Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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18 SEPT. 11, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED and didn't disappoint. Just two weeks af- ter Freeman was hired, Griffith returned — this time with a clearer outlook, a stronger desire and a firmer commitment as a player from what he showed during his first three seasons with the Irish. Freeman's quick work and sincere mes- sage helped to make Griffith the first Irish player since the NCAA portal officially opened three years ago to pull his name out and return to Notre Dame. It's logical to think that guarantees of a starting spot or extended playing time were extended to Griffith during those negotiations, but that wasn't the case. "There were no promises," Kelly said of the re-recruitment conversations. "We didn't promise him a starting position. All we said was that, 'We believe that this is the right place for you, and we want you to be here.'" Upon his return to campus for spring ball, Griffith explained that he became impressed during his transfer consider- ation with Freeman's passion and moved by Kelly's commitment to him. Griffith ultimately decided that despite no guar- antees, his fresh start would come in fa- miliar surroundings. "I couldn't turn that down, Griffith said. "To have the opportunity to finish up my degree, which I'm about to finish up in the next few weeks here. I'm look- ing forward to playing in this defense and helping this [defensive secondary] unit grow as a team." GROWING UP Since his arrival to Notre Dame in January 2018, Griffith has always talked about putting team first. But in order for this veteran and versatile 6-0¼, 202-pound player to truly help his team, he first had to help himself. And through a renewed self-assured- ness from the confidence Freeman and new Irish safeties coach Chris O'Leary instilled in him, Griffith realized it was time to put his message into action and move from an anonymous backup to a team leader. Because only five of the 16 Irish de- fensive backs have any tangible game experience, the Notre Dame coaches put Griffith in myriad leadership roles during the offseason, including one as a Spring/ Summer Workout Accountability Team (SWAT) captain, a front-line position that brings equal parts accolades when things go right as it does accountably when the group underperforms. "Having this leadership role is some- thing I enjoy. It's something that's been able to challenge me." Griffith said. "That's something that I have tried to embrace and just continue being a leader and help the young guys. I'm trying to put confidence in the other guys in front of me and bring out the best of myself and the other 10 guys on the field." With 2020 starting strong safety Shaun Crawford — who beat out Griffith for the spot last season — gone after six seasons in the program, Griffith, along with junior All-American safety Kyle Hamilton and senior DJ Brown are the only three Irish safeties with more than 30 snaps last season. Griffith accepted and excelled in his expanded role during the offseason — as both a player and a leader — locked down the starting safety spot opposite Hamilton and drew nothing but high praise from his coaches along the way. "Where we're at now," Kelly said, "I just feel like [Griffith] is playing the game with a high football IQ. And, to me, it just is coming easier to him." Griffith's raw athleticism and talent have always been evident — at least in flashes — during games and practices since the Chicago native arrived at Notre Dame after playing his final two years of high school ball at national prep power IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Griffith will line up at the stud safety position, where his coaches anticipate a heavy tackling workload as opposing offenses look to avoid All-American free safety Kyle Hamilton. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER