Previous UCF star Shaquem Griffin announces retirement from professional football

Previous UCF star linebacker Shaquem Griffin is retiring from professional soccer, he announced Wednesday in a first-man or woman report printed in The Players’ Tribune.

Griffin was chosen in the 5th spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks where by he reunited with his twin brother and former Knight Shaquill Griffin.

“Honestly, it is even now a minimal surreal,” Griffin wrote on line. “After every thing I’ve been as a result of in my lifestyle — all the tricky perform, all the doubters — it’s nearly unthinkable that I’m hangin’ it up and shifting on from the activity of soccer.

“But I know the positive effect I’m having on other people,” he added. “I’m talking at schools and universities, talking to soccer groups and even presenting to corporate The usa about never doubting yourself and tirelessly pursuing your desires. Folks at firms want to hear what I have to say when essentially I’m the 1 that can find out so much from them.”

Shaquem, who’s motivated innumerable people today across the state by overcoming the capability to perform football with just one hand, played in 46 job games through his three yrs in Seattle.

At UCF, he led the Knights on protection to an undefeated period in 2017 capped with a get around Auburn in the Peach Bowl. In that sport, Griffin was named Defensive MVP soon after recording a period-higher 12 tackles, a period-higher 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Pursuing a latest conversation with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Griffin stated he programs on becoming a member of the NFL Legends Neighborhood, which is a system by means of which retired players support mentor current and previous gamers on every thing from the changeover into and out of the sport to how to navigate psychological health troubles.

E-mail Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or abide by him on Twitter at @therealBeede.

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