The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
22 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State fifth-year senior nickel Stephen Griffin would have loved to play one more game, but it was not meant to be. The 6-3, 203-pounder started 10 of 12 tilts he played in for the 4-8 Wolfpack this season. The former Charlotte (N.C.) South Mecklenburg High standout signed with Tennessee, but after two years with the Volunteers he transferred to NC State. He went from a safety to nickel, and fin- ished with 72 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, nine passes broken up and one forced fumble in 25 career games. He got his first career sack against Clemson, where his father Steve Griffin was a run- ning back from 1982-86. Griffin recently took some time with The Wolfpacker to discuss his career at NC State: Nickels coach Aaron Henry said before the season he knew you were going through some difficult emotions due to the passing of your grandfather. What was that like? "It's been pretty tough. Everybody goes through their fair share of ups and downs and challenges, but you have to preserve and fight through. "My grandfather [Archie Smith] actually passed away this sum- mer, so that was tough. It just gives me more motivation to go play harder." How close were you to your grandfather? "I actually talked to him before every game. I would call him and it would just ease my mind before every game. I know he's always there with me. That just gives me comfort." In what ways did you pay your respects to him? "I do a little prayer. Every week, I miss him. I usually talk to him before every game. I usually send my prayers up to him. I know he's watching me. "That is a little ritual before every game. He's always in my mind and my heart." What was it like to play Clemson for the last time in the Griffin household? "It really wasn't a big deal. Yeah, my dad played there, but it is just another game." How did you try and help lift the spirits of your teammates throughout the season? "We are competitors. At the end of the day, you have to have heart, you have to have passion, no matter what is going on. "With the outside world and what other people are saying, you just go out there and play. It's football, so you just have to play." How did you handle sharing snaps with sophomore Tyler Baker-Williams? "In a perfect world, yeah, everybody wants a starting position. I'm a team guy. I'm going to do my role to the best of my ability." How do you feel you've changed during your three years at NC State? "I honestly feel like I've matured a lot — my mindset, my men- tality. I feel like I've grown so much just since last year. "I'm just handling things differently, slowing the game down. I got even more comfortable with the defense." How hard a position is playing nickel in the Wolfpack's 3-3-5 scheme? "You have to guard usually the quickest dude on the other team. He has a two-way go pretty much every play. He has a lot of space. You have to be on your P's and Q's. "That is just your assignment and you have to do the job to the best of your ability." What were your goals for your senior year? "I just wanted to leave a legacy and uphold the standard — make sure that guys are coming through, doing their job and mak- ing it to the next level." Was it tough to go through a redshirt year on the sidelines as a transfer, and then you when you finally came back you got hurt to start your redshirt junior year? "I'm not the type of person who's going to question God be- cause there is always a plan behind it or a reason behind it. I'm a true believer that everything happens for a reason. That was my time where I had to sit back and God was telling me something. "I'm a man of faith. I just put my faith in God and then try to handle the situations that I have thrown at me to the best of my ability." — Jacey Zembal GETTING TO KNOW: Griffin recorded 72 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, nine passes broken up and one forced fumble in 25 career games at NC State. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN STEPHEN GRIFFIN ■ FOOTBALL