Derrick Ansley had an in-home with Griffin on Dec. 1 and the then-three-star (now four-star) defensive back joked with me that I had reached out to him at exactly the time of that in-home. Ansley's done a really good job of recruiting Griffin. I can tell you that Griffin likes Kentucky a lot, has been committed for what seems like forever and has visited many times.
Credit to this Kentucky coaching staff evaluating Griffin so early. At one point he was long, lanky and somewhat maligned. He didn't have a good game, if I recall correctly, last year when Woody Wommack watched him. But Woody (who has obviously gone to bat for Griffin and Landon Young -- and honestly, as an aside, his evaluation of Matt Elam has to date been more accurate than some elsewhere) stuck with him, continued to keep an open mind evaluating him, and went from giving him a "C" grade in an 'on the road' player evaluation feature to now where he has him in the Rivals250.
I didn't have anything to do with the ranking or input because I didn't watch him this year and Rivals doesn't allow for publisher/staff input unless there was a real in-person evaluation at a game, combine, camp, etc.
But here was Griffin's reaction:
"I greatly appreciate it," he said in a message. "That means a lot. But honestly I got to continue to strive for perfection and get better at what I love to do, you know? I don't let it (get) to me but I definitely appreciate it though."
Griffin did tell me in a follow up message that coaches from South Carolina, Auburn and Ole Miss have come by Jonesboro, Ga. He hasn't yet told me whether those were school visits or in-home visits but that's a testament to just how 'wanted' he's become as a top defensive back from the South.
He told me a couple of weeks ago that his official visit to UK will be "most likely in December of January" but I don't know of a set date yet. He's visited many times already, though.
This is a very impressive kid. I wrote a story about him a while back and he spontaneously send me a message that said, "I greatly appreciate the well put together article! That really meant a lot to me, my brother, my family, & the community! Truly is a blessing." One of the most polite guys I've come across in this recruiting cycle and of course his play on both sides of the ball has been not only great but clutch. He's been great when he's needed to be great.
EDIT: Griffin just told me that coaches from Auburn, South Carolina and Ole Miss did not have in-home visits with him but rather visited his school. Makes it look a bit more like the effort and interest is on their end, as opposed to an in-home, which would signify something much more mutual and worrisome. So that's a good note. UK's apparently been his only in-home visit.
Credit to this Kentucky coaching staff evaluating Griffin so early. At one point he was long, lanky and somewhat maligned. He didn't have a good game, if I recall correctly, last year when Woody Wommack watched him. But Woody (who has obviously gone to bat for Griffin and Landon Young -- and honestly, as an aside, his evaluation of Matt Elam has to date been more accurate than some elsewhere) stuck with him, continued to keep an open mind evaluating him, and went from giving him a "C" grade in an 'on the road' player evaluation feature to now where he has him in the Rivals250.
I didn't have anything to do with the ranking or input because I didn't watch him this year and Rivals doesn't allow for publisher/staff input unless there was a real in-person evaluation at a game, combine, camp, etc.
But here was Griffin's reaction:
"I greatly appreciate it," he said in a message. "That means a lot. But honestly I got to continue to strive for perfection and get better at what I love to do, you know? I don't let it (get) to me but I definitely appreciate it though."
Griffin did tell me in a follow up message that coaches from South Carolina, Auburn and Ole Miss have come by Jonesboro, Ga. He hasn't yet told me whether those were school visits or in-home visits but that's a testament to just how 'wanted' he's become as a top defensive back from the South.
He told me a couple of weeks ago that his official visit to UK will be "most likely in December of January" but I don't know of a set date yet. He's visited many times already, though.
This is a very impressive kid. I wrote a story about him a while back and he spontaneously send me a message that said, "I greatly appreciate the well put together article! That really meant a lot to me, my brother, my family, & the community! Truly is a blessing." One of the most polite guys I've come across in this recruiting cycle and of course his play on both sides of the ball has been not only great but clutch. He's been great when he's needed to be great.
EDIT: Griffin just told me that coaches from Auburn, South Carolina and Ole Miss did not have in-home visits with him but rather visited his school. Makes it look a bit more like the effort and interest is on their end, as opposed to an in-home, which would signify something much more mutual and worrisome. So that's a good note. UK's apparently been his only in-home visit.
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