Can you help with my sons truck?

My son has a 1998 chevy S10 pickup 2 wheel drive, 4 cyl, 5 speed, We thought the catalytic converter was bad, But now were thinking it may be the starter, It is grinding when you try to start it then it hesitates and just keeps cranking, I dont think its the battery cause it wouldnt grind like that. Would something with the clutch cause it to do that or do you think its the starter?