Everson Griffen

Infobox NCAA Athlete
color = LightSteelBlue
fontcolor = Black
name = Everson Griffen

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caption = Griffen after a 2008 fall practice
college = USC
conference = Pac-10
sport = Football
jersey = 93
position = DE
class = Sophomore
major =
minor =
nickname =
career_start = 2007
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3.5
weight_lb = 275
nationality = flag|United States
birth_date = birth date and age|1987|12|22
birth_place = Avondale, AZ
death_date =
death_place =
highschool = Agua Fria High School
Avondale, Arizona
former_school(s)=
career_highlights = Y
awards = 2007 "Sporting News" freshman All-American team
honors = 2006 "PARADE" All-American
2006 EA Sports All-American first team
2006 Tom Lemming All-American
records =
championships =
championship_list =
bowl_games =
bowl_list =
tournaments =
tournament_list =

Everson Griffen (birth date|1987|12|22 in Avondale, Arizona) is an American football defensive end for the University of Southern California Trojans. He is currently entering his sophomore year. Griffen was the highest ranked prospect out of Arizona since Terrell Suggs, whom he idolized growing up.cite news |first=Jeremy |last=Crabtree |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Griffen the Great |url=http://usc.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=995&CID=550570 |work=Rivals.com |publisher= |date=2006-06-07 |accessdate= ] He has been described as “one of the rare physical freaks that come around only once in a blue moon.” [cite news |first=Jeremy |last=Crabtree |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Pac-10 Signing Day Blitz: Ranking each conference team's 2007 recruiting class |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/players/02/08/pac10.blitz/ |work=Sports Illustrated |publisher= |date=2007-02-08 |accessdate= ]

High school career

Griffen attended Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Arizona, where he stared as defensive lineman and running back. As a junior, he rushed for 794 yards on 142 carries for eight touchdowns, and even had 12 receptions for 168 yards and one amazing 71-yard reception where he out raced everybody for a score. On defense, he was double and triple-teamed but still managed 47 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries. Following that season, Griffen attended the 2005 Arizona summer camp, where he ran a 4.46 sec 40 yard dash; an astonishing feat for a player of his size, which earned him the nickname “The Freak” and led to comparisons to Jevon Kearse.

As a senior, Griffen recorded 77 tackles and 16 sacks, while rushing for 1,250 yards and 22 TDs on 159 carries on the offensive end. Following his high school career, Griffen was selected to play in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl along with fellow USC recruits Marc Tyler, Joe McKnight, and Chris Galippo. He took official visits to USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and UCLA before eventually deciding on the Trojans. Griffen reported a 3.3 core GPA and a 1020 SAT score.

College career

In the fall practice before his freshman season at USC, Griffen and veteran defensive end Kyle Moore got into heated competition that culminated into a fight during practice; the two reconciled and are now friends.cite news |first=Ted |last=Miller |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Griffen ready to leave his mark on Pac-10 QBs |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3378373 |work=ESPN.com |publisher= |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-05-04 ]

Griffen started for the Trojans as a true freshman, the first true freshman defensive lineman to start an opener for USC in 21 seasons, since Tim Ryan did in 1986 against Illinois.Ted Miller, [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3378373 Griffen ready to leave his mark on Pac-10 QBs] , ESPN.com, May 2, 2008, Accessed May 4, 2008.] In the 2007 season, Griffen recorded 21 tackles and 5.5 sacks, and was selected to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American Team. [ [http://arizonastate.scout.com/a.z?s=43&p=2&c=718121 Griffen Named Freshman All-American] ] In the Trojans 24-3 victory over Oregon State, Griffen had 3.5 of USC's nine sacks.

During spring practices in 2008, USC coach Pete Carroll staged one of his well known pranks by having the Los Angeles Police Department enter a team meeting and arrest Griffen for "physically abusing" freshman offensive linemen; [Youtube|36OoE2a9wfs|Coach Carroll's April Fool's Joke] Griffen previously aware of the prank.Ted Miller, [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3378373 Griffen ready to leave his mark on Pac-10 QBs] , ESPN.com, May 2, 2008, Accessed May 4, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/griffen_everson00.html Official player bio]