Defensive sort out Thor Griffith caught the eye of Harvard head coach Tim Murphy from a youth hockey video.
Griffith, a 6-2, 305-pound senior from Portsmouth, N.H., enters the a hundred and fiftieth season of Harvard soccer an FCS preseason All-American with Bluebloods and Phil Steele and is acknowledged because the dominant defensive presence within the Ivy League.
Murphy was initially unimpressed with Griffith’s soccer skills from his three years enjoying defensive sort out at Portsmouth High School. But the hockey video Griffith despatched confirmed Murphy an athleticism and toughness the veteran coach hadn’t seen on the gridiron.
“Going into his senior year we weren’t really recruiting him and he had come to our camp as junior,” stated Murphy throughout image day on Wednesday afternoon at Harvard Stadium. “Our coaches had been lower than impressed and he didn’t have so much going for him coming from the state of New Hampshire however he was very persistent.
“He said, ‘Coach I know I can play at this level.’ I told him, ‘I appreciate that but I hear that from a lot of guys.’ ”
Instead of forwarding the video to Crimson’ hockey coach Ted Donato or dismissing it outright, Murphy gave it a tough look. The clincher got here when Griffith despatched a second video of his work with the Portsmouth wrestling staff on the New Hampshire state championships.
“He sent me a video when he when he was a 12-year-old player at a hockey camp and they had him rated one of the top 150 prospects in North America,” stated Murphy. “He was shifting ahead, backways, sideways and so fluid like he was 19 years previous, however then he acquired approach too massive for hockey.
“Now segway to him as a 275-pound 17-year-old and he sends the video of the New Hampshire state championship tremendous heavyweight match. In this one he’s throwing round this different 275-pound child like he was a ragdoll.
“I said right there we are taking this kid. It didn’t hurt that his SAT’s were off the charts and the rest is history. He’s gone from the surprise kid on our roster as a freshman to a dominating kid as a sophomore to an NFL prospect where he is now.”
Harvard struggled final season, going 6-4, however Griffith’s play didn’t slip below the radar. Griffith began 10 video games and completed with 24 solo tackles with 22 assisted tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks. Griffith has recorded 77 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks over the past two seasons.
Harvard misplaced seven starters on protection however the entrance 4 represents the power of the 2023 staff. Griffith is flanked by senior sort out Tyler Huenemann, with staff captain Nate Leskovec again speeding the sting.
Offensive strains have gotten extra refined with elaborate zone blocking schemes and Griffith has been steadily subjected to double groups. Being a bodily dominant sort out solely will get you up to now if you happen to can’t suppose your approach via a sport.
“We are definitely seeing a lot of different zone techniques and me personally I’ve been seeing a lot of double teams,” stated Griffith. “I’ve previously years and I’m positive it’s going to be extra so this 12 months.
“Nate is a great leader and phenomenal player and the same with Tyler. The thing is we have some core guys and we are trying to show the young kids what a Harvard defensive line is supposed to be.”
Harvard performs a 10-game season and doesn’t take part within the FCS playoffs. Despite the small window of gameday alternatives to showcase his wears, Griffth’s identify has appeared prominently on the lists of NFL draft worthy gamers within the FCS.
“A pro career is something I have been dreaming about since high school,” stated Griffith. “It is something I do want to do and getting this exposure has been a blessing, it is kind of like a weight being lifted off my shoulder.”
Griffith was the Division 2 New Hampshire tremendous heavyweight wrestling champion and he positioned fourth on the New England meet. The sport calls for endurance, power and agility and the talents Griffith developed on the mat have helped him handle life within the trenches of faculty soccer.
Fred Smerlas of Waltham performed 14 seasons within the NFL, was chosen to 5 Pro Bowls, and is thought to be one of many prime nostril tackles of all time. Before his four-year soccer profession at Boston College, Smerlas was the Massachusetts heavyweight state wrestling champion at Waltham High School. Smerlas all the time credited the talents and methods he realized as a highschool wrestler for serving to him navigate the center of an NFL entrance seven.
Griffith performs the identical place as Smerlas and makes use of his information of leverage and stability to make him a greater lineman.
“The biggest thing was the toughness and tenacity of going through a six-minute match against another guy,” stated Griffith. “It was about studying the methods our bodies transfer and bend with the completely different leverage factors and completely different stability factors.
“I learned how to get people off-balance and put them in uncomfortable positions. Now I’m taking advantage of that to get by them.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com