What do you see when a man with one hand or one leg passes by. Do you think that he isn’t capable of doing much? Or do you think that maybe he’s stronger than he looks. Shaquem Griffin is an American football outside linebacker who was born with Amniotic Band Constriction. He had to get his hand cut off, but that did not stop him from growing up like any other kid. His father made him specialized equipment so that he could train just like everybody else as he was growing up. He didn’t give up on football, or his dream, just because he had one hand. Instead, he worked harder to achieve his goal. Later in life, he ended up being named The American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the year and a first-team all-conference choice in 2017. This year, he attended the NFL Combine where he had the chance of demonstrating his skills to different coaches that could potentially draft him.
The NFL Combine is the place every college football player wants to go. It’s a place where you can show NFL coaches and veteran players that you have what it takes to be a pro-athlete. Players from every position are invited to participate in a variety of drills and exercises that demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses. Some of the drill include the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, the bench press, the 3-cone drill, and the shuttle drill.
Shaquem was given a “Blue Star” which meant he received top performer in 3 categories during the Combine. He He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, jumped 117 inches for the broad jump, and did 20 reps with a 225lb bar.
Shaquem could be an inspirational figure for all athletes here at McClatchy. He could inspire those who want to do better, to work harder than they ever have before. A lot of the times, people sell themselves short and say that they just can’t do it. However, Shaquem could, and he only has one hand.