Height: 5-7
Weight: 195
Position: RB
College: Oklahoma
Drafted: Pick 11 of the 4th round by Denver
Analysis
Positives: Powerfully built, compact runner with good hands and pass-catching ability... Very effective between-the-tackles back who has that suddenness to plant and drive...Has good instincts in the open and will lower his pads downfield to get that extra yardage... Quick turning the corner, taking proper angles down the sidelines...His ability to change gears in an instant leaves the unsuspecting defenders grabbing at air...Gets into his routes quickly, showing fine turn-&-run action after the catch...Aggressive blocker, despite his size.
Negatives: While he has great open field acceleration, he tends to take his time getting in gear...Has good linear quickness, but does not show that lateral agility to redirect when the rush lanes are clogged...Needs to secure the ball better, as he tends to get a little careless upfield, swinging his arms to gain acceleration, but the result is that he leaves the ball exposed and a high amount of fumbles...Has problems spotting the running lanes at times, resulting in his inability to consistently break it loose...Has smaller than ideal hands...Needs to improve his concentration as a receiver, as he will drop a few easily catchable balls.
Career Notes
Classic case of a big thing coming in a small package...The compactly built runner made his mark in the Sooners' record books with stellar performances throughout his career... This quiet athlete preferred to let his actions on the field speak for his ability...Set a school record with at least one reception in 33 games...Carried 702 times for 3756 yards (5.4 avg) and 44 touchdowns during his career...Only Billy Sims (3813, 1975-79), Steve Owens (3867, 1967-69) and Joe Washington (3995, 1972-75) gained more yards rushing in Sooners history...His 702 attempts rank second in school annals behind Owens (905)...His 44 scores rank third on the OU all-time record list behind Sims (50) and Owens (56)...Also caught 146 passes for 1217 yards (8.3 avg) and six touchdowns...Only Trent Smith (154, 1999-2002) and Antwone Savage (148, 1999-2002) caught more passes in Oklahoma history...His 4973 all-purpose yards rank second on the school's career-record chart behind Joe Washington (5783)...Joined Sims (52) and Owens (56) as the only players in school history to score 50 times in a career.
2002 Season
All-American third-team choice by The NFL Draft Report...Consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team selection...Started every game, rushing for a career-high 1884 yards and 15 touchdowns on 287 carries (6.6 avg), topping the previous school season-record of 1762 yards by Billy Sims in 1978...Snatched 35 passes for 264 yards (7.5 avg) and three scores...Scored 108 points, the most by a Sooner in a season since Sims tallied 132 in 1979...Gained 2148 all-purpose yards (153.4 ypg0, surpassing the old OU season-record of 1946 yards by Greg Pruitt in 1971...Ran for over 100 yards in twelve times, topping the old season-record of ten by Sims in 1978...His three 200-yard performances were one shy of the OU season-record of four by Sims in 1978..
Tulsa...Opened the season in explosive fashion, averaging 13.9 yards per carry as he totaled 237 yards on 17 tries.
Alabama...Held to 3 yards on 9 attempts and 18 yards on 3 catches.
Texas-El Paso...Bounced back to gain 108 yards with a pair of scores on 16 runs.
South Florida...Held to 10 yards on 7 rushes.
Missouri...Continuing his see-saw early season, he regrouped to carry 16 times for 105 yards and a 53-yard score and had 4 catches for 44 yards...Did fumble the ball once.
Texas...Amassed 248 yards on 32 chances with a 17-yard touchdown and added a 3-yard scoring grab.
Colorado...Had a solo tackle and 21 runs for 128 yards.
Texas A&M...Added 141 yards on 23 tries and caught a 6-yard touchdown.
Baylor...Carried 17 times for 152 yards and 3 scores while adding another touchdown on a 35-yard reception.
Texas Tech...Followed with 21 runs for 207 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 62-yarder and made 3 catches for 27 yards.
Oklahoma State...Totaled 102 yards on 16 runs and 36 yards on 6 catches.
Colorado (Big Twelve Championship)...Made up for his fumble by rushing 29 times for 188 yards with 27 & 36-yard touchdowns and snared 4 passes for 28 yards.
Washington State (Rose Bowl)...Again fumbled the ball, but piled up 144 yards on 30 attempts with a 19-yard touchdown.
