ORLANDO — Shaquem Griffin has been named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his first full season as a starter for UCF.
Griffin was a wrecking ball all season for the Knights, practically living in the backfield while thriving after both a system and position change. Moving from defensive back to outside linebacker and pass-rush specialist, Griffin led the entire conference with eleven sacks while pacing his teammates with 86 total tackles (second to only Mark Rucker) and 15 tackles for a loss as the lead wrecking ball of the UCFierce defense.
As a game-changing defender, Shaquem forced and recovered two fumbles, defended seven passes and intercepted one; his eleven sacks totaled 67 yards for a loss, his tackles for a loss as a whole would account for 91 yards.
UCF announced the award early Wednesday afternoon.
His breakout season comes on the heels of a pedestrian 2015, in which he had 25 tackles and one interception as a defensive back. It has stood as a testament and shining example to the potential success of Scott Frost’s scheme in his first season as the Knights’ head coach.
Shaquem Griffin’s efforts have been a central factor is the Knights much improved 2016 defense. At the end of regular season play, UCF ranked among the top five in:
Third-down defense (No. 1)
Pass defense efficiency (No. 1)
Total pass defense (No. 2)
Sacks (No. 2)
Team scoring defense (No. 3)
Total defense (No. 4)
Interceptions (No. 4)
