Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 47 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Academy, one of the nation's most football-focused high schools. Griffith left home for IMG follow- ing his sophomore year at Chicago's Mt. Carmel High School, and while it was challenging at first he said he couldn't be happier with his decision. "It took me a week to make that decision," Griffith said. "I got down there, and it was difficult, but I got over things and now I am where I am." The distance was tough for Griffith, and he admits that. But throughout his time at IMG, there were several return trips to Chicago and he al- ways left encouraged. "Every time I came home I would go to youth football games and they would always tell me they were watching my games," Griffith said. "That really made me happy, being far from home and having people still supporting me. "That really made things exciting for me and my family." Griffith said without the move to Florida, he never would have be- come the player he is. "I became a leader at IMG," Griffith said. "I think that was the best decision for me." Though he spent his last two high school years in the Sunshine State, Griffith still claims Chicago as his hometown. When he arrived at Notre Dame, he joined three fellow Chicago na- tives — cornerback Julian Love, safety Isaiah Robertson and wide re- ceiver Miles Boykin, who he's known for a long time. Griffith said watching childhood friends excel at the college level has been an awesome experience. "I've known all those guys since freshman year or eighth grade, and it's exciting to see them making plays on such a big stage," Griffith said. "Us all being from the same area is really exciting." Griffith said being the next athlete to represent the city of Chicago, and the chance to be a role model to kids in the city, isn't something he takes lightly. "It's very important," Griffith said. "The city I'm from, I'm proud of it. I know there are lot of kids in the city that don't get a lot of the op- portunities that some get by playing Division I football. I just want to rep- resent my city well and just continue to make them happy." Griffith is filled with pride for the city that raised him and representing Chicago is a burden he's ready to bear. "It's the greatest city in America," he said. "The tradition and the ath- lete that have come through here is really important to me and I know our city takes a lot of pride in our teams." ✦ Rivals rates Griffith as the No. 43 overall player in the class of 2018. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS HOUSTON GRIFFITH SAFETY 6-0 · 194 IMG ACADEMY (BRADENTON, FLA.) CHICAGO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 43 4* 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 87 12^ 23 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 148 14^ 20 * Ranked as a S; ^ rated as a CB STATISTICS • Recorded 35 tackles, three stops for a loss, one sack, one interception and four passes bro‑ ken up as a senior, while helping IMG Academy to a 9‑0 record and No. 2 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 and MaxPreps Xcellent 25. • As a junior, notched 15 stops, one sack and seven passes broken up for an 11‑0 IMG squad that finished No. 2 in the final USA Today Super 25. HONORS • Named a top defensive performer at Rivals' 3‑Stripe Camp in St. Louis on May 21, 2017. • Five‑star member of the PrepStar Top 300 Dream Team, and was ranked as the No. 12 cor‑ nerback and No. 48 overall player nationally. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in the Under Armour All‑Amer‑ ican Game in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 4, 2017, and made one tackle in the contest. • Participated in Nike Football's The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore., June 28‑July 3, 2017 • Invited to take part in Rivals' Five‑Star Chal‑ lenge in Indianapolis on June 9‑10, 2017. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 12, 2017. • Originally committed to Florida State. • Primarily recruited to Notre Dame by corner‑ backs coach Todd Lyght. • Took more than five unofficial visits to Notre Dame. Went on an official visit to Notre Dame for the Georgia game on Sept. 9, 2017. NOTABLE • Born on Dec. 17, 1999. • Spent the first two years of his high school career at Chicago Mt. Carmel before transferring to IMG. • Son of former Denver Broncos fullback How‑ ard Griffith, a 10‑year NFL veteran and two‑time Super Bowl champion. • Played on a high school seven‑on‑seven team with current Notre Dame defensive backs Isaiah Robertson and Julian Love. 2018 PROJECTION • Griffith is a smart and talented player with advanced technique that could push for early playing time. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "Houston Griffith will be a huge part of our defense. He's made his mark on the prep scene and now he's ready to do his thing at the next level." Cornerbacks coach Todd Lyght: "A very tal‑ ented defensive back out of IMG Academy from the Chicago area. Houston is dynamic athlete. We're going to start him at corner, but he has the ability to play safety and corner, so we're going to move him around. He's going to be a real weapon for us on defense." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Griffith brings the kind of versatility you want in a defensive back, especially in a defense like the one Notre Dame plays. He can play safety or cornerback, he can defend the run and he projects as a good cover player. "He will likely start at cornerback, but it is at safety where his upside is the highest. The coverage skills he possesses and his football IQ project very well to the safety position. "Griffith really filled out his frame nicely as a senior, which allowed him to become a strong tackler. He was always a strong player with powerful hands, but the improved size made him a far more effective run defender as a safety."