Analyst: Griffin can play multiple LB roles
Virginia Tech picked up a big win on the recruiting trail a couple weeks ago, landing Rome (Ga.) 2017 linebacker Jaylen Griffin. Although he's ranked as a two-star prospect, there's plenty to like about the 6-2, 217-pounder's game.
According to Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Woody Wommack, Griffin can stay at his current outside linebacker role, or move inside when he gets to the college level.
“He’s listed as an outside linebacker," Wommack said. "I think there’s potential for him being the size he is and considering the way he moves, that he moves inside depending on how much weight he puts on when he gets to college."
Griffin's film shows a player comfortable raising havoc as an edge rusher, and capable of dropping into coverage to disrupt receivers' routes, as well. If he wants to keep that up in college - and stay at the outside linebacker position - he'll have to do everything he can to maintain his current athleticism while building the size of a Power-5 'backer.
"He’s going to have to get a little quicker," Wommack opined. "We saw him at the Rivals Camp in Atlanta, and he made a few plays. When you go against the top-class guys, you could tell that there’s a bit of a separation there.
"I don’t know if he’s quick enough to play at outside linebacker full-time or not. That’s something we’ll be watching especially when it comes to his senior season.”
Should he move inside, the biggest task will be adding the weight to play at around 240 pounds to anchor the inside of the defense. He's also going to have to reign in some of the freelancing tendencies that make him such an impactful player at the high school level. While causing havoc is a positive, he will have to pick his spots to do it.
"I think he’s allowed to kind of freestyle a little bit playing outside," Wommack explained. "He can come off the edge, and that’s just kind of the way high school football works. I think if he’s going to be a middle linebacker, he’s going to have to be tasked with quarterbacking the defense.
"He’s going to have to play within the scheme a little more, and not do some of the things that have made him a very good high school player. There’s always a balancing act between being a guy who’s reckless and likes to make plays, and a guy that the coaches also need to lean on to be the leader of the defense.”
The final season of his high school career will go a long way toward determining just what type of ranking the former Cal commit will garner come National Signing Day 2017. If he can show increased quickness - or more discipline within the defensive scheme for Rome - then he can see his rankings increase.