ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF junior outside linebacker Shaquem Griffin was tabbed as The American Defensive Player of the Week by the league office on Monday.
Griffin shined at Houston by registering a career-high and game-high 14 tackles, including 12 solo stops. He also was credited for three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
The St. Petersburg, Fla., native, who has only one hand due to a birth defect, also grabbed his first-collegiate interception and recovered a fumble.
Nationally, Griffin ranks sixth in sacks with 1.06 per game and 11th in tackles for loss with 1.5 per contest. He also leads the conference in sacks and sits at ninth in tackles per game with 7.2.
Following the contest with the Cougars, Griffin met one of his admirers Juliana Linton, an 11-year old competitive cheerleader that received a bionic arm from Limbitless Solutions back in March. Shaquem and Juliana were each diagnosed with the same birth defect, amniotic band syndrome. Read more about her story here.
The Knights return home for three straight games on Saturday against Tulane. The kick is set for 5 p.m. on WatchESPN.