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Former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, seen here speaking at St. Philip's Academy Commencement in 2012.

(Jerry McCrea/The Star-Ledger)

A Rutgers official asked Eric LeGrand on Saturday night to deliver the keynote speech at the university's May 18 commencement. Less than 48 hours later, another university official called LeGrand to inform him that the school had "decided to go in another direction for political reasons."

A blindsided LeGrand was left searching for answers on Monday night.

"I just want an explanation," LeGrand told NJ.com in a phone interview. "I wish somebody would have given me a call tonight and explained to me why. Then I can understand, but don't just leave me hanging."

LeGrand, a former Rutgers defensive tackle paralyzed in a 2010 game, was in Sunrise, Fla., over the weekend for the "Wings for Life" race, a fundraiser for spinal cord research. While out to dinner with friends on Saturday night, LeGrand received a phone call from Greg Jackson, the chief of staff for Rutgers President Robert Barchi.

LeGrand was monitoring the commencement speaker situation after former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backed out amid controversy surrounding her selection. LeGrand hoped he would be asked to replace Rice.

"(Jackson) asked if I could do Rutgers a favor and give the commencement speech," said LeGrand, who is graduating after taking classes throughout his rehabilitation process. "I was like, 'Wow, thank you for offering.' He goes, 'Yeah, absolutely. Talk it over with your family this weekend. Let's touch base again Monday.' I was all amped all weekend. I was like, 'This is perfect. I'm going to have to give a speech to everybody.' "

LeGrand planned to officially accept the offer on Monday, although he considered that a mere formality based on the conversation with Jackson on Saturday night.

LeGrand's flight home to Avenel, N.J., was delayed on Monday afternoon so he called Jackson in the morning to push back a scheduled call to discuss logistics. Jackson said he was headed to a meeting and gave LeGrand no indication that anything had changed with the offer to speak at the commencement.

LeGrand, who has given motivational speeches across the country since his injury, spent his time on the flight thinking about what he would say to his fellow graduates.

"You have no idea how much I’ve been thinking about it," LeGrand said. "I was thinking all weekend long about what I could share with the students, my experiences. I was going to take them back before when I was getting recruited by Rutgers, what made me come here, and the things I learned here, and, of course, my injury and how great it's been since then."

But when LeGrand returned home around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, he received a phone call from Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann. LeGrand said his heart dropped when Hermann informed him that former Gov. Tom Kean had been announced as the commencement speaker on Monday afternoon.

"She told me, 'I was pushing for you, but President Barchi decided to go in another direction for political reasons. But he wants you to come to the ceremony. He wants to personally give you your degree,' " LeGrand said. "I just didn't know how to feel. I was hurt. They offered me this on Saturday and then they take it back on Monday. I was like, 'Why?' "

LeGrand said Jackson didn't answer two phone calls on Monday night. Rutgers officials didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday night.

LeGrand, a labor relations major, plans to attend the graduation ceremony for the School of Management and Labor Relations on May 17, the day before the university-wide commencement at High Point Solutions Stadium. LeGrand hasn't decided if he'll attend that ceremony to receive his diploma from Barchi.

LeGrand was still trying to make sense of the "very bizarre" situation on Monday night.

"I just feel like I was offered something and it was taken back and I don't know the reasons why," LeGrand said. "I wasn't told the reasons why. I thought I was a good fit for the position to do it. I thought I could do the job, but I guess they thought different."

UPDATED 1:06 P.M.: Rutgers released the following statement from Barchi:

"Eric LeGrand will speak at our Commencement and personally receive his degree from me as a representative of the Class of 2014.

It was never our intention that Eric would be the only speaker. We have resolved that miscommunication and are delighted to have him participate.

Eric holds a special place in the hearts of the Class of 2014 and the entire university community. We are thrilled that he will be joining us on stage to make this special occasion ever more memorable."