Today begins the start of a busy month for the Griffin twins of St. Petersburg Lakewood High School.
It will also be a busy month for UCF fans as they try to keep track of the visits twin brothers, Shaquem and Shaquill, will be taking during the final 35 days remaining until National Signing Day on Feb. 6.
Shaquill (6-2, 190) and Shaquem Griffin (6-1, 185) committed to UCF this past summer and they have never wavered on their collective pledge. Plenty of schools have come calling and the twins have reiterated they will listen to what other schools have to offer, but their loyalties remain tied to the UCF coaching staff and the program.
They attended almost every UCF home game. They wear their UCF gear proudly. Their mother, Tangie Griffin, also loves the UCF program. Their mother is also probably a major player in this decision process.
Oh sure, the twins will tell you it's their decision. Every prospect tells the same scenario. In the end, it's their decision. Parents, too, will usually say ultimately it's the player's decision to make. Whether it's true or not.
When both players were posed with the question about mom's influence in the decision last week at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game in Sebring, they both went silent momentarily, and then Shaquill answered: “You know, we don't make no decision without her. She's a big part of our recruitment.”
And then Shaquem chimed in, “But at the end of the day, it's still our decision.”
Yes, as long as their mother agrees. Perhaps even more than the twins think. Following the interview with Shaquill and Shaquem, Tangie Griffin pulled me aside and said, “You know that part you asked about their mom holding the key? You were right about that.”
It's a tight family, however, and so there isn't likely to be a broad range of opinion on the subject.
There will be three campus visits this month before the twins end the pre-signing day adventure with an official trip back to Orlando and UCF. Sure, they've been there time and again, but that will be the time that George O'Leary's staff will roll out the red carpet.
O'Leary tells all of his committed players who want to take visits to other schools that it's fine to take your trips as long as the final official visit is to UCF. That gives the Knights the opportunity to make the final, lasting impression.
The first stop on the Griffins' Magical Mystery Tour will be the University of Houston, and then they will also visit West Virginia and Cincinnati. Many consider the Mountaineers to have a shot at steering the defensive backs to Morgantown. The way the twins speak about it, however, it looks as if it will be hard to swing the Griffins in any direction other than back toward UCF.
“It's still the same ... we're UCF commits,” Shaquill said. “We talk with the [UCF] coaches every chance we get, building our relationships, getting a lot closer ... meeting our new teammates.”
Some of those new teammates, should they stay the course with the Knights, were wearing the same uniform at the North-South game. Fellow UCF commits QB Pete DiNovo of Tarpon Springs East Lake and LB Jake Berman of Naples Baron Collier were also part of the South roster, while DE Deondre Barnett was a member of the North squad.
“It was good to play with all of our UCF commits and balling out with them,” Shaquem said.
It will only be a few weeks before we truly know if the Griffins will indeed join the rest of the UCF commits as part of the Knights 2013 recruiting class. Things appear to be looking good for UCF.
At least if Tangie Griffin gets her way. And, of course, moms usually do. Mothers know best, right?
Chris Hays is the Sentinel's recruiting coverage coordinator and can be reached at chays@tribune.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Os_Recruiting and Facebook at Orlando Sentinel Recruiting and now on Pinterest at Orlando Recruiting.
