DB Adam Griffin (official thread)

[jlb1705]

Could his scholarship then be a partial one to make up for the other 50% not covered by his dad's employment? If that is the case could the scholarship be broken up between Adam and another walkon who is already on the team?

No.

In Div. I-AA they can award partial scholarships for football. They can award the equivalent of 63 full grants-in-aid, and it can be divided among up to 85 individuals.

In Div. I-A football however, the each individual that receives a scholarship counts as a full scholarship toward the limit of 85. For accounting purposes within the university it may be better for the scholarship dollar amount to only be for the difference after tuition remission, but the program sees no benefit toward it's scholarship count, and any remaining aid dollars in that case would not be able to be used on another player.

 

[Cincinnatibuck]

I was unaware Archie Griffin was the player who committed.

I think the idea that outstanding young men "who want to be Buckeyes" will get us to the NC ahead of outstanding athletes who are conflicted as to where they want to go betrays a great deal of naivete. I wish Adam great success, and I welcome him to The Ohio State University. He'll be a credit to the Buckeyes in many ways, I have no doubt. But I don't necessarily wish for a team comprising primarily his athletic peers.

Sorry if I seem a bit mercenary here, but this is Big Time College Football. Win big or else is the name of this game. I don't see evidence in this recruiting class that we're headed in that direction.

Turner, Smith, Bryant, Norwell, Brown, McVey, do I need to name more? Besides we are already going in that direction, these guys will help keep us on that path. You make it sound as if we are asking these guys to restore Ohio State football.

 

[robbothehut]

It isn't like this kid was a benchwarmer...he did have offers from Navy and Air Force. Navy almost whipped our butts this past year and their coach, like our staff, seems to have a nose for undiscovered talent. This kid apparently was willing to pass on a ride at the academies to be here as a walk on. Also we didn't seem to have a five star to toss that scholarship to. Considering that LOI day is passed and we had 2 scholarships left and still have one left if Henderson flips, I kind of like the fact we aren't mercenaries.

 

[itownbuckeye]

Also we didn't seem to have a five star to toss that scholarship to. Considering that LOI day is passed and we had 2 scholarships left and still have one left if Henderson flips, I kind of like the fact we aren't mercenaries.

I think you have to take into account that this scholarship will now likely be occupied for the next five years. While the only cost this year is a scholarship that probably would have went to a senior walk-on, the future cost could be that of a more highly regarded recruit who can not be fit in because of the 85 scholarship limit. Of course the coaches know all this and chose to offer him so I trust they feel he is an Ohio State caliber player.

 

[Bleed S & G]

I've waited to post in this thread... I think this is just awesome.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

Why are people so up in arms about ONE scholarship? The staff could give that 'ship to Jim Brown and we still wouldn't be guaranteed a NC every year. One scholarship isn't going to make or break Ohio State football. The kid deserved. Stop trying to steal his thunder.

 

[Buckrock]

The 2011 class could grow to be 23 Scholarships. That's way beyond the 17-19 that JT normally likes.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Absolutely. The benefit and potential benefit of bringing Adam on board far outweighs any downside.

JHC, it's not like giving me a scholarship. He can play and will be be coacheable.

 

[Muck]

Adam welcome aboard! Don't try to fill your old man's shoes...just play your own game & your career will be memorable.

The staff could give that 'ship to Jim Brown and we still wouldn't be guaranteed a NC every year.

buchtelgrad: With all the great athletes playing ball now how many yards do you think you'd rush for against today's defenses Jim?

Jim Brown: Well I reckon I could break a thousand yards

buchtelgrad: One thousand? You rushed for more than twelve hundred yards seven times in your NFL career. Why do you think you'd only hit a thousand?

Jim Brown: Because I'm 74 years old you dirty so & so!

 

[generaladm]

Short Q & A with Adam from 11W:

News of you signing with Ohio State was kind of a shock to most fans. How did the process unfold and how did the opportunity to become a Buckeye come about?
Things unfolded pretty randomly. I called coach Tressel and asked to walk-on. Then, he called me back with a scholarship.
What position will you play while at OSU?
I am being recruited as an athlete so we will see where there is a need.
I know Eastern Illinois, Navy, Army, and Air Force were recruiting you pretty hard. If the opportunity to play at OSU did not present itself, where would you have played your future college football?
I would most likely have been playing at Air Force.

