Know about popular Cincinnati Bengals player Evan McPherson who debuted in league with a high goal percentage. At 5-9 and 180 pounds, Griffin was small by college football standards even then, but he played with the heart of a lion and no football accomplishment was beyond his reach. Griffin won four Big Ten Conference titles with the Ohio State Buckeyes and became the only player ever to start in four Rose Bowls . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He currently makes $350,000 a year. College Career of Archie Griffin Griffin wanted to go to Northwestern University, but he was persuaded to join Ohio State instead. Griffin had a bright future in football, but things never panned out, and the former OSU superstar ultimately went bankrupt before the age of 30. Please contact me with any questions. Career rushing statistics Honors Griffin finished fifth in the Heisman vote in his sophomore year and won the award as a junior and senior. The 40-year-old clip is grainy and hard to even find on the Internet. 45 was retired at halftime of the Ohio State vs. Penn State game on Oct. 30, 1999. We are ready Rapper Archie Eversole has died and police say his brother faces murder charges.. DeKalb County Police Officers in Georgia say that Arthur Eversole, better known as Archie Eversolewas shot by his brother Alexander Kraus on March 25 and taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was an All-District player in high school. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. High School: Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, OH) Year College Status; 1972: Ohio State: Lettered: 1973: Ohio State: Lettered: 1974: Ohio State . The latter award is presented annually by the Chicago Tribune to the Big Tens MVP. He carried for at least 100 yards in 34 games throughout his four-year college career, including an NCAA record 31 times. After finishing his career with Bengals, he played with the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League. The Life And Career Of David Klingler (Story), The Life And Career Of Carl Pickens (Story), The Life And Career Of Anthony Muoz (Story), The Life And Career Of Jack "Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Story), What Happened To Chris Henry? Career rushing statistics Honors Griffin finished fifth in the Heisman vote in his sophomore year and won the award as a junior and senior. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Advertise with us Learn more about our campaign to save USFL video, then check out the USFL Video Library Preservation GoFundMe campaign. The net worth of Archie Griffin is estimated to be $3 million. Archie Griffin is a former professional football player and as of 2019, Archie Griffin's net worth is estimated to be around $3 million. He was awarded his second Heisman, beating out Chuck Muncie and Ricky Bell. On top of that, his grandchild is also walking in his footsteps. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Eastmoor Academy honored him by renaming their field the Archie Griffin Field.. He was born as the middle child to James Griffin (father) and Margaret Monroe Griffin (mother). He rushed for 1,695 yards in 1974 and 1,450 yards in 1975. He has also earned a good fortune from his investments, sponsorships, and endorsements. Heisman Voting: His 924 runs between 1972-75 are almost 200 more than J.K. Dobbins in 2019, which is No. That infuriated Payton. (Complete Story), What Happened To Peter Warrick? Born in Columbus, Ohio, Griffin rushed for 1,787 yards and scored over 170 points in 11 games, including 29 touchdowns, as a senior fullback at Eastmoor High in Columbus in 1971. After graduation, Griffin was a first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals. College: Ohio State. Archie Griffin will always be a college football and Ohio State legend for winning two Heisman Trophies. However, there are some fan pages and fan clubs of Archie Griffin that you can join to get connected with his life updates. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He is the only NCAA football player to date to win the award twice. "I guess you can say I'll be quite conservative in the future. Archie Mason Griffin (born August 21, 1954) is a former American football running back. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He led the Buckeyes in rushing as a freshman with 867yards, but his numbers exploded the following year with the team's conversion to the I-formation. Griffin was the only back to lead the Big Ten Conference in rushing for three straight years until Jonathan Taylor did so from 2017-2019. Currently, he serves as a BOD for Motorists Insurance, through which he earns a decent sum as salary. He is also the current spokesman for the Wendy's High School Heisman award program. Weight: 189 3 national ranking on his way to winning the first of two Heisman Trophies. Over his four-year collegiate career, Griffin rushed for at least 100 yards in 34 games, including an NCAA record 31 consecutive games. In a sports climate where most winners of the Heisman immediately go on to lucrative careers in the . These are both one hundred percent true. Archie Griffin was born on August 21, 1954. 1st in 1974, When he won a starting position his freshman year, many sophomores were disappointed because Griffin took their spot. We also welcome back celebrity correspondent & #LSU fan @vanlathan to talk music and the fight w/OSU to claim Burrow. (Source : Chilicotte Gazette). "First and foremost, I would like to. It's good to see him doing well these days. