Tevin Griffey, Son of Ken Griffey Jr., Commits to Florida A&M Football
Florida A&M is keeping an FBS prospect within state lines. Not your typical sleeper or under the radar prospect, either.
It's Tevin Griffey.
Yes, from that family. The son of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., the senior wrapped up his high school recruitment this week with a commitment to the Rattlers program. He was in Tallahassee to get a closer look at FAMU during an official visit last weekend.
"They had one of the coolest coaching staffs," Griffey told SI All-American. "And they personally want you to be there. There was a lot of one on one time with each coach and they made you feel at home."
The Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips defensive back, should he sign with the program, would be the highest-rated defensive signee for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member in the modern recruiting era per the 247Sports Composite measure. Fellow class of 2020 verbal commitment Evan Webster, another in-state pledge, is currently the highest-ranked pledge in FAMU history (.8410). Griffey's rating stands at .8376.
The new in-state commitment says his future program began making a push in his recruitment in December and stayed the course through the dead period. Griffey then took the official visit with each parent alongside.
"They liked it and they think it’s a good fit for me," he said.
Of course Ken has been a wealth of knowledge to help Tevin navigate the recruiting process. His primary angle is a combination between fit and fun.
"He just says to keep an open mind do what feels right and go to a school that wants you." Tevin said. "But to ultimately have fun."
At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, there are multiple roles Griffey may find in the FAMU secondary eventually.
"They like how physical I am and my instincts, along with my patience," he said. "They like that I can play both (cornerback and safety) so it gives me more tools in my tool box.
"I primarily play corner but in the last two All-Star games I was in I played safety and got a pick in both games."
This commitment and process isn't very new for the family, not even on the football field.
Ken's oldest son, Trey (Ken Griffey III), also went the football route and played wide receiver at Arizona. Another Dr. Phillips product, he made it to the NFL and had brief stints with the Colts, Dolphins and Steelers, most recently. Trey's Arizona career, spanning from a redshirt year in 2012 through 2016, concluded with 1,241 yards and six touchdowns.
Trey was even drafted by the team his father is most known for playing for, the Seattle Mariners, as a 24th round selection in 2016 despite not focusing on baseball beyond the youth level.
With the youngest Griffey on board, FAMU currently boasts the top recruiting class in the MEAC, per the 247Sports Composite. Tevin had verbal offers from Michigan and Toledo earlier in his recruitment and turned heads last spring with a 4.50 40-yard dash and 4.34 shuttle run at The Opening Orlando.
National Signing Day is February 5.
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