Being Archie?s son, the spotlight is kind of on you, especially coming to OSU to play. How do you feel about the extra attention you may receive and how difficult will it be to deal with the territory that comes with being a Buckeye Legend?s son?
It won?t really effect me too much. I have grown up in his old stomping grounds my entire life.
You play basketball with Nick Kellogg. What is it like playing with the son of another former OSU great?
Playing with Nick is actually a very unique situation. We have been best friends since we were about 7 years old. I don?t think either of us notice it very much. We pride ourselves on being our own individuals.
Why do you think your recruitment has flown so low under the radar?
I don?t really know why it flew under the radar. Ohio State came into the picture pretty late. Other than that, some of these other teams that were recruiting me had their various reasons as to why they did not want to give me a scholarship. My dad just told me all along it only takes one to offer you a scholarship and that is your shot, so go make the most of it.
Most kids sleep sucking their thumbs or with a blanket or stuffed animal. Did you ever sleep with one of dad?s Heisman Trophies tucked underneath your arms?
Haha I wish. Maybe I would have some of his skills then.
What are your goals, both on and off the field, heading into Ohio State?
Off the field, I plan on earning my degree in a timely fashion. On the field, I want to just work hard and put myself in a position to compete for a spot somewhere down the line.
Will dad let you wear #45?
He probably would, but I wouldn?t want to wear the number.
If you could tell Buckeye fans one thing about Adam Griffin, what would it be?
I would say that I have as big of a heart as anyone you will find out there. For what I lack in size, I make up for in heart and effort.

Catching Up with Adam Griffin | Eleven Warriors

Looking at the highlight reel, Adam can definitely play football. He looks to have a great sense of finding space. I also like the way he uses his blockers even when they aren't engaged, forcing defenders to alter their angles. Good quicks, too.

Regardless of his on field performance, I fully expect that he will be a positive influence in the locker room.

 

[colobuck79]

^^^ Seems like a great kid.

 

[Muck]

You play basketball with Nick Kellogg. What is it like playing with the son of another former OSU great?
Playing with Nick is actually a very unique situation. We have been best friends since we were about 7 years old. I don?t think either of us notice it very much. We pride ourselves on being our own individuals.

It's weird because I was kind of hoping all along that Nick would call up Thad & ask to walk on with the Buckeyes and then earn his way onto the court.

Having Adam end up doing it instead (and earning a scholarship in the eyes of the coaches to boot) is just fine with me as well.

To be honest I think Adam is my favorite pick up in this class.

 

[Jagdaddy]

Interesting juxtaposition of the offer to Griffin, who is apparently an A+ kid, but maybe a bit of a "reach" per recruiting "experts", with the rumors of the staff not having a schollie available for L. Anderson. I kind of wonder if the coaches are sending a bit of a larger message about the program out there to both anyone on the team who might be a little borderline on the academics and/or community side of the Buckeye equation and high school players who might be uber-talented but a little slack in the classroom or in their personal conduct. Regardless, I'm in my usual "trust the coaches" mode on Griffin's on-field ability and am sure he'll contribute in one way or another to the program's continued success.

 

[JBaney45]

Interesting juxtaposition of the offer to Griffin, who is apparently an A+ kid, but maybe a bit of a "reach" per recruiting "experts", with the rumors of the staff not having a schollie available for L. Anderson. I kind of wonder if the coaches are sending a bit of a larger message about the program out there to both anyone on the team who might be a little borderline on the academics and/or community side of the Buckeye equation and high school players who might be uber-talented but a little slack in the classroom or in their personal conduct. Regardless, I'm in my usual "trust the coaches" mode on Griffin's on-field ability and am sure he'll contribute in one way or another to the program's continued success.

Of course the recruiting "experts" aren't high on him, all those guys are looking at is measurables, if they were around in the 70s, they wouldn't have been high on his dad either for the exact same reasons and they would have looked like complete idiots.

Time will tell what kind of contributions the kid will make, but he was offered the scholarship, if Tressel felt he couldn't handle it at Ohio State he wouldn't have been doing him any favors to give it to him really

 

[ysubuck]

I love that he had full ride offers from other places and decided he wanted to go to Ohio State.

I love that he had full ride offers and loves Ohio State so much that he was going to forsake those offers to walk on and be a Buckeye.

I love that Coach Tressel gave him a scholarship.

This is just a beautiful story all the way around.

Welcome Adam!!!