Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin have provided inspiration for many people, but as the twin brothers began preparing to give the commencement speech during a virtual graduation ceremony at their alma mater this weekend, the former UCF stars turned to some familiar names for guidance.
“We started with [former president] Barack Obama and that was a tough start,” Shaquem said of other commencement speeches he studied. “That wasn’t working, so we went to [Houston Texans linebacker] J.J. Watt. He made me feel a lot more comfortable speaking. I saw how he started things off with a joke and it broke the ice a bit, which is kind of my style.
“I watched J.J. Watt, I watched [actor] Denzel Washington.”
“Barack Obama was the hardest, so I don’t think I’m going to top that one,” Shaquill told reporters during a videoconference call Monday.
With the campus closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, UCF is hosting an online commencement ceremony for spring graduates on Saturday. Each of the university’s 13 colleges will recognize graduates during ceremonies streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Part of the festivities includes commencement speeches from the Griffins, who received bachelor’s degrees from the university in 2016. The Seattle Seahawks drafted Shaquill in 2017 and selected his brother a year later.
Shaquem had his left hand amputated as a child, but he continued to work out and play sports alongside his twin brother.
They stuck together, both deciding to sign with UCF. Shaquill immediately earned playing time and became a defensive leader in the secondary. He exhausted his eligibility a year ahead of his brother and headed to the NFL first.
Shaquem played linebacker and on special teams at UCF, but he initially struggled to earn playing time. After a coaching change, he became a two-year starter and dominant performer who won American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. Shaquem helped lead the Knights to a 13-0 mark during the 2017 season, including included a win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.
He went on to become the first one-handed player selected in the NFL draft.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Shaquem said of being asked to speak to the 2020 UCF graduating class. “I would have never thought I would be giving the commencement speech right now. We’re truly blessed to be able to come back to UCF and to give something from our heart.”
Added Shaquill, “The best thing about it is it makes you feel good about the things that you have been doing, on and off the field. It makes you want to do more good things for people knowing that we have so many people looking up to us and watching. It’s a tremendous honor to give this speech.”
The brothers plan on taking their speeches in different directions.
Shaquem wants his message to the 2020 graduates to be uncut and raw.
“I want to give them something from my experience,” he said. “I know they want to hear from us, and they want to hear it come straight from the heart for what we’ve experienced. Everything doesn’t come easy. You graduate and you think everything is on the upfront. What is your mindset going to be? Are you going to let adversity stop you from achieving your goals? It’s not going to stop me; it’s only going to make me greater.”
Shaquill said while his brother’s message will focus on overcoming adversity, he wants to focus on taking advantage of opportunities.
“Leaving college, you make the best of whatever situation you’re put in,” he said. “After being a UCF Knight, all we ever needed was an opportunity to be able to show how great we really are. … After you graduate, whatever is next, all you need is the foot in the door to become successful and great. If someone gives you something, take full advantage of it and make it the best opportunity you’ve ever gotten.”
The brothers have been staying in Florida with their mother, working out in the backyard with their dad in a homemade gym as they wait for the NFL to resume workouts.
“It’s definitely been different,” Shaquill said. “I’m so used to being on a schedule around this time, so the extra time on my hands has been difficult. We do our workouts and we’re trying to find more things to do around the house that’s safe but betters us. So whenever we do report back, we’ll be ahead of the curve.”
Shaquill said he hasn’t received word from either the league offices or the NFLPA about when the NFL could resume workouts.
“At this time, we have no clue when we may begin,” he said. “That’s the scariest part of it because you just don’t know. Are you working enough? Are you working too much? Those are the type of questions I have in my head.”
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com.
