2015 defensive back Stephen Griffin was named the high school defensive player of the year at the Bronko Nagurski banquet on Monday evening.
High School Defensive Player of the Year: Stephen Griffin - South Mecklenburg pic.twitter.com/MQDlxSOY7i
— CLT Touchdown Club (@CTouchdownClub) December 9, 2014
Griffin, a 6’3″/189 lb three-star recruit from Charlotte, NC (South Mecklenburg), committed to Tennessee on March 20, 2014. He fits the prototypical mold of a Butch Jones defensive back — long and tall.
According to 247Sports, Griffin finished the 2014 season with 73 tackles (six tackles for loss), three interceptions, six pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.
The North Carolina native is rated by 247Sports as the 35th best player in the state and the 81st best safety in the nation.
Griffin’s recognition as the high school defensive player of the year suggests that Tennessee could be getting a steal.
Butch Jones and his staff have recruited North Carolina very well. They found a diamond in the rough in Greensboro’s Emmanuel Moseley, a player that wasn’t highly rated out of high school, but is now starting for the Vols.
Griffin recently took an official visit to UNC. However, he is still expected to be an early enrollee at Tennessee.
This is a guy the Vols need to keep. I don’t see any reason they’ll fail to do that.