The loss of a devoted special teams player, even at No. 2 Ohio State, might not usually qualify as a major headline. But Griffin's connection to the Buckeye program is anything but usual: his father is none other than legendary Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, still the only player to ever win two Heisman Trophies.
“They call him 'Young Arch' all the time, but he's strong in who he is,” Archie told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer after Adam won the Buckeyes' special teams player of the week award last fall. “He doesn't let that stuff bother him. Somebody else might let that bother them. Adam is a very confident young man, and he knows who he is, and he doesn't try to be like his dad or anything like that.”
Well, "doesn't try to be like him" except for the part where Adam also bleeds scarlet and gray; after initially asking to walk on under previous Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel, Griffin was eventually offered a scholarship. He made the most of his chance by appearing in all 12 games in 2012 and making a key fake punt pass breakup in the win over Penn State.
The Buckeyes also announced that fifth-year reserve safety Jamie Wood would not play this season after being unable to come back from a series of shoulder surgeries.
