STARKVILLE — Growing up, Nick Griffin only dreamed of playing in the National Football League.
But Griffin is putting that dream on hold.
Earlier this year, the former Mississippi State football player was hired by new Madison Central High School football coach Brad Peterson to coach the running backs. Peterson wanted a coach who fit his personality and the personality of his staff. That’s what he found when he interviewed Griffin, who had 3.0 grade-point average and was a three-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Fall Honor Roll.
“I definitely thought he was a guy that fit with our staff and fit with our kids,” said Peterson, who spent five years at Brandon High before taking over for Bobby Hall at Madison Central High. “Taking away the SEC part, as an individual, as a person, he’s a guy that has high character, did really well in school. He fits our needs as far as that part goes.
“It’s just a bonus having a guy that played in the SEC, that’s been there, our guys can look up to, and have an immediate impact as far as a guy that’s been there and done that.”
Griffin came to MSU as a promising running back out of Perry Central High in New Augusta. Injuries to both of his anterior cruciate ligaments slowed his progress, but he was healthy this past season and made the most of his senior year. The 6-foot, 226-pound running back rushed for 157 yards and one touchdown and helped the Bulldogs rise to No. 1 for five weeks. For his career, Griffin rushed for 592 yards and four touchdowns.
“The last four or five years he’s gotten to practice it every day,” Peterson said. “He’s gotten to be around some of the best coaches in the country. He brings some new ideas that go along with that as well.”
Griffin said he is still healthy, but he wasn’t taken in the NFL draft in April and didn’t sign a free-agent contract with a NFL team immediately following the draft.
Playing for country
Although Griffin will start his coaching career soon, he will have at least one more chance to put the pads on.
Griffin will play for the United States in the fifth International Federation of American Football Senior World Championship, an international American football competition held every four years and contested by teams representing member nations. The IFAF, the international governing body for the sport, will run the competition, which will take place Thursday through July 18 in Canton, Ohio.
Team USA, the two-time defending champions, will play Mexico on Thursday in its first game.
Along with Team USA, six other teams will participate. Former Boise State and Colorado coach Dan Hawkins will coach Team USA.
Griffin didn’t want to take part in the event when he learned about it last fall, but he changed his mind as his senior year was coming to an end.
“I’m very excited. It’s a very big deal to me,” Griffin said. “I’m really just happy to be playing football again and I get to represent my country while I’m doing it, so it’s pretty great.”
There are three other running backs on the 45-man roster, but Griffin can play tailback and fullback. He hopes that increases his chances of earning playing time, but he said he isn’t sure how things will work out.
“I’m like the only person like that on the roster, so hopefully I can play a lot,” Griffin said.
Reunited and it feels so good
Griffin won’t be the only player with MSU ties on Team USA.
Quarterback Dylan Favre, who played for the Bulldogs from 2010-11, also made the team after Griffin persuaded him to try to get involved. After playing in Starkville, Favre transferred to Tennessee-Martin, where he finished his career playing for former Bulldog Jason Simpson, who is the Skyhawks’ head coach. Simpson signed as a quarterback with MSU and played for the baseball team in the early 1990s. He played two seasons in Starkville before transferring to Southern Mississippi.
Mount Union’s Kevin Burke is the only other quarterback on Team USA’s roster.
“He’s looking good,” Griffin said of Favre. “The quarterbacks are trying to pick up the offense, and they’ve got the most to worry about.”
Griffin is happy to be playing with Favre, as they were part of the same MSU recruiting class. He hopes they are on the field at the same time for Team USA, and he’s making sure that happens in practice.
“I make sure I go with him because of the connection,” Griffin said.
Working for Peterson
After the IFAF Senior World Championship, Griffin will begin his coaching career at one of the state’s biggest schools.
Griffin said he is excited to work at a Class 6A school, the largest classification in the state, and to work for Peterson, who also has coached at Louisville High.
“It’s a blessing. I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with somebody like that because I can really learn a lot from him,” Griffin said. “That’s one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to go there, so I could be under a coach that can help me grow. I can also help the team prosper.”
Griffin said he might give a professional career another go, but he said he would be happy as a coach if it doesn’t pan out. He’s realistic and knows his chances are slim. If he can’t play the game, coaching is the next best thing in his mind.
“I love this game. You can’t play forever,” Griffin said. “That’s like the next big thing you can do is end up being a coach, and I want to stick close and stick around the game. I think I have a lot of knowledge I can offer to youth, so I think that’s something I can see myself doing.”
Ben Wait is a sports writer for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.