Personal Sacrifices Have Lineman Positioned for Success
9/5/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2008
By Joey Flyntz, Athletics Media Relations Staff
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Despite seeing regular playing time his first two seasons on the University of Maryland football team, Jack Griffin faced the possibility of spending his junior season watching the Terps from the sidelines.
Griffin, a 6-foot-6-inch, 308-pound physical specimen from Enfield, Conn., came to College Park as a highly-recruited defensive tackle prospect. Griffin impressed early and saw playing time on the defensive line as a true freshman and started eight games in his sophomore campaign.
After playing in all 11 games of the 2005 season, Griffin should have been working on his bull-rush abilities in preparation for another season taking on opposing centers and guards. But the Maryland coaching staff had different plans. Griffin was asked to move to the offensive line and sit out the 2006 season learning the new position.
Ever the team player, Griffin obliged and observed from afar as the Terps competed for an ACC title en route to a nine-win season and a victory in the Champs Sports Bowl.
Griffin admitted it was difficult not being on the field with the guys as the team posted its first winning season since he arrived on campus.
"It was pretty tough. You're used to getting in there and I had just started eight games as a sophomore," Griffin said. "You're used to being in the fray and all of a sudden you're on the sidelines watching. It's tough on the heart because you want to be out there so badly. But I definitely needed the year to learn the new techniques and assignments."
After his redshirt season, Griffin played in all 13 games last season, including four starts at the right guard position.
In a self-proclaimed adjustment season on the offensive side of the ball in 2007, it is fitting that Griffin saved his best collegiate performance for arguably the biggest game of the season.
Griffin struggled in a tough, 16-13 loss at North Carolina, but rebounded with a great effort against No. 8 Boston College as the Terps upset the Eagles, 42-35, in a nationally-televised game.
"I really didn't think I played well against UNC," Griffin admitted. "But the next game I thought I played really well. We scored a lot of points and beat a highly-ranked team. If I had to pick a memory that sticks out in my career here so far, that's the one. Hopefully this year, it will be an ACC championship."
Griffin now enters the 2008 campaign listed No. 1 on the depth chart at right guard, along with junior Phil Costa. He will almost certainly see playing time at right tackle as well.
With one season left in his collegiate career, Griffin has found a comfort level on the right side of the line.
"This is probably the first year where I really feel comfortable with all the plays and the techniques," he said. "Last year, I got a lot better, but this year I feel I'm coming into my own."
While playing on the offensive line wasn't a completely-new experience for Griffin - he played both ways at Enfield High School and was a first-team all-state selection by the New Haven Register - making the switch at the Division I level is much different than doing so in prep ball.
Griffin's personal sacrifice to the team and his hard work on the field has not been lost on Maryland offensive line coach Tom Brattan.
"The first thing you get when dealing with Jack is the essence of a team player and a guy who has worked extremely hard to maximize his talent," Brattan said. "To be willing sit out a year after playing his first two years, that's remarkable.
"Making that switch is very hard. He had to change his body and add some weight. He had to learn to keep the intensity of a defensive lineman but also keep control of his emotions. I don't think our offense is easy to learn, but he's done a remarkable job."
Although his football experience has been in constant flux at times, Griffin kept his academic affairs in order, graduating on time last May with a degree in communications.
Griffin interned in the marketing department at Under Armour in Baltimore this summer, but is still unsure about career plans. Right now, all he is thinking about is opening running lanes and protecting the quarterback's strong side.
