To date, the Bearcats have 6 verbal commitments from recruits who are projected to play linebacker or at least compete to play there when they step onto campus next year. Throw in Kevin Brown as #7 if he does slide down to the SAM or MIKE positions. Then linebacker Corey Griffin from Coral Reef High School visited during the weekend West Virginia came to town and was impressed enough to give Butch Jones a verbal agreement on the spot. Most people will be irked by Coach Jones taking so many commitments at one position group but with the way linebackers have been so neglected in the 2009 and 2010 classes, can you really blame him? Griffin holds offers from a handful of schools, Syracuse being the only BCS program among them. While he’s casting the dice with the Bearcats as of now he is expected to take visits to other schools over the course of his recruitment.
Overview
Griffin plays that hybrid DE/OLB position like Walter Stewart did in 2010. I can see why his high school coaches placed him there. Griffin has a heck of a burst off the edge and uses pure speed to get by offensive tackles and attack the ball carrier. If you had a guy with that kind of speed, wouldn’t you have him rush the quarterback? I thought so. This is his bread and butter in high school and it also helps that he’s a solid tackler. Despite being 6’2″, he appears rather lanky so it’s a positive thing that he’s so sound in the fundamentals of the game.
Outlook
Like I said, Griffin is 6’2″ but needs to pack on some pounds. It shouldn’t be too difficult, especially in a Dave Lawson S&C program, and considering he has the frame to add 10 – 15 lbs. As a freshman at Cincinnati I think it’s a good possibility he burns his redshirt on special teams because of his ability to get downfield so fast. The special teams unit could sure use someone with Griffin’s blend of size and speed. On the regular defense I’m not really sure where Griffin fits in. I think with some more muscle he could fill in as that Brandon Mills-type player on obvious passing downs. He could definitely play outside linebacker as a Bearcat but without seeing more tape on him at that position it’s tough for me to say.
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