An NFL draft prospect with one hand - who wasn't originally invited to the combine - dazzled the football world with his performance
Kevin C. Cox/Getty
- Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who plays with one hand after his left hand was amputated when he was four years old, dazzled at the NFL combine.
- Griffin did 20 reps during the bench press with a prosthetic hand, then ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest of any linebacker.
- Griffin received a late invitation to the combine and was considered a fringe prospect, but now may have elevated himself into the third or fourth round of the draft.
Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin became the star of the NFL Draft combine over the weekend with a dazzling performance.
Griffin, the 2016 American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, initially wasn't invited to the combine before receiving a late invitation.
Adding to Griffin's story is that he had to have his left hand amputated when he was four years old because of a congenital disease. Griffin has played one-handed his whole life and used a prosthetic hand gripped to the bar during the bench press, which is when he first turned heads.
Griffin told reporters that his goal was six reps of 225 lb. He did 20 at the combine.
Griffin told Sports Illustrated's Peter King that when he first got fitted for the prosthetic hand, he struggled to lift with it, saying he could barely bench the 45 lb bar. But he kept working on it and moved up to doing 20 reps of 225 lb.
"We went to go get it fitted for me, and when I started lifting, I could barely bench the bar," he said. "I mean, I'm shaking all over the place and the bar is falling, and I can't lift 45 pounds. But it just goes to show how much work I put in to get to this point."
Griffin continued to dazzle by running a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time of any linebacker since 2006, when ESPN began recording the times.
Griffin's time was the third-fastest of the combine, trailing only two wide receivers.
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's reaction to Griffin's time was revealing.
Some of the biggest names in the NFL tweeted their thoughts about Griffin's performance.
Some in the NFL world think Griffin's performance indicated how he could perform at the pro-level - relentlessly and with heart.
According to King, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton noted that some players will try to play through hand injuries during the season. Griffin, meanwhile, has played that his entire life and is accustomed to it, playing with high energy at every level.
Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman told Bleacher Report's Doug Farrar: "He's very exciting to watch on film 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, just because he's shown he can be productive at a high level against some high-level competition."
According to King, Griffin may have elevated himself from a sixth- or seventh-round pick to third- or fourth- with his performance. While some question the importance of combine tests, clearly Griffin is an example of how it can change a prospect's outlook.
The remarkable @Shaquemgriffin 40 yard dash. pic.twitter.com/Rk5Y6Y3Vj2
- Rich Eisen (@richeisen) March 4, 2018
Pete Carroll's reaction to Shaquem Griffin's 4.38 pic.twitter.com/YH3SwMcfLS
- Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 4, 2018
I would love to play with this guy! Salute @Shaquemgriffin ✊ https://t.co/2bfROH4l4I
- Von Miller (@VonMiller) March 4, 2018
Shaquem Griffin killing it.
- JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 4, 2018
If @Shaquemgriffin doesn't get drafted in the first two days the system is broken. Productive and performed well at the combine. Played well against high level competition.
- Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) March 4, 2018
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