The Seattle Seahawks will start rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin in their regular season opener against the Denver Broncos this Sunday. Griffin was a star at the University of Central Florida and helped the team finish undefeated in the 2017-18 season. The team even crowned themselves the national champions after they didn't receive a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Griffin achieved success despite having one hand. He became the first one-handed player to be drafted in the NFL's modern era when he was selected No. 141 overall by the Seahawks. Griffin was born with amniotic band syndrome in his left hand, which prevented his fingers from fully developing. Since having it amputated as a child, he has been proving all his naysayers wrong. The Seahawks staff is excited about all the things he will accomplish this year, via Brady Henderson of ESPN.
“He's been surrounded by some really good players, Bobby (Wagner) and K.J. (Wright) and (Barkevious) Mingo, guys that have been in the league for a while,” Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. “So he's kind of taken a backseat and really learned at a rookie's pace, and now that he's been able to play a little bit in the preseason, he sees the game speeds up a little bit.”
Griffin shocked the world when he ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, giving him the fastest time recorded by any linebacker ever.
The 6-foot 227-pound athlete has put himself in a position to shock even more people on a bigger stage this year.
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