He lost his left hand when he was four years old. His team was “robbed” of a national championship. At first, he wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine. But time and time again, Shaquem Griffin has proved everyone wrong. He had 12 tackles, including 1.5 sacks in the Peach Bowl against Auburn. He ran a 4.38 40 yard dash at the Combine. Now, he has a chance to shine with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
This pick is special for so many reasons, but none more touching than family. Shaquem’s twin brother, Shaquill, was a third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2017. Not only are the brothers on the same team again, but they have a chance to shine together. Shaquill is currently listed as the number one cornerback on the roster after the Seahawks parted way with All-Pro Richard Sherman. Shaquem might not get a chance to start right away, but as any college football fan knows, he can prove us all wrong. The Seahawks might need some pass rushing depth, and Shaquem just might be the guy to help. If he isn’t able to get on the field a lot on defense, he will definitely be able to wow people as a gunner on special teams. His speed and strength give him the potential to be a Pro Bowler as a special teamer.
The Seahawks might have gotten rid of a lot of key players this offseason, like Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, but they’ve definitely brought in a fan favorite. While he might not be on the field a lot next season, expect his jersey to be among the top sellers. The Seahawks did a great thing by giving Shaquem a chance, and by pairing him with his twin brother, it makes the story that much more impressive. Be sure to keep your eye out for the Griffin brothers this year as they ball out in 2018.