This weekend, the 2018 NFL season kicks off. Teams have been furiously getting their rosters finalized and setting their starting lineups. In some feel-good news, Seattle Seahawks rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin has been named a week one starter.

With a combination of an injury to incumbent starter K.J. Wright, outstanding play in the preseason, and a little luck, Shaquem Griffin has been confirmed by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll as the starter for week one.

You know the story.

You know about Shaquem having an identical twin, Shaquill. He was born with amniotic band syndrome and at age four, tried to cut his own hand off. You know that he had that hand amputated. He was told he couldn’t play football because it was a “two-hand sport” to the point where people tried to force him out. This part of the story has been played time and time again. While repetitive, it makes the rest of the story that much better.

You also know that he proved the world wrong.

This has become a mantra for Griffin. On multiple occasions, he’s been told that he can’t do something. Instead of accepting this as truth, he rose up and overcame. Not only did he overcome his obstacles, he thrived.

For @Shaquemgriffin, there are no limits. Why his success means so much to so many. #AgainstAllOdds 📰 | https://t.co/k4Dov4c5MQ pic.twitter.com/24GuhBnKdF — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 5, 2018

Griffin always had the dream of playing football at the highest level. He got the opportunity at UCF as a redshirt junior when Scott Frost took over the Knights program. He moved from defensive back to linebacker, bulked up some, and proceded to win American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year in 2016. In 2017, he continued to be a terror to opposing offenses, leading the Knights to an undefeated season and an NCAA recognized national championship.

While Griffin was a growing story, some considered him unable to convert from college to the pros. To Griffin, this was merely another set of doubters that need converting. After a strong Senior Bowl and a lot of outside pressure, the NFL invited him to the combine. Being on a level playing field with other would-be pros, he was able to showcase his talent. He started by running a 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, which turned a lot of heads, including Coach Carroll.

While the rest of the world was surprised, to the fans at UCF, this came to no surprise at all. To them, he’s been nothing short of inspirational — a role model.

The story continued to play out as he was drafted by Seattle in the 5th round of the NFL draft. For those who do not know, Seattle is also where his brother Shaquill plays. Shaquem took his energy and power to Seattle and immediately got to work, drawing praise from the coaching staff on a regular basis. After making 26 tackles in the preseason, Griffin made a very compelling argument to be considered to start.

The story now gets sweeter.

Not only does Shaquem get to start in week one of his rookie season, lining up at cornerback will be his twin brother Shaquill. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as Shaquem is one of the featured athletes for Nike’s 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign.

Shaquem Griffin: NFL starter. Dream