ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Former UCF defensive back Shaquill Griffin has become the 36th Knight to hear his name called in the NFL Draft. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round, with the 90th overall pick Friday evening.
Griffin had a breakout season in 2016, earning second team all-conference honors in The American. On the year, he grabbed a team high four interceptions and broke up 15 passes, which tied for the second most in a single season in UCF history.
With 19 passes defended, he ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference in the category. For his career, Griffin had 29 pass breakups, which ranks as the ninth most all-time at UCF. His four interceptions in 2016 ranked No. 31 in the nation and No. 5 in The American.
In addition to his ball-hawking skills, Griffin was also a force bringing ball-carriers to the turf. He racked up a total of 50 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage in his senior season.
In four seasons with the Black and Gold, Griffin totaled 125 tackles, 36 passes defended and seven interceptions. He also ran two picks back for touchdowns and blocked one kick as a Knight.
Following the 2016 season, Griffin wowed NFL personnel at the league's annual Scouting Combine. Griffin ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. It was the fourth-best time for a defensive back of the 50 at the Combine. He also earned Combine "Top Performer" status in the broad jump and vertical jump. He ranked second in the broad jump (132 inches) and third in the vertical jump (38.5 inches).
Griffin becomes the 14th UCF player picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft and he is the 10th Knights defensive back drafted by an NFL squad. He is now the third highest UCF defensive back draftee, coming in behind only Josh Robinson (66th) and his position coach, Travis Fisher (64th).
Fisher, who was a second-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2002, served as Griffin's position coach in both 2015 and 2016. Fisher is the only defensive back from UCF to be taken in the first two rounds of the draft.
Shaquill Griffin Draft Notes
- 36th UCF player selected in NFL Draft
- 17th UCF defensive player selected in NFL Draft
- 10th UCF defensive back selected in NFL Draft
- Corris Ervin, 1988
- Raymond Irvin, 1991
- Paul Miranda, 1999
- Travis Fisher, 2002
- Asante Samuel, 2003
- Joe Burnett, 2009
- Josh Robinson, 2012
- Kemal Ishmael, 2013
- Clayton Geathers, 2015
- 14th UCF player selected in first three rounds of NFL Draft
- 3rd UCF defensive back selected in first three rounds of NFL Draft
- Travis Fisher (2nd round, 64th overall)
- Josh Robinson (3rd round, 66th overall)
- 2nd UCF player drafted by Seattle
- Bob Spitulski, 1992
Griffin, a St. Petersburg, Fla. native earned a degree in human communications from UCF in December.
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