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He played eight years of professional football, before returning to Columbus and joining the staff at Ohio State. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. That year he led Eastmoor to the Columbus City League championship, rushing for 267 yards on 31 carries in the title game against Linden-McKinley High School. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? This post was originally published on March 24, 2021. 2 (1973-1974)*Big 10 MVP. (Photo by Jodi Miller) For a century now, Ohio Stadium has been a magical place. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Draft: Cincinnati Bengals in the 1st round (24th overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft. He is the only NCAA football player to date to win the award twice. To this day, he remains the only player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy in consecutive seasons (1974 . Archie Griffin completed his schooling from Eastmoor High School. [12] Position: RB. Born: August 21, 1954Columbus, OH USA [3], Griffin played for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1972-75. He was inducted into the College. His career as an NFL player was far less successful, however. His fathers effort was worth it, as Griffins family is now a legacy at Ohio State University, where Archie and his brothers have made major contributions to college football. BLESSED TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY?? Far from a one-man feat. Griffin finished fifth in the Heisman vote in his sophomore year and won the award as a junior and senior. New York, NY, 10006. He rushed for 1,695 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1974, helping lead the Buckeyes to a joint Big Ten title with Michigan and won his first Heisman Trophy. After two impressive seasons as a freshman and sophomore, Griffin truly took off as a junior. Join our linker program. During his high school career, he was he held a record of 1787 yards and scored over 170 points in 11 games, including 29 touchdowns. Do you have a blog? But he was redshirted for the entire season. Moreover, Griffin's sun sign is Virgo. Griffin rushed for 1,787yards and scored over 170 points in 11 games, including 29 touchdowns, as a senior fullback at Eastmoor High School (now Eastmoor Academy) in Columbus, Ohio. The Archie and Bonita Griffin Scholarship to help coaches master the art of making champions BY ROBIN CHENOWETH Archie Griffin remembers climbing into the back of a mile-long El Camino in the early '70s and settling onto artificial turf, cut to line the steel bed. Contents 1 High school career 1.1 Honors 2 College career 2.1 Career rushing statistics 2.2 Honors 3 Professional football career 4 Career Statistics 5 Career after football 6 Family 7 References 8 External links The most prestigious award in college football. Four; Adam Griffin, Anthony, Andre & Adam Griffin, Three; Kamron, Diante, and Adrien Grifffin. Rachel Hunter Bio: Early Life, Net Worth, Children & Six brothers and a sister: Jimmy, Larry, Daryle, Duncan, Raymond, Keith (brothers), and Crystal (sister), 24th overall pick in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Two times recipient of the Heisman Trophy, Two times Big Ten Most Valuable Player (1973, 1974), Three times First-team All-American (19731975), Two times Sporting News Player of the Year (1974, 1975), Two times UPI Player of the Year (1974, 1975), Three times First-team All-Big Ten (19731975). He has seven rushing touchdowns. Do you have a sports website? This did not discourage him; he came stronger and even won the Iron Buckeye award for the winter of 2013. ARCHIE GRIFFIN Griffin, Archie Mason Height: 5-9 Weight: 188 Born: August . As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. . On January 1, 2014, Griffin was named the All-Century Player of the Rose Bowl Game during the celebration of the 100th Rose Bowl Game and participated in the Rose Parade. Discussion. Archie Griffin with his big family. If they know anything more, its that he left college football with many records, was the first player to play in four Rose Bowls, and (like many college greats . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. His brothers are named Jimmy, Larry, Daryle, Duncan, Raymond (former NFL cornerback who for a time was a teammate with the Bengals), and Keith who also played in the NFL. ProFootballHistory.com. You can see stats, bowl records, awards and more. At one time, he worked three jobs, driving a sanitation truck during the day, cleaning a school at night, and working in a steel factory. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1986. Archie Griffin has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. In their four seasons with Griffin as their starting running back, the Buckeyes posted a record of 40-5-1. He is American by his nationality and his ethnicity is African (black). This was the sole reason why he was rejected from the school team, but he was dedicated to becoming fit and healthy, so he started to work out at young age to attain that athletic figure. Apart from this, he was honored on January 1, 2014, in recognition of the 100th Rose Bowl Game, and participated in the Rose Parade on January 2, 2014. In the mid 70s, Archie Griffin was by far the biggest star in college football while a RB from a HBCU named Walter Payton was completely ignored by the press. Griffin was so good at Ohio State University that he became the first, and still only, two-time Heisman Trophy winner. The latter award is presented annually by the Chicago Tribune to the Big Tens MVP. Ohio State enshrined him in their own Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1981 and officially retired his number, 45, in 1999. In just the second game of his freshman year, Griffin ran for a school record 239 yards. He watched every Ohio State game he possibly could and was in disbelief that people thought Griffin was the best RB in college football. At 5'9" and 190 pounds, he was tough and elusive and racked up huge yardage in high school and college. Throughout the 192 paged book, he explains how he developed such a strong sense of self-worth. Between his sophomore and senior seasons, Griffin ran for 100 or more yards in 31 consecutive regular-season games, still an NCAA mark. Save the USFL Tapes! Griffins No. Birthdate: August 24, 1954. Following his contribution, he has been honored and inducted into several halls of fame for his contribution to the football field. 