WATCH: One-handed prospect Shaquem Griffin does 20 reps on bench at combine
Griffin used a prosthetic to help grip the bar and pounded out 20 reps
At the NFL combine, most of the attention is paid to potential top draft picks. What are their measurements? How will they test? What things do teams ask them in interviews?
Sometimes, though, a mid-to-late round prospect steals the show. That's exactly what happened on Saturday.
University of Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin measured in at 6-0 3/8 inches and 227 pounds on Friday afternoon. He had a 32 1/8-inch arm and a 66 4/8-inch wingspan. But that wasn't what was incredible about him.
During the linebacker workouts on Saturday, Griffin bench-pressed 225 pounds 20 times. Not impressed? Well, you might be once you know that Griffin only has one hand.
Check out the video, via NFL Network:
Using a prosthetic on his left arm, @Shaquemgriffin just put up 20 reps on the bench press! 💪#NFLCombine @UCF_Football
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2018
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/fHS0b4Eb0s
There is no need to hype it up, but this is AWESOME. Everyone around the NFL apparently agreed, as the fine people of Football Twitter (including Griffin's brother, Seahawks corner Shaquill Griffin) went nuts over Griffin's performance on the bench.
#AgainstAllOdds https://t.co/jHTLj8Bxxv
— Shaquill Griffin (@ShaquillG) March 3, 2018
Yeah Queem!!!!!! Major blessings!!
— Breshad Perriman (@B_Perriman11) March 3, 2018
This kid is incredible https://t.co/0YuiIjld6V
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 3, 2018
Shaquem Griffin is special. He brings so much energy and he’s a great player.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 3, 2018
Shaquem Griffin 20 reps bench press. Absolutely amazing. #NFLCombine
— Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) March 3, 2018
Ha. Savage https://t.co/vFV3fOH8iS
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) March 3, 2018
This kid is amazing! Will ball out in the league too. Just watch https://t.co/FnoNNLPoec
— Lance Moore (@LanceMoore16) March 3, 2018
As for Griffin himself, a GM said that he'd have been impressed if Griffin could do five reps on the bench. Griffin took offense and did four times that many.
A GM said he'd be impressed if @Shaquemgriffin could do five bench reps with his prosthetic hand.
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) March 3, 2018
He did 20. pic.twitter.com/bGuqIT7n8s
Griffin is generally considered a Day 3 pick this year, coming off a two-year stint as a linebacker where he totaled 33.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. He'd played defensive back earlier in his college career, and he racked up three picks, 16 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries during his college career.
His combine performance thus far is sure to stick out in the minds of evaluators, even if they understandably have some concerns about employing a one-handed player on the back half of their defense.
















