While at least seven former Vanderbilt players and athletic administrators are currently university athletic directors, Gragg was the first Commodore football alumnus to become AD of a major Division I university. He spoke on campus the day before being honored, sharing his personal experiences as a Vanderbilt undergraduate and the life lessons he has learned that set him on his current path. Gragg is author of 40 Days of Direction: Life Lessons from the Talented Ten (2015, 3G Publishing), which draws from his experiences at Vanderbilt with his closest friends—a group of 10 African American students called “DaFellaz.” The book is intended as a guide primarily for male athletes in high school and college to use as a blueprint for success in life.