With the No. 90 overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks selected cornerback Shaquill Griffin with their third selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, marking the highest spot a cornerback has been drafted by the Seahawks under general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll. The Seahawks used their first two picks on defensive lineman Malik McDowell and offensive lineman Ethan Pocic.
"It feels good," Griffin said via conference call following the Seahawks' pick. "I really appreciate that. I got my family in the background going crazy.
"I had to come and lock myself in the room just to talk," he added with a laugh, later stating, "I was so excited just to get the call. I could see it in my mom's face. She started to cry, and my auntie and my grandma, just the emotion is so hard to explain when you've been waiting for a situation like this for so long in my life. I've just been dreaming of this moment and it's finally coming true. I can't explain that emotion that I had when I got that phone call."
In college, Griffin played alongside his twin brother, Shaquem, who had his left hand amputated when he was four years old. Shaquill busted onto the Knights' scene his junior year, earning the starting job for the school and taking advantage of the opportunity.
"I know he's enjoying it right now," Shaquill said of his twin brother. "He's banging on the door just to get in the room just to talk to me. He's excited and he knows he's the next one up. I know he can't wait, just to see me going through this whole process, I know he's excited."
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Griffin played nine games at cornerback and two at safety en route to recording 50 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass break-ups. He doubled his interception total his senior year and was named second-team All-Conference by The American.
"As of right now I'm sticking to corner, but if I had to transition to safety, I definitely would play it when I have to," he said.
Bringing size and length, the addition of Griffin adds depth to the cornerback position for the Seahawks, who faced a few questions at the position behind Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane heading into a draft loaded with defensive talent. Last year's starter opposite of Sherman, DeShawn Shead, is still questionable for the start of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in the playoffs.
"Right now what I know about the Seahawks is just I'm on that press coverage that I can use all my tools and stuff, just to help out the team," Griffin said. "I'm just tryinig to help them win some ball games this year, get a chance to learn as much as I can as possible and contribute this year."
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Photos of Seahawks draft pick Shaquill Griffin from Central Florida.
Cincinnati wide receiver Johnny Holton (3) catches a pass before breaking away from UCF defensive back Shaquill Griffin (10) for a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Connecticut running back Arkeel Newsome (22) looks for a way around Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Connecticut wide receiver Brian Lemelle (84) runs for a 46-yard touchdown on a pass play as Central Florida 's Shaquill Griffin (10) tries to stop him during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Central Florida won the game 62-17.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin runs the 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Monday, March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin runs a drill at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Monday, March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Central Florida defensive back Shaquill Griffin runs a drill at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Monday, March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
