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With job on the line, Eagles' Grugier-Hill ready for another battle

The Eagles will enter camp with eight linebackers. NFL teams typically keep six or seven on their 53-man roster.

Kamu Grugier-Hill runs a drill during Eagles minicamp in June.
Kamu Grugier-Hill runs a drill during Eagles minicamp in June.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

Eagles linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill has long been well-traveled. The second-year player was born in Hawaii, started playing football during high school in Honolulu, and accepted a scholarship to play at Eastern Illinois. Grugier-Hill was drafted in last year's sixth round by New England, was cut by the Patriots in September, and signed with the Eagles the next day.

So it isn't at all surprising how Grugier-Hill has spent his time before the Eagles open training camp on Monday. Mini-camp ended June 15, and nine days later, Grugier-Hill and teammates were in Turks & Caicos for Jordan Hicks' wedding. He hadn't seen his parents in a while, so his next stop was Honolulu — followed by an early arrival to a workout in Philadelphia days before next week's camp, where Grugier-Hill's job as a reserve linebacker will be on the line.

"It's obviously a big year for me," Grugier-Hill said bluntly. "I just have to focus on myself. It's day by day, and when it comes to training camp and the preseason, that's really when I have to step it up."

The Eagles enter camp with eight linebackers after drafting Nebraska's Nathan Gerry in the fifth round in April. NFL teams typically keep six or seven on their 53-man roster, depending on the needs of special teams.

As a rookie, Grugier-Hill appeared in 12 games for the Eagles, primarily on special teams. The 23-year-old had eight tackles, including one on defense. He played a single snap all year at linebacker, tackling Cleveland running back Duke Johnson for a 6-yard loss.

The Eagles had claimed him Sept. 4, and Grugier-Hill was out there on special teams against the Browns a week later. If the Eagles choose to keep an extra linebacker, it would be for special-teams help. Nonetheless, the continuity of a full off-season with the Eagles has helped Grugier-Hill acclimate to their defense.

"It was definitely hard," Grugier-Hill said. "You just have to learn quick or you're not going to last. I was joking around with my position coach that I already know way more than I learned from last season. It's definitely a lot easier and a lot more comfortable since I know everyone now."

As the Patriots pulled off their improbable comeback in Super Bowl LI, Grugier-Hill endured watching his initial organization hoist the Lombardi Trophy. It's a motivator, he said, but more so for payback against his former teammates in New England.

"It sucks. I actually became really close with the rookies there," Grugier-Hill said of the Patriots. "We spent a lot of time together coming in. I had a lot of my friends there, and they were all texting me and showing off. But I'm glad to be here. It just gives all of us the motivation to want to be there. I really think we have a good team and that we can do it."

The Eagles will start finalizing their 53-man active roster once training camp opens next week. There will certainly be discussions on whether to include Grugier-Hill on that roster.

Grugier-Hill is used to this kind of unknown. After high school in Honolulu, he was expecting to play junior-college ball in California before Eastern Illinois called. Out of an FCS program, he was drafted in the late rounds, cut, and now has to prove himself once more.

"It's been a crazy ride, to be honest," Grugier-Hill said. "A bunch of mixed emotions, culture shocks and having to adapt to new things really fast. I think that's what has made me a better and stronger person. I'm really thankful for everything."