UCF Football: 5 takeaways from Knights’ perfect 2017 season

4. Shaquem Griffin Will Be Missed

If McKenzie Milton was the spark plug to the UCF offense, Shaquem Griffin was the engine behind the turnaround in Orlando. Griffin, and his twin brother Shaquill Griffin, both came to Orlando under the old regime.

Shaquill played sparingly as a freshman but was on the Fiesta Bowl-winning Knights in 2013. Shaquem redshirted, allowing him to see all of what UCF Football had to offer. He played under circumstances almost no other players could relate to — he was recruited in by George O’Leary’s staff, redshirted as the Knights won the 2014 Fiesta Bowl finishing 12-1. He was also there as O’Leary transitioned into being the AD mid-season, played through Brent Key who was allegedly running things for O’Leary as ‘coach in waiting,’ and then interim coach Danny Barrett all in the 2015 season.

Shaquem had to play on that 2015 winless squad but stuck with it at UCF. He went from little known reserve to starting outside linebacker with the move to the second level under Frost’s 3-4 defense.

The move to linebacker saw Griffin take off. Griffin recorded 92 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 2016 as a redshirt junior. Then in 2017, his senior season, he recorded 74 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks as well as an interception per year over his last three years in black and gold. Griffin was voted AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and All-AAC in 2016 and 2017. His draft stock will be a mixed review due to his hand but he’s overcome all obstacles and will continue that perseverance on to join his brother in the NFL.