Cedric Griffin

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Minnesota Vikings
currentnumber=23
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|11|11
birthplace=Natchez, Mississippi
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=203
debutyear=2006
debutteam=Minnesota Vikings
college=Texas
draftyear=2006
draftround=2
draftpick=48
pastteams=
* Minnesota Vikings (2006-present)
nfl=GRI080223

Cedric Leonard Griffin (born November 11, 1982) is an American football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings.

He was born in Natchez, Mississippi and graduated from Holmes High School in San Antonio, Texas. He played college football for The University of Texas Longhorns and was a stand-out performer on the 2005 National Championship team. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

High school career

Griffin played football at Holmes High School in San Antonio, Texas under the direction of head coach David Sanchez. He was an All-State Class 5A defensive back in 2000, his senior season. He also played as a wide receiver and accumulated yards rushing and in kick-off and punt returns. As a cornerback, he made 26 tackles and seven interceptions. As a wide receiver, he caught eight passes for 202 yards, including two touchdowns. The same year, he rushed for 198 yards, made a 90-yard kickoff return and returned two punts for 95 yards against Taft High. Griffin played in the first ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl on December 30th, 2000. In addition to football, he competed in track. While playing at Holmes High School, Griffin was a part of a State Semifinalist squad that fell one game short of the State Championship. Other standout athletes who played with Griffin on the Holmes football squad include Olympic Gold Medalist in 4x400 meter relay Darold Williamson, Robert Quiroga of the Arena Football League, standout defensive tackle at Baylor University Michael Gary, and Division II All-American quarterback from Texas Lutheran University Sean Salinas.

College career

After redshirting his freshman year, Griffin played in all 51 games over the next four years, including 44 games as a starter. He recorded 271 tackles (170 solo tackles), broke up 32 passes (ranking in the school's top 15 for pass deflections) and intercepted three others for 29 yards in interception return yards. In 2002, Griffin became the first UT player ever to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown, when he returned one 56 yards at Tulane University.cite web | title=2nd Round Picks| work=Minnesota Vikings | url=http://www.vikings.com/news_detail_objectname_CedricGriffin_42906.html | accessdate=2006-04-30]

As a junior, he was tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 by the conference coaches for 2004. As a senior on UT's 2005 National Championship team, he was a key part of the UT pass defense that ranked eighth in the nation in yards allowed by game (172.0) and fourth in the nation in pass efficiency defense (96.7 rating). In Texas' 41-38 victory over USC for the National Championship Game, he made 8 tackles, including 6 solo tackles.

Defensive statistics:

Professional career

Came into training camp with the expectation of being the team's nickel or dime back (3rd or 4th cornerback). When second year man Dovonte Edwards went down with a broken arm in the preseason many people believe it would be Griffin who would step into the Nickelback role that was vacated by Edwards when he went down with an injury. Instead the Vikings chose to go with Ronyell Whitaker, who proved to be ineffective. Griffin began getting more and more playing time as the season played on, eventually Griffin overtook a starting cornerback spot from prized free agent signing from two years earlier Fred Smoot.

2006 NFL Draft

Griffin was selected in the second round (number 48 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. According to the UT football website:

Griffin joins Michael Huff (No. 7 overall) as the second Longhorn defensive back chosen in the 2006 draft, marking the first time since 1997 two have been selected in the same draft when Bryant Westbrook was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the first round and Taje Allen was picked by the Saint Louis Rams in the fifth round... Along with Huff, Griffin's selection gives the Longhorns a defensive back selection in four of the past five drafts... Griffin is the first Longhorn selected by the Vikings since DT John Haines in 1984. The Longhorns have now had at least three players drafted in each of the last four years.cite web | title=Griffin chosen 48th overall by Vikings| work=Official Website of Texas Football | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=2056&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 | accessdate=2006-04-30]

Griffin is the highest-drafted defensive back chosen by the Vikings since Orlando Thomas (number 42 overall) was selected in 1995. Counting Griffin, the Vikings have taken five players over the past five NFL drafts who have come into the NFL with a college national championship to their credit. The others (with school and draft year) are Bryant McKinnie (University of Miami - 2002), Kenechi Udeze (University of Southern California - 2004), Darrion Scott (Ohio State University - 2004) and Dustin Fox (Ohio State University - 2005).

References

External links

* [http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=2010&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 Mack Brown Texas Football: Cedric Griffin biography]
* [http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_article_id=2056&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2 Mack Brown Texas Football: Cedric Griffin chosen 48th overall by Vikings in 2006 NFL Draft]
* [http://www.vikings.com/news_detail_objectname_CedricGriffin_42906.html Minnesota Vikings: Griffin Griffin Draft Selection]