2001 Season
All-Big Twelve Conference third-team pick by the league's coaches, adding honorable mention by the Associated Press...Named MVP of the Cotton Bowl...Started every game, carrying 182 times for a team-high 804 yards (4.4 avg) and nine touchdowns...Second on the team with 55 receptions for 440 yards (8.0 avg) and a pair of scores...His 55 catches rank third on the school's season-record list (most ever by a running back)...Also made a solo tackle.
North Carolina...Scored on a 4-yard run, picking up 68 yards on 16 attempts and 48 yards on 7 catches.
Air Force...Made up for a fumble with 26 rushes for 201 yards and a score.
North Texas...Rushed 15 times for 71 yards and a touchdown and snared 10 passes (school game-record for running backs and second overall) for 111 yards and a 14-yard score...Also had a solo tackle.
Tulsa...Scored three times on 11 carries, good for 90 yards and hauled in 8 passes for 72 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown.
Oklahoma State...Rushed 15 times for 53 yards and a score, adding 66 yards on 6 catches.
Arkansas (Cotton Bowl)...Caught 9 passes for 32 yards and carried 19 times for 56 yards.
2000 Season
All-Big Twelve Conference first-team selection by the Associated Press, adding second- team honors from the league's coaches...All-Big Twelve Academic second-team pick... Led the team with 189 carries for 783 yards (4.1 avg) and 16 touchdowns...Second on the squad with 45 receptions for 406 yards (9.0 avg)...Also made a solo tackle (vs. Oklahoma State).
Rice...Totaled 117 yards with 3 scores on 14 runs and 11 yards on 3 catches.
Texas...Set a school game-record and tied the conference game mark as he ran for six touchdowns on 23 tries for 87 yards and had 2 receptions for 57 yards.
Texas A&M...Collected 70 yards with a pair of scores on 17 chances and 42 yards on 3 receptions.
Oklahoma State...Ran for 115 yards on 21 carries and made 5 catches for 59 yards.
Kansas State (Big Twelve Championship)...Ran for a career-long 87 yards on one carry and hauled in 7 passes for 38 yards.
Mississippi (Independence Bowl)...Rushed 12 times for 86 yards and caught 8 passes for 65 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown.
1999 Season
Destined to redshirt before injuries to the Sooner running backs unit forced him into action...Missed the first seven games of the regular season, but still finished as the Sooners' second-leading rusher with 285 yards on and four touchdowns on 44 carries (6.5 avg)...Caught eleven passes for 107 yards (9.7 avg) and a score.
Injury Report
No injuries reported.
Campus Agility Tests
4.46 in the 40-yard dash...355-pound bench press...465-pound squat...38.5-inch vertical jump.
COMBINE AGILITY TESTS
ARM HAND TEST 40 20 10 225 VJ BJ SHUTTLE CONE
30 9 1/4 22 4.5 2.55 1.54 21 38 10'3" 4.08
High School
Attended Aldine-Nimitz (Aldine, Tex.) High...District 5A-21 Offensive Player of the Year... Finalist for the Houston Area Offensive Player of the Year...Rushed for 1053 yards and eight touchdowns while sharing time at running back...Helped his team to a combined 22-8 record his final three seasons, including a 9-1 mark his last year...Coached by Burnis Simon.
Personal
Sociology major...Son of Barbara Griffin...Born 1/12/81 in Houston, Texas.
RUSHING STATISTICS
YEAR GP GS NO YARDS AVG TD LONG GM/AVG
1999 04 03 44 285 6.5 3 42 71.25
2000 12 12 189 783 4.1 16 87 65.25
2001 12 12 182 804 4.4 9 35 67.00
2002 14 14 287 1884 6.6 15 63 134.57
TOTAL 42 41 702 3756 5.4 44 87 89.43
RECEIVING STATISTICS SPECIAL TEAM TACKLES
YEAR NO YARDS AVG TD LONG TK SO AS FR FC
1999 11 107 9.7 1 25
2000 45 406 9.0 0 36 1 1 0 0 0
2001 55 440 8.0 2 47 1 1 0 0 0
2002 35 264 7.5 3 35 1 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 146 1217 8.3 6 47 3 3 0 0 0
Share with your friends: |