Dynamic recruit Griffin has potential to be next two-sport star at UNT

Harry · May 5, 2016

Deion Griffin is fast.

The Arlington Heights High School senior who signed to play football with the Mean Green next season is so fast that his speed in the 200m dash would have placed 2nd at the K.T. Woodman Classic as a member of the North Texas track and field team last weekend.

With that speed, Griffin has the potential to join a short list of athletes who have competed for both the football and track team at North Texas. The most successful member of that exclusive club, Johnny Quinn, is the all-time leading receiver in school history with 2,718 yards. He ran on the relay team for the Mean Green as well.

Now, Quinn is an American Olympic bobsledder and competed at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

“We’ve had guys do it before, and we’ve been really successful with it in the past,” head track and field coach Carl Sheffield said. “It just depends on the quality of the athlete, because competing in Conference USA is a really high task.”

Throughout the last four years at Arlington Heights, Griffin has used his elusive speed and quickness to excel on both the football field and the track. Despite being undersized at the quarterback position, Griffin used his speed to make an impact under center.

As a junior, he threw for 25 touchdowns without an interception while also running 1,000 yards and making 15 touchdowns. The Mean Green plans to use the dynamic playmaker in the slot position next season.

“Speed is my biggest asset. It helped me in high school by making people fear not only the pass, but the run,” Griffin said. “Now in college, I’ll just be using my speed to create space between me and the defender.”

While his numbers on the football field certainly stood out to Littrell and the rest of the coaching staff, Griffin credits track for helping to further develop his competitive nature and toughness.

“With both sports, there is a mental and physical toughness,” Griffin said. “When you’re tired while training, you want to give up. But your mind has to overcome your body. Both sports can make you physically uncomfortable, but that helps so when you get to the football field, you can thrive in uncomfortable situations.”

Littrell said speed is one of the biggest things the team looks for while out on the recruiting trail.

“It’s big,” Littrell said. “Obviously, you want to get guys that have speed, and speed kills. You want guys that get out and run. It’s been fun watching some of our guys signed on for next year do great things in track events.”

Read more: http://ntdaily.com/dynamic-recruit-griffin-has-potential-to-be-next-two-sport-star-at-unt/

UNTLifer · May 5, 2016

This young man is going to be exciting for the next four years.

greenminer · May 6, 2016

zoomzoom

MeanGreen_MBA · May 6, 2016

Speed kills at this level....always!!!!

MeanGreenHoops · May 6, 2016

Good article. This seems like one of the West Virginia type of little speedy backs/receivers that used to drive teams nuts when they were real good.

Also must say I'm surprised that this was a Mac recruit but glad we got him.

GrayEagle · May 6, 2016

Another North Texas player that both played football and ran track was North Texas Hall of Famer Ray Renfro. He was an All-American running back and briefly .1 off of the world record in the 100 yard dash at 9.5.

Cleveland made him a wide receiver and he was selected to three pro bowls and was voted the 33rd best all-time Brown. There's a little irony in that 33 was the number that he wore at North Texas.

I hope that Griffin has a similar success.

Edited May 6, 2016 by GrayEagle