24 overall. Archie Griffin was tailor-made to be a running back. That year he led Eastmoor to the Columbus City League championship, rushing for 267 yards on 31 carries in the title game against Linden-McKinley High School. In his junior year, Griffin also rushed for over 1,000yards. In 1975, Griffin became the first player ever to win a second Heisman. What Happened to Texas Star Vince Young and Where is He Now. Home Leagues Seasons Teams Players Coaches Drafts Awards Leaderboards. Archie Goodwin was drafted by Oklahoma City Thunder, 1st round (29th pick, 29th overall), 2013 NBA Draft. Archie served as CEO and president of the Ohio State University Alumni Association for eleven years; he stepped back in 2015. He served over a decade as the President and CEO of the OSU Alumni Association. As a result of this, he went on to become a football icon, winning back-to-back awards and breaking several records. Archie Griffin of Ohio State holds up two fingers as he poses with the Heisman Trophy after he was named winner of the coveted bronze trophy for the second time in a row. Archie Griffin played fullback in high school at Eastmoor Academy in Ohio before taking his talents to Ohio State University and play for head coach Woody Hayes. Archie attended Eastmoor High School in Columbus, Ohio. Eastmoor Academy renamed their playing field "Archie Griffin Field" in his honor. He won those honors as a junior and senior. Excluding bowl games, Griffin rushed for a then-NCAA-record 5,177 yards on 845 carries. He was inducted into the Rose Bowls Hall of Fame in 1990. Griffin rushed for 1,357 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, leading Ohio State to an 11-0 record, a No. He served as the Director of Athletics special assistant in 1985. In their four seasons with Griffin as their starting running back, the Buckeyes posted a record of 40-5-1. Height: 5'9" Archie Mason Griffin Born: August 21, 1954 Columbus, OH USA Position: RB Height: 5'9" Weight: 189 College: Ohio St. High School: Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, OH) Career: 1976-1985 Drafted: 1976 in Round 1, #24 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. His incredible football abilities stunned the people who questioned Griffins athleticism. Furthermore, Archie was born in Columbus, Ohio, and identifies as an American of black ethnicity. A post shared by Archie Griffin (@archiegriffin45) on Nov 21, 2012 at 5:17am PST. To begin with, Archie didnt make the football team because of his non-athletic appearance. [8] United Press International named him Player of the Year twice (19741975), the Walter Camp Foundation named him top player twice (19741975), he won the Maxwell Award (1975), and Sporting News named him Man of the Year (1975). Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Archie Griffin will go down as one of the best running backs in Ohio State history, posting more than 4,700 yards rushing in his final three seasons with 23 rushing touchdowns. You have entered an incorrect email address! In 1972, Griffin was a T-formation halfback, and from 1973 through 1975, he was the team's I-formation tailback. Archie Mason Griffin Griffin rushed for 1,357 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, leading Ohio State to an 11-0 record, a No. Currently, he serves as a BOD for Motorists Insurance, through which he earns a decent sum as salary. When we say the richest NFL players net worth, who pops into your mind, and how much do you think they make? People born in August are Virgo. Archie Griffin and his brother filed for bankruptcy in 1981 after their debt ballooned when their business venture failed terribly. On Saturdays each fall, Buckeye faithful flock there from all corners of Ohio and beyond to . Formerly, he served as Assistant Athletic Director for The Ohio State University and still speaks to the football team before every game. 1 when I was finished. [1] Griffin won four Big Ten Conference titles with the Ohio State Buckeyes and was the first player ever to start in four Rose Bowls. However, very few of the players achieve greatness. USFL Video Library Preservation GoFundMe campaign, Save the USFL Video Archive Facebook group. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In 1975, Archie Griffin became college football's only two-time Heisman trophy winner. (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Ickey Woods (Complete Story), What Happened To Ki-Jana Carter? Latest on RB Archie Griffin including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on NFL.com 1. In 1974, Griffin led Ohio State to a 10-1 record and a No. Also, Griffin is 5 ft 9 (1.75 m) tall and weighs around 189 lb (86 kg). He is one of just three players to win that award twice. Archie Mason Griffin Born: August 21, 1954 Columbus, OH USA Position: RB Height: 5'9" Weight: 189 College: Ohio St. High School: Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, OH) USFL Career: 1985 Drafted: 1976 in Round 1, #24 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals More: Archie Griffin complete pro stats Drafted: 1976 in Round 1, #24 overall by the Cincinnati BengalsMore: Archie Griffin complete pro stats. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. He was briefly a member of the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals. At 5-9 and 180 pounds, Griffin was small by college football standards even then, but he played with the heart of a lion and no football accomplishment was beyond his reach. Archie Griffin has always credited his teammates for helping him make Heisman history. "Retirement has been fun," he told ABC6. (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Corey Dillon (Complete Story), What Happened To Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson? All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Lets find out more about it. [1] The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. He has remained around the college football world since he retired, though not inc coaching roles. Archie published his autobiography, Archie: The Archie Griffin Story, on January 1, 1977. He has three grandsons: Kamron, Diante, and Adrien. He's since retired and admits he hits the links a ton. Griffin also has three grandsons: Kamron, Diante, and Adrien. In his four years at Ohio State, Griffin became the. He served as the president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association. Archie Mason Griffin (born August 21, 1954) is a former American football running back. He rushed for 1,428yards in the regular season as a sophomore, 1,620 as a junior, 1,357 as a senior. Cincinnati Bengals first-round draft picks, List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders, "The 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history", "National High School Hall of Fame: Archie Griffin", "Griffin singing praise for Buckeyes' Tressel", "Archie Griffin: Associate Athletic Director", "Report: Deal to sell Dayton Dragons reached", "Palisades Arcadia to acquire Dayton Dragons", "OhioStateBuckeyes.com Buckeye Biography - #11 Adam Griffin", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archie_Griffin&oldid=1140210753, Players of American football from Columbus, Ohio, Short description is different from Wikidata, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 00:38. It is the highest award the NCAA can bestow. As an adviser,Griffin earned a yearly salaryof $175,000. underline indicates incomplete record; Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors. Archie Griffin '76 is looking forward to seeing a third generation of Griffins play in Ohio Stadium when his grandson takes the field this fall. Apart from Adam and Andre, little information about his other children is available. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Griffin was the No. Additionally, he was named United Press' Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975. The United States Football League video library is at risk. Join our linker program. Archie Griffin went to Ohio State University from 1972-75. Archie Griffin 5'9", 189 lbs Cincinnati Bengals RB Career StatsCareer StatsGame LogGame LogSplitsSplits Running back Archie Griffin played 7 seasons for the Bengals. For the second time in his career, he was selected the Big Tens Most Valuable Player after rushing for 1,450 yards and leading Ohio State to a fourth consecutive Rose Bowl appearance. Learn how your comment data is processed. 1 ranking and a Big Ten title. He was one of a line of talented Griffin brothers,. As an adviser, Griffin earned a yearly salary of $175,000. Griffin was honored with a place in the High School Hall of Fame in 1996. He had 6,559 all-purpose yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Griffin played in Super Bowl XVI with the Bengals after the 1981 season. His only carry in his first game had resulted in a fumble. He has written about his journey from being a bullied child who was never considered a footballer to becoming one of the legendary footballers. Griffin also served as president and CEO of Ohio State's alumni association from 2004-2015. Furthermore, Archie was born in Columbus, Ohio, and identifies as an American of black ethnicity. Archie Griffin was born on August 21, 1954, in Columbus, Ohio, the United States to Margaret and James Griffin and grew along with six brothers and sisters. His other son, Andre, also played running back at Ohio State from 1998 to 2001. Privacy Policy Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. In the meantime, Archie can find solace knowing his family is involved in the game. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. After graduation, Griffin was a first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals. He is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Archie Griffins Second Heisman Year Statistics, 111 Broadway, Suite 103A Griffin worked in Ohio State's athletic department from 1985 through the early 2000s. While he appeared to be in line for a successful NFL career, his fortunes quickly turned. Further his son Adam also is one of the significant football players of Ohio State Football team. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Excluding bowl games, Griffin rushed for a then-NCAA-record 5,177 yards on 845 carries. In 2007, he was ranked No. (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Cris Collingsworth (Complete Story). NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. This embarked on Griffins NFL journey, and he played for seven years (19761982), all with the Bengals. Relatives: BrothersKeithGriffin, RayGriffin, PFR HOF Monitor: 15.80 (304th among RB, average HOF RB is 106.95). (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images). inColumbus,OH, College: [7] Further, Griffin is the only back to lead the Big Ten Conference in rushing for three straight years. Archie attended Eastmoor High School in Columbus, where he wanted to play for the school football team. Archie was unstoppable in his college, smashing records upon records. Unfortunately, not much is known about how the couple met and how the love story began. Most people know Archie Griffin for two things: he is a legendary Buckeye and he is the only two time winner of the Heisman trophy. Earlier, he also served as Assistant Athlete Director of the Ohio State University. Griffin is the former President and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association. Lets find out more about it, 12 Richest NFL Players & their Net Worth>>>. Griffin also serves on the Board of Directors for Motorists Insurance which has offices in downtown Columbus, Abercrombie and Fitch, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, based in Irving, Texas. Archie Griffin. Picked up in the 2021 NFL draft, the player has already made his mark in the league>>>. Griffin's son Adam played as a defensive back for the Ohio State football team for three seasons until a shoulder injury ended his football career. Stats Gamelogs 100-Yard Rushing. Griffin is a son of Margaret and James Griffin. Former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes said of Griffin, "He's a better young man than he is a football player, and he's the best football player I've ever seen."[4]. He played eight years of professional football, before returning to Columbus and joining the staff at Ohio State. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. No-Trouble Returns upon All orders. The NFL legend, Archie Mason Griffin, was born in Columbus, Ohio, on August 21, 1954. Griffin served as the program's Associate Athletic Director, as well as the CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association for 11 years. Darius Days Bio: Family, Contracts And Net Worth, Gus Johnson Bio: Family, Documentary & Net Worth, Mike Conley Net Worth: Charity & Endorsements, Shaun Livingston Bio: Injuries, NBA Championships, Net Worth & Kids, Know about popular Cincinnati Bengals player. In addition to two Heisman Trophies, Griffin also has a pair of Silver Footballs. Do you have a blog? The Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the 24th overall pick with the hopes of him being a professional football star, too. Archie Griffin declared for the 1976 NFL Draft after his senior season and was a lock to be a first round pick after his dominance in college. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1990. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. 1st in 1975, Draft: 1st round, 24th overall of the 1976 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. EHE collaborates with the Department of Athletics, College of Medicine and . He also caught 4 passes for 25 yards. Griffin also was a two-time pick as National Player of the Year by both United Press International and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was awarded his second Heisman, beating out Chuck Muncie and Ricky Bell. He managed just three touchdowns as a rookie, and failed to score in his next four seasons in the league. Archie Griffin. He had 6,559 all-purpose yards and scored 26 touchdowns. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Archie Griffin is a college football legend. Since 1987, they have been living happily with each other. They reportedly had debts of more than $500,000 at the time. Griffin was then a senior advisor for the Ohio State Office of Advancement and still attends the Heisman Trophy ceremonies in New York. In his NFL career, Archie Griffin has a total of 2808 rushing yards with 4.1 yards per carry. .788. That year, he led Eastmoor to the Columbus City League championship, rushing for 267yards on 31 carries in the title game against Linden-McKinley High School. During his 7 NFL seasons, he rushed for 2808yards and 7 touchdowns, and caught 192 passes for 1607yards and 6 touchdowns. Terms of Use, SOURCE: INSPIRE MAGAZINE - The Ohio State University, A post shared by Archie Griffin (@archiegriffin45). The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The lovely couple after having a short-livedaffair with each other got married in 1987. Don't miss a story! Griffin was short and overweight in his childhood. According to archived New York Times articles, he and his brother, Ray Griffin, who also played at Ohio State, and other members of the Bengals, "filed for personal bankruptcy after a three-year venture, involving six athletic shoe stores, failed." (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images). Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? At 5 feet 9 inches and 180 pounds, Griffin was small by college football . Over his four-year collegiate career, Griffin rushed for at least 100 yards in 34 games, including an NCAA record 31 consecutive games. The Griffin has been a staple name in Ohio, and Diante has continued the Griffin legacy. Find out more. 5th in 1973, In the 1976 NFL Draft, he was the first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, selected as the 24th overall pick in the draft. After his career with the Bengals ended, Griffin played briefly with the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League.