Marcus Griffin facts for kids

Marcus Kevin Griffin was born on January 4, 1985. He is a former American football player who played as a safety. A safety is a player on defense who helps stop long passes and tackles players who break through the main defense. Marcus played college football for the University of Texas. After college, he hoped to join the NFL, but he was not chosen in the 2008 draft. However, he was later signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, meaning he joined the team without being drafted. He has a twin brother, Michael, who also played football with him at Texas.

Marcus Griffin's Early Life and High School Football

Marcus Griffin went to Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. His coach there was Jeff Ables. During his senior year, Marcus was recognized as one of the best players in Central Texas by the Austin American-Statesman newspaper. He was also named to the first team for his district in both offense (when his team had the ball) and defense (when his team tried to stop the other team).

As a defensive player, he made 82 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players 82 times. Of these, 62 were solo tackles, where he stopped the player by himself. He also caught 3 interceptions, meaning he caught passes meant for the other team. Plus, he recovered 1 fumble, which is when a player drops the ball and it's picked up by another team. Marcus also played quarterback on offense, where he threw for 1,028 yards and ran for 560 yards.

Marcus Griffin's College Football Career at Texas

Marcus Griffin started his college football journey at the University of Texas (UT) in 2003. He joined the team as a walk-on, which means he wasn't given a scholarship right away but earned his spot on the team. He was a strong safety and had a great first year as a starter, earning UT's Outstanding Defensive Newcomer Award. During his five years in college, he made a total of 227 tackles and caught 6 interceptions.

Starting Out as a Redshirt Freshman

In 2004, Marcus began playing for the Longhorns as a redshirt freshman. A redshirt year means a player practices with the team but doesn't play in games, which helps them develop. That year, he played in all 12 games. He made 10 tackles, with 7 of them coming from special teams. Special teams are units that play during kickoffs, punts, and field goals.

Playing in the 2005 Season

In 2005, Marcus played in all 13 games for the 2005 Texas Longhorns football team. He played as a free safety and also on special teams. During this season, he recorded 32 tackles.

The 2006 Season and Injuries

In 2006, Marcus played in 11 games for the 2006 Texas Longhorns football team, starting in 10 of them as a strong safety. He missed two games against Rice and Baylor because of an injury. Despite the injury, he was named a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree, which means he was recognized for his good grades as well as his football skills. He also received UT's Outstanding Defensive Newcomer award again.

A Strong Senior Year in 2007

Marcus had an excellent senior season in 2007. He was a leader for the Longhorns, making 99 tackles, which was the most on the team. He also had 5 interceptions, showing his skill at stopping the other team's passes.

Marcus Griffin's Family Life

Marcus has a twin brother named Michael Griffin. Michael also played as a defensive back at the University of Texas. Michael was chosen in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, which is a big achievement. Marcus and Michael's parents, Ronald and Mae, both retired from serving in the United States Armed Forces.