Michael Griffin (football player)
Encyclopedia
Michael Devin Griffin is a professional American football
safety for the Tennessee Titans
of the National Football League
. He was drafted in the 1st round (19th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
by the Titans. He played college football
at the University of Texas.
in football
at Bowie High School
. He played running back
and also defensive back
. He rushed for 2,127 yards and 25 TDs along with averaging 23.4 yards per catch in his final two seasons, earning honorable mention all-state (5A) honors as a running back and All-Central Texas at both running back and defensive back.
against Texas Tech
and Washington State
. Griffin recorded 65 tackles, with two sacks, and forced three fumbles.
Griffin's sophomore season, 2004, he also played 12 games, starting one. He registered 49 tackles, one sack, blocked two punts, tallied an interception, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble.
For Griffin's junior season, 2005, he started 12 of 13 games at strong safety. Griffin was honored with a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Griffin led the team with 124 tackles, along with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and one caused fumble. Griffin tied Texas' single-season record with four punt blocks. Griffin intercepted a pass at the goal line in Texas' 41-38 Rose Bowl
win against the University of Southern California
for the National Championship.
Through the 2006 football season, he had appeared in 37 career games including 15 starts and posted 238 tackles
, 11 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, four interceptions
, five caused fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and a UT school record six blocked punts.
by the Tennessee Titans. On May 4, head coach
Jeff Fisher
stated that Griffin would be moved from safety to cornerback due to Adam Pacman Jones year long suspension, however later on in the season Griffin was moved back to safety after depth at the cornerback position developed better than expected and then starting free safety Calvin Lowry
struggled to prevent the big play. Griffin finished the season with three interceptions and one forced fumble (all of which came at the safety position), as well as fifty-four total tackles.
. His twin brother, Marcus Griffin
, was also a defensive back at UT. He always wears a watch during practices and his teammates often ask him how many minutes before practice is over. Their parents, Ronald and Mae, are both retired from the United States Armed Services.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted in the 1st round (19th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
by the Titans. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Texas.
High school career
Griffin was coachedCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Bowie High School
Bowie High School (Austin, Texas)
James Bowie High School is a public high school in southwest Austin, Texas. With an estimated student body of 3,000, and a campus sitting on , Bowie is the largest school in the Austin Independent School District and also the largest secondary school in Central Texas...
. He played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and also defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. He rushed for 2,127 yards and 25 TDs along with averaging 23.4 yards per catch in his final two seasons, earning honorable mention all-state (5A) honors as a running back and All-Central Texas at both running back and defensive back.
College career
Griffin started his college football career in 2003 as a true freshman at the University of Texas in Austin. Griffin played all 12 games that season, but only startedStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
against Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
and Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. Griffin recorded 65 tackles, with two sacks, and forced three fumbles.
Griffin's sophomore season, 2004, he also played 12 games, starting one. He registered 49 tackles, one sack, blocked two punts, tallied an interception, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble.
For Griffin's junior season, 2005, he started 12 of 13 games at strong safety. Griffin was honored with a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Griffin led the team with 124 tackles, along with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and one caused fumble. Griffin tied Texas' single-season record with four punt blocks. Griffin intercepted a pass at the goal line in Texas' 41-38 Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
win against the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
for the National Championship.
Through the 2006 football season, he had appeared in 37 career games including 15 starts and posted 238 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, 11 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, four interceptions
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
, five caused fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and a UT school record six blocked punts.
NFL career
Griffin was drafted with the 19th pick of the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
by the Tennessee Titans. On May 4, head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
stated that Griffin would be moved from safety to cornerback due to Adam Pacman Jones year long suspension, however later on in the season Griffin was moved back to safety after depth at the cornerback position developed better than expected and then starting free safety Calvin Lowry
Calvin Lowry
Calvin Sinclair Lowry is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
struggled to prevent the big play. Griffin finished the season with three interceptions and one forced fumble (all of which came at the safety position), as well as fifty-four total tackles.
Personal
In college, Griffin was an honors student majoring in liberal artsLiberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
. His twin brother, Marcus Griffin
Marcus Griffin
Marcus Kevin Griffin was born on January 4, 1985 in Austin, Texas. Griffin entered the 2008 NFL Draft, however he went unselected. Griffin was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings on April 28, 2008. Griffin was subsequently waived on June 30, 2008...
, was also a defensive back at UT. He always wears a watch during practices and his teammates often ask him how many minutes before practice is over. Their parents, Ronald and Mae, are both retired from the United States Armed Services.