Pace receiver Griffin getting a lot of interest

The Miami Herald's list of the top 25 players in Miami-Dade County has a slew of talented wide receivers, including Monsignor Pace's Sterling Griffin.

Griffin, who runs a 4.5 second 40-yards dash and a 4.17 second shuttle, has been getting a lot of attention since the end of the 2007 season, and he has already gotten offers from local universities Florida International, Florida Atlantic and South Florida. He also has received offers from Syracuse, Iowa State, Virginia and Purdue.

Griffin, 15th on The Herald's top 25 list, caught 35 passes for 970 yards and 10 touchdowns his junior season. The 6-2, 174-pound senior also played safety and finished with 50 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Griffin describes himself as an elusive receiver and credits his time on offense as helping when his defense.

''I always try to make the first guy miss, and I am always looking for the end zone -- I know how to get open,'' Griffin said. ``As a safety, if the ball's in the air I am going to come down with it, it's just something I have to do.''

TOP 100 RECEIVER

According to Rivals.com, Griffin is the 94th-ranked wide receiver in the country. And Scout.com grades him as a 77 -- which, according to Scout.com, means he's a good prospect that could become a good Division 1 starter.

Griffin's coach expects big things from his receiver and says he can move the chains when his team needs a big first down.

''He's a big position receiver,'' coach Alvin Slaughter said. ``He's that tall guy over the middle that we needed and that we didn't have before.''

Slaughter is not only impressed with Griffin's great hands, but also with his work ethic.

''He's the first one on the field and last to leave,'' Slaughter said. ``With 3.2 GPA he's a complete student athlete.''

At Pace, Griffin is a two-sport star, winning a state championship in the 400-meter relay, second in the 400-meter and helped his team to a second-place finish at state last season. He was recognized by The Miami Herald as an All-Dade first-team member in football and track.

Griffin started his high school career at Norland where he was moved up from junior varsity to varsity his freshman year. He then transferred to Pace for his junior season.

While at Norland, Griffin says moving to varsity was hard, but likes the way his game has come along.

''My freshman year, I was nervous when they moved me up to varsity everything was so fast,'' Griffin said. ``My sophomore year, I was more comfortable and the game started slowing down. My junior year, I felt like I couldn't be stopped.''

Griffin has been playing organized football since he was 5 and credits his dad and his natural ability with helping him develop his receiver chops.

`BORN WITH TALENT'

''I was born with the talent it runs in my blood, and my dad has coached me doing drills,'' Griffin said. ``And I've watched what other people do and try to put that in my game to make my game better.''

One of the ''guys'' Griffin says he tries to model his game after is Cleveland Brown's receiver Braylon Edwards.

''I like his aggressiveness, the way he gets open and the way he moves on the field he's very smooth and crisp,'' Griffin said. ``He tries to make himself better every play and runs hard.''

As for where Griffin will end up after high school, the decision is still up in the air, but he has an idea of what he wants out of his college of choice.

''I just want to go to a place where I can get some playing time, and fits me,'' Griffin said. ``And in three or four years they help me get to the next level.''

When the time comes for Griffin to move on to college coach, Slaughter hopes that by playing in Miami-Dade and under Pace's system of trying to develop players for the next level Griffin and his other players will adjust quicker to the faster college game.

''I look at playing in Dade County like playing in the SEC. When your kids graduate they're not shocked by how fast other kids and schools are,'' Slaughter said. "Pace tries to implement a college football system so when the kids graduate they're not so far behind with what the college coaches are teaching.''