VIDEO: UCF Knights Shaquem Griffin Named Jason Witten Man of the Year Finalist
By Daniel Forcella, UCF Knights Sports // December 13, 2017
Griffin has graduated with a degree in sociology.
ABOVE VIDEO: UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin hasn’t let living with only one hand stop him from pursuing his athletic dreams.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — The three finalists for the inaugural Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year were announced today, and among them was UCF’s Shaquem Griffin.
The award recognizes exemplary leadership both on and off the field.
Selected from a group of 20 semifinalists by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Board of Directors, the three finalists have all demonstrated an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship.
All three will be invited to the award ceremony on February 22, 2018, at The Star in Frisco, Texas, where the winner will be announced.
“I am very excited to announce these three exceptional young men as the finalists for the inaugural Collegiate Man of the Year,” said Witten. “Minkah Fitzpatrick, Shaquem Griffin and Mason Rudolph are outstanding leaders on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and they embody what the sport of college football is all about. It was a nearly impossible task to choose just three from all of the great student-athletes nominated.”
“There are so many outstanding leaders who are great representatives for college football, and I commend all of the nominees for the tremendous example they set on and off the field.”
Shaquem Griffin (Sr., LB, UCF) has become one of the nation’s top defensive players and led his team to an undefeated season and a conference title, despite having only one hand. He has been an inspiration to his teammates and has already graduated with a degree in sociology.
A regular volunteer at local Boys & Girls Clubs, Griffin is the reigning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (Jr., DB, Alabama) is the leader of fourth-ranked Alabama’s feared defense and is unquestionably one of the best overall players in the country. But his dedication to academics, which earned him a spot on the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll last year, and focus on community work, where he has done mission trips and been a leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has made him a standout off the field as well.
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