on the offensive end, Vault said all fingers point to the linemen.

“If we don’t gain at least three yards, it is an unsuccessful play,” Vault said. “And unless it’s a fumble or a dropped pass, it is 100 percent the linemen’s fault.”

Meiling said the pressure can get nerve-racking at times.

“Sometimes it makes me nervous because I don’t want to mess up,” Meiling said. “If I mess up, I can’t really look to someone else.”

Vault said he sees it as a good thing to give Meiling so much responsibility.

“It’s one thing to keep him on his toes,” Vault said. “So he has to play good.”

Meiling said he’s ready for the season to start with two years of experience under his belt.

“I feel ready to play football,” Meiling said. “I’m really excited about the season.”

Meiling and the Bears hit the field in a three-game scrimmage featuring Mangham and Madison High School starting at 5 p.m. Friday.