ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) -- Shaquem Griffin had to wait longer than anyone wanted him to. But when he was finally selected, it was incredible news. Shaquem was selected in the fifth round with the 141st pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In the end, it wasn't the when, it was the who that made the story.
Shaquem was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks, reuniting him on the same football team with his twin brother. Shaquill Griffin was a third-round choice by the Seahawks one year ago.
"This is not the end of my road ... it's only just the beginning," Shaquem said to ESPN. "And I'm going to keep proving people wrong because I have a lot of people to prove wrong -- a lot of doubters. I would wait all over again for the opportunity to be back with my brother."
Shaquem was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection each of the last two seasons. He was the AAC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and was named the defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which completed UCF's National Championship, undefeated,13-0 season in 2017.
Following the selections of Mike Hughes, Tre'Quan Smith and Jordan Akins, Griffin gives the Knights four selections in one NFL Draft for the second time in school history. The last time four UCF football players were selected in the NFL Draft was 2003, when Asante Samuel, Doug Gabriel, Mike Mabry and Elton Patterson were chosen.
Griffin becomes the 40th UCF player selected in NFL Draft. He is the 19th UCF defensive player selected in NFL Draft. He's the third linebacker from the Knights to go in the NFL Draft. Here's a look at the other two:
- Bob Spitulski (1992, 66th)
- Rick Hamilton (1993, 71st)
This is just the second time in UCF history that two defensive players have been selected in the same NFL Draft. Prior to Mike Hughes and Shaquem Griffin, it was Samuel (120th overall) and Patterson (259th overall) in 2003.