American football linebacker Shaquem Griffina joins the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League following the 2018 NFL Draft. After overcoming a birth defect that had his left hand amputated as a child , Griffin’s historic signing in 2018 made him the first amputee to play in the NFL. Shaquem Griffin, an impressive trailblazer, is poised to make even more history in the league.
Shaquem Griffin biography
Shaquem Alphonso Griffin was born in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 20, 1995, about 60 seconds after his identical twin brother, Shaquill Griffin. He was born with amniotic band syndrome, a congenital condition that resulted in underdevelopment of the left hand/fingers. He eventually underwent an amputation procedure at the age of 4 after being rescued by his mother after an attempted self-amputation.
Despite the physical challenge, Shaquem Griffin had a complete childhood as he remained an active athlete from the age of 5. He attended Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he played football, baseball, and track. In his senior year, Griffin was the state long jump champion and also ranked fifth in the nation for the triple jump. For his outstanding performances, he was named Tampa Bay Track and Field Athlete of the Year, alongside his equally spectacular brother, Shaquill.
Just like his achievements in athletics, Shaquem Griffin was also a football star. He earned second-team all-state honors his senior year with 67 assists and two steals. By the time he graduated from high school, he was widely considered a 3-star recruit. Shaquem has received college scholarship offers in football and athletics. He eventually opted for the University of Central Florida (UCF) football scholarship alongside his brother.
After playing in just one game in his first season with the UCF Knights football team, Shaquem Griffin redshirted his freshman season. He made 39 total appearances from his redshirt freshman season compiling 18.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for a loss. Among other highlights of his college career, Griffin won the 2016 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Defensive Player of the Year award during his junior season. The talented player led the UFC Knights to a spectacular 13-0 unbeaten run in his final senior year and also earned Defensive MVP honors at the 2018 Peach Bowl, where the Knights edged the Eastern Tigers. ‘Auburn.
On March 29, 2018, Shaquem Griffin received an invite to the 2018 NFL Draft. He got a lot of media attention due to the fact that no one-handed player had ever made it to the NFL. Griffin finally made history on April 28, 2018, when he was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks as the 141st overall pick. The following month, the talented player signed a 4-year contract with the franchise, worth $2.8 million.
His brother and his family
Just like Shaquem, his twin brother ShaquillGriffin is also an NFL star who plays the corner with the Seattle Seahawks. The two have remained inseparable since birth, with Shaquill turning down several scholarships, including one from his dream team, in order to stay close to his brother.
They ended up playing college footballHowever, together at the University of Central Florida, Shaquill turned pro a year earlier than his brother, as he joined the Seahawks in the 2017 NFL Draft. by the Seahawks in the 2018 NFL Draft was indeed a dream come true for the twins as they reunited to pursue their longtime passion. The Griffin twins also dream of living side by side in childhood.
Tangie Griffin, Shaquem Griffin’s mother, works as a medical data analyst. Her father, Terry Griffin, worked as a tow truck operator. Thanks to his father’s ingenuity at the time, Shaquem never felt disadvantaged growing up. His father built several devices that helped his talented son train adequately for his sports career.
Height, weight and body measurements
Shaquem Griffin stands at an impressive height of 183cm (6ft) and maintains his athletic physique at a weight of 103kg (227lbs). The length of his arm is 0.82 m (32 1/2) and the height of his hand is 0.23 m. In addition to these physical attributes, Griffin is equally fast and versatile.