Shaquem Griffin Is (Again) Proving the Eye Test Matters

Shaquem Griffin was one of the best defensive players in college football last year. The stats alone prove that not to mention the bevy of highlights.

He delivered a strong scouting combine and was lights out in interviews. By rights he should’ve been a high draft choice. Why? He passes the eye test. Productive? Yes. Good tape? Yes. Clean off-the-field record? That too. The only flaw teams could find with the kid aside from minor size or athletic question marks was the fact he was missing one hand. How can this kid play football with just one hand? It doesn’t make sense.

Except they completely missed the point. Griffin had already been showing throughout his time at UCF that it is possible to play football with one hand and play it well. This is often the problem teams run into during a draft. They’re so in pursuit of the perfect player that they can often bypass a really good one who doesn’t quite fit the traditional mold. Now the Seattle Seahawks appear to have themselves yet another defensive playmaker because they took the chance.

Seahawks got themselves a playmaker and a leader

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People are understandably worried about the demise of the Legion of Boom and the potential loss of so much leadership. That may not be an issue. Not only is Griffin a good player, he’s one who knows how to lead and inspire his teammates as UCF’s terrific year in 2017 proves. He was all over the field on Thursday night against Indianapolis, collecting nine total tackles including one for a loss.

His additional value as a pass rusher could give their front seven even more flexibility. The only drawback his hand would seem to indicate is getting interceptions and even there he’s shown he can snag them. The point is Griffen doesn’t need to be told about his disability. He lived with it his entire life. He thrived in football with it. The young man worked so hard to get where he is.

He’s not about to let the opportunity pass him by and it showed during that first game. People need to start judging him less as a handicapped person and more as just another football player. Once they start doing that, they’ll realize the Seahawks may have gotten themselves a good one.