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This week, a young athlete took centre stage at the NFL combine scouting camp in a display of courage and defiance. Shaquem Griffin proved to scouts and the wider sporting community that overcoming adversity to compete as an athlete at the top level is by no means impossible.
Griffin became an internet sensation as his will-power and drive came to embody the power of sport helping young people to conquer their fears and overcome both physical and psychological setbacks.
When Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin came to the scouting combine, he knew he’d face skepticism from NFL teams. His invite to the NFL Combine came late despite an outstanding Senior Bowl week, his status as the 2016 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and an eye-opening 12-tackle, 1.5-sack game against Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
Griffin knew he’d have doubters for one reason: He achieved everything in college without a left hand. Griffin’s hand was amputated at age four because a rare birth condition called amniotic band syndrome had prevented his fingers from fully developing and caused great physical pain. That didn’t stop Griffin, who attended UCF with twin brother Shaquill, who was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2017 draft and is now one of the up-and-coming cornerbacks in the league.
However, none of that mattered for Shaquem’s professional prospects. He went to scouting combine to prove he could back up everything on his tape with a level of athleticism commensurate with NFL talent. Griffin certainly wasted no time in doing so, amazing everybody by completing 20 reps in the 225-pound bench press with a prosthetic device clamped to the weight bar. Griffin then ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash on his first attempt at Lucas Oil Stadium, the same time his brother acheived the year before, but Shaquem being 33 pounds heavier.
“So many people are going to have doubts about what I can do, and obviously, it started at the bench press,” Griffin said after he completed his 20 reps. “Some people think I can do three, some people think I can do five, some people didn’t think I could do the bench press. But I did it and competed with everybody else and did 20, and that’s just one step closer to everything I need to accomplish. There’s going to be a lot more doubters saying what I can’t do, and I’m ready to prove them wrong.”
Before meeting with Griffin, Vikings GM Rick Spielman said that, based on tape, Griffin would be evaluated as any other football player.
“Very unique player,” Spielman said. “I haven’t had an opportunity to meet him yet, but outstanding kid. He’s very exciting to watch because he just plays with his heart, with passion, and he gives you everything he has on every snap. I don’t think his having one hand should be a factor, he’s shown he can be productive at a high level against some high-level competition. I think each team will make that determination, but we think he’s a heck of a football player, and that won’t be a factor for us.”
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