Marcus Griffin
Encyclopedia
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. He has a twin
brother Michael
who played with him at Texas.
where he was coached by Jeff Ables. As a senior he earned Austin American-Statesman
All-Central Texas honors as a defensive back
and was first team All-district on both offense
and defense
. He made 82 tackles
-including 62 solo, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble
recovery. He also played quarterback
. As a quarterback he threw for 1028 yards and rushed for 560.
as he earned UT’s Outstanding Defensive Newcomer Award. In all 5 years in college, he had 227 tackles, 6 interceptions and 91 yards.
as a redshirt freshman
with the 2004 Texas Longhorn football team
. That year, he played in all 12 games and made 10 tackles, including 7 on special teams.
at free safety and on special teams and recorded 32 tackles.
, starting 10, all at strong safety. The two missed games were against Rice
and Baylor
and were due to injury. He was named a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree as well as UT’s Outstanding Defensive Newcomer.
in the 2007 NFL Draft
. Their parents, Ronald and Mae, are both retired from the United States Armed Forces
.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Griffin entered the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, however he went unselected. Griffin was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
on April 28, 2008. Griffin was subsequently waived on June 30, 2008. He has a twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
brother Michael
Michael Griffin (football player)
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 of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Titans. He played college football at the University of Texas.-High school career:Griffin was coached in football...
who played with him at Texas.
High school career
Griffin attended Bowie High SchoolBowie 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...
where he was coached by Jeff Ables. As a senior he earned Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
All-Central Texas honors as a 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...
and was first team All-district on both offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
and defense
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
. He made 82 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....
-including 62 solo, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
recovery. He also played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. As a quarterback he threw for 1028 yards and rushed for 560.
College career
Marcus Griffin was a walk-on at UT in 2003. The 5th year strong safety had a great first year as a starterStarting 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...
as he earned UT’s Outstanding Defensive Newcomer Award. In all 5 years in college, he had 227 tackles, 6 interceptions and 91 yards.
2004
Griffin started his career with the LonghornsTexas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
as a redshirt freshman
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
with the 2004 Texas Longhorn football team
2004 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2004 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by head football coach Mack Brown and led on the field by quarterback Vince Young...
. That year, he played in all 12 games and made 10 tackles, including 7 on special teams.
2005
In 2005, he played in all 13 games for the 2005 Texas Longhorn football team2005 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2005 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, winning the Big 12 Conference championship and the national championship. The team was coached by Mack Brown, led on offense by quarterback Vince Young, and played...
at free safety and on special teams and recorded 32 tackles.
2006
In 2006 he appeared in 11 games for the 2006 Texas Longhorn football team2006 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2006 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head football coach was Mack Brown, who received the 2006 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award for "Coach of the Year". The Longhorns play their home games in...
, starting 10, all at strong safety. The two missed games were against Rice
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
and were due to injury. He was named a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree as well as UT’s Outstanding Defensive Newcomer.
2007
Griffin had a great senior season, in which he led the Longhorns in tackles (99) and interceptions (5).Personal
Marcus' twin brother, Michael Griffin, was also a defensive back at UT. Michael was a first rounder for the Tennessee TitansTennessee 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...
in 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...
. Their parents, Ronald and Mae, are both retired from the United States Armed Forces
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
.