Shaquem Griffin facts for kids
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Griffin with the University of Central Florida Knights in 2017
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| No. 49, 53 | |||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | July 20, 1995 St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 227 lb (103 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Florida) |
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| College: | UCF (2013–2017) | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 2018 / Round: 5 / Pick: 141 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Shaquem Alphonso Griffin (born July 20, 1995) is an American former professional linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played for four seasons.
Shaquem is the twin brother of Shaquill Griffin. Both brothers played college football at the University of Central Florida (UCF). When Shaquem was 4 years old, his left hand was amputated. Despite this, he became a highly watched player for the 2018 NFL draft. The Seattle Seahawks chose him in the fifth round, reuniting him with his brother Shaquill.
Griffin played with the Seahawks for three seasons. He then spent some time with the Miami Dolphins' practice squad in 2021. He retired from football in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Sports
Shaquem Alphonso Griffin was born on July 20, 1995, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was born just minutes after his twin brother, Shaquill. Shaquem was born with a condition called amniotic band syndrome. This condition affected his left hand, causing his fingers not to develop fully.
The pain in his hand was very strong. When he was 4 years old, his parents decided to have his hand amputated. Even without his left hand, Shaquem continued to play sports. He competed in track, baseball, and football alongside his brother.
High School Achievements
Griffin attended Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. He played safety on the football team. He helped his team reach the regional semifinals in 2012. He also earned honors like Second Team 5A All-State.
Shaquem was also a talented track and field athlete. He earned a letter in track for four years. He competed in events like the 4x100 relay, triple jump, shot put, and discus. He won the state title in the triple jump. He also broke two school records at Lakewood.
College Football Career
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaquem Griffin Linebacker |
St. Petersburg, Florida | Lakewood HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 4.63 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 70 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources: |
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Shaquem and Shaquill both received football scholarships to the University of Central Florida (UCF). Shaquill turned down offers from other teams to play with Shaquem. Shaquem played his entire college career at UCF. He made 17 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss.
Success at UCF
After a tough start, Shaquem's career took off when Scott Frost became the head coach in 2016. Griffin said that Coach Frost gave him the chance he had been waiting for. He took full advantage of this opportunity.
Griffin was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was also the Defensive MVP of the 2018 Peach Bowl. In his senior season, UCF had an amazing undefeated season. They then claimed a national championship.
Shaquem stayed at UCF one season longer than Shaquill. Shaquill was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2017. Shaquem continued to play for UCF for his final year. After college, Griffin received the 2019 NCAA Inspiration Award. This award honors athletes who have shown great strength in dealing with life challenges.
Professional Football Career
NFL Scouting Combine
Shaquem Griffin participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in March 2018. He impressed many people there. He performed 20 reps in the bench press while wearing a special hand. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds. This was the fastest time for a linebacker since official records began.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+3⁄8 in (1.84 m) |
227 lb (103 kg) |
32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) |
4.38 s | 1.53 s | 2.58 s | 6.95 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) |
9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
20 reps | ||
| All values from NFL Combine and Pro Day | ||||||||||||
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Griffin received a lot of attention before the 2018 NFL draft. Many people wondered if he would be the first one-handed player drafted into the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks
On April 28, 2018, the Seattle Seahawks selected Shaquem Griffin. He was the 141st pick overall in the fifth round. This pick reunited him with his brother Shaquill. On May 17, 2018, Griffin signed a four-year contract with the Seahawks.
Griffin made his preseason debut on August 9, 2018. He led his team in tackles in that game. He also led the Seahawks in total tackles for the entire 2018 NFL preseason. In his first NFL regular season game, he started as a linebacker. He finished his rookie season with 11 total tackles in 16 games. He also played an important role on special teams.
In the 2019 season, Griffin played in all 16 games. He continued to be a key player on special teams. He also contributed to the defense later in the season. In a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, Griffin recorded one sack.
Griffin was waived by the Seahawks in September 2020. However, he was quickly signed to the team's practice squad. He was later promoted back to the active roster. In Week 14 of the 2020 season, he recorded another sack against the New York Jets. He finished the 2020 season with one sack and nine total tackles.
Miami Dolphins and Retirement
On July 23, 2021, Griffin signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. He was later waived and re-signed to their practice squad. He was released from the practice squad in October 2021.
On August 24, 2022, Shaquem Griffin announced his retirement from football. He decided to join the NFL Legends Community. This group helps mentor current and former NFL players.
Personal Life
In high school, Shaquem Griffin received several awards. These included the United States Achievement Academy Student of Excellence Award. The mayor of St. Petersburg also gave him a "key to the city." Shaquem and his twin brother, Shaquill, started a track club in their hometown.
Works
- Shaquem Griffin & Shaquill Griffin with Mark Schlabach, Inseparable: How Family and Sacrifice Forged a Path to the NFL. (2019) ISBN: 978-0-7852-3081-6.
