Growing up in southern Florida, Shaquill Griffin, the Seattle Seahawks new cornerback, dreamed of playing football for the University of Miami. After starring for Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, the Hurricanes came calling and he turned them down. That was due to a promise he had made to his twin brother years earlier.

Shaquem Griffin was born 16 seconds after his older brother. At the age of 4, his left hand was amputated due to complications of a congenital disorder called amniotic band syndrome. Shaquem, with the help of his family, was not going to let this hold him back.

He learned how to perform daily functions using only one hand and improvised when it came to lifting weights and doing other tasks. Like his brother, he loved football, and at the age of 13, Shaquill made him a promise.

Shaquill vowed he would not play for a school that did not offer scholarships to both him and his brother. He kept this promise, turning down a chance to play for Miami and numerous other high-caliber programs, opting instead to attend the University of Central Florida, who had offered Shaquem a place on the team.

Last Friday, Shaquill was selected by the Seahawks in the third round with No. 90 overall pick in the NFL draft. His brother Shaquem has one year of eligibility left at Central Florida after winning AAC’s Defensive Player of the Year award as a linebacker in 2016.

Maybe next year, the brothers will be playing together again.