Griffin named All-American
Senior earns AFCA second team honors
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earned a spot on the American Football Coaches Association’s All-America Teams announced Wednesday.
One of six linebackers to be named to the AFCA’s AllAmerica first or second team, Griffin is the first UCF player to make the AFCA list since 1987 when
and both received the accolades.
Griffin, whose left hand was amputated during his childhood, earned the second-team honors after helping lead UCF to a 12-0 record and American Athletic Conference championship.
He has earned 62 tackles and led the Knights with 10.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks. The redshirt senior also forced two fumbles, recovered two, broke up three passes and had one interception. Griffin scored his first career touchdown when he picked up a fumble and returned it 20 yards in UCF’s win over Austin Peay. UCF senior Freeman and Cook, could pay dividends for the new FSU coaching staff hoping to continue the Seminoles’ strong recruiting in the area.
Lockette will join FSU after three seasons of coaching running backs at Oregon State, a job he assumed after working alongside Taggart at USF from 2012-14.
Lockette led Miami Central to two state titles in 2010 and 2012, beginning a stretch of five championships in six years at the school ending in 2015.
Fisher has hired three of his former assistants to join him at Texas A&M in tight ends coach running backs coach
and offensive analyst FSU defensive coordinator interviewed for the same position at Colorado State this week, according to 247Sports.com.
The Seminoles, led by interim coach will return to practice on Monday ahead of the season finale at the Independence Bowl against Southern Miss on Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La. New UF coach
has hired to head the Gators’ strength and conditioning program.
The 28-year-old Savage is UF’s latest assistant coach from Mullen’s former staff at Mississippi State — and possibly the most important addition.
The day UF announced Mullen as head coach, athletics director
said improving the Gators’ strength program would be critical.
“It’s the backbone,” Stricklin said.
“I think any successful program has a really strong strength and conditioning program that builds accountability, and I think programs that aren't as successful usually are lacking in that area.”
Much of the blame for the 2017 Gators’ 4-7 season fell on former strength and conditioning coach
After UF’s offensive line was manhandled during a 33-16 loss in the season opener to Michigan, former UF head coach
questioned whether the Gators were strong enough.
The team’s litany of injuries also raised questions about the team’s offseason preparation.
Some even traced the team’s lack of discipline off the field to the strength and conditioning program, given players spend their most time with those coaches.