Ryan Griffin - SMU interest and Ties

[Dwan]

Chaminade quarterback Ryan Griffin (6-4, 205) could be one of the quarterbacks UCLA offers a scholarship to in the class of 2008. In fact, we’ve heard that Griffin is one of the top three quarterbacks on UCLA’s recruiting board.

Griffin was on hand for UCLA’s Junior Day and had an enjoyable experience.

“I had been talking to UCLA so I went to their Junior Day,” said Griffin. “It was great and the coaches were great. I got to talk with Coach (Karl) Dorrell and I also talked with Coach (Jay) Norvell. He was really personable and I really liked him. The campus was awesome, too. They said they got my tape and they wanted to watch it a little more.”

UCLA has recruited at Chaminade before, signing Marcus Everett and Logan Paulsen in recent years, and Gabe Crecion back in the 1990s.

While Griffin doesn’t have a scholarship offer yet, several schools have been keeping an eye on him. “Washington has sent me a lot of letters, Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, Washington State, UNLV, San Diego State and Fresno State,” said Griffin.

Griffin said his early top five is UCLA, Washington, Stanford, Washington State and SMU.

“My family and I went up there to Stanford,” said Griffin. “It’s a great academic school and I’m planning to go up there in the spring.” He hadn’t, though, heard from Stanford about attending their Junior Day.

Griffin did go to San Diego State’s Junior Day over the weekend. A teammate of his at Chaminade, wide receiver Aubrey Smith, signed with the Aztecs in February.

Griffin has SMU on his list because his mother’s from Dallas, her family is still there, and he grew up a fan of the Texas schools. He said, “I went and visited SMU when I was in Dallas and have heard good things about it, and it’d be close to my mom’s family.”

In terms of scholarship offers, Griffin said that, even if early offers come, he wants to wait and take some unofficial visits in the spring. “I’m playing AAU basketball so I want to take some of my unofficial trips in June,” said Griffin.

Academically, Griffin is in great shape, with a 3.7 core GPA, having just completed a semester of straight As. “I’m taking the SAT in May, and Stanford said they want me to get a really good SAT score,” said Griffin. “I’ve been taking a lot of honors and AP classes.”

With the kind of junior year Griffin had, the coaches at Los Angeles Loyola have to be kicking themselves. Griffin was at Loyola for his sophomore year, but transferred after the Loyola coaches indicated he probably wouldn't be the starter as a junior. At Chaminade, Griffin threw for 3,128 yards and 31 touchdown passes in 2006, and was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the state. He threw for 352 yards against eventual state champion Canyon, who won the state title largely because of a stout defense. He also threw five touchdown passes against Lynwood.

Chaminade worked mostly out of the shotgun in the spread, but Griffin said they're going to use other sets for the upcoming season. “This year we’re going to work more under center,” said Griffin.

Griffin spent some time breaking down his game for us. “My strengths are that I can make all of the throws, I have a good knowledge of the game, I know the defense, I have good leadership and intangibles,” said Griffin. “I’m working on my footwork, throwing on the run and learning a more intricate offense.”

[smupony94]

Come on Coach Doh[/u]

[mavsrage311]

Come on Coach Doh[/u]

now that sir, is funny

[Lawgrad]

Hell, recruit this kid with the offer of an opportunity to be a multi-sport player (if he is actually decent at b-ball). Redshirt him in football his freshman year, let him play bball (again, if he is good enough) and then have him ready to back up Willis for Willis' senior year. You would hope that he is a decent basketball player if he is playing a lot of traveling AAU ball, and it wouldn't have any scholarship cost to Coach D.

[smu diamond m]

You can scholarship a player in sport A and play them in sport B, so long as they still play A?

[mrydel]

You can scholarship a player in sport A and play them in sport B, so long as they still play A?

Yes. The scholarship counts toward the most major sport, in this case it would be football. A lot of kids in college play both FB and BB, or run track. The rule on the assigment of scholarship came into play when the big boys (primarily UT and Arkansas in the old SWC) used to sign FB players to swimming, track, Baseball, etc. scholies in order to have more FB players then allowed on FB scholarship.

For what it is worth I think you could see a direct correlation with the improvement in the "lesser" sports at those big schools when they were forced to use their scholarship in an appropriate way.