One of the best stories of this year’s NFL Draft was the Seahawks taking Shaquem Griffin, a linebacker out of UCF that has been playing with one hand. He stood out in the NFL Combine and it resulted in getting his name called.
According to NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz, Seahawks Head Coach Pete Caroll said that Griffin was so aggressive in his first practice with the team that the team had to calm him down.
“We had to slow him down some early on in the practice and in the walkthrough; he was going too hard,” said Caroll. “So we had to chill him out a little bit. But he’s very excited about being here.”
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also added that Carroll praised Griffin’s strength and agility.
“He’s big and fast and had a good feel for what’s going on,” said Carroll. “Obviously, Shaquill Griffin had done a little bit of tutoring—he was ahead of us a little bit with his learning, which was good.”
Griffin will play for a spot on special teams. He knows that nothing is guaranteed and that’s what motivates him even more.
“Everybody’s out here fighting to get a spot, fighting to get on the 53-man roster,” said Griffin. (ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) “That’s what I don’t want nobody to get beside of because no spots are a given out there. You’ve got to work your butt off.”
“This is a great team, and you’re going to learn from great leaders and great players, and the only thing you have to do is keep working your butt off, and eventually you’re going to get to where you want to go.”
It’s good to see Griffin’s intensity level high already as he continues his remarkable story to the NFL. Don’t be surprised if he’s on Seattle’s roster for Week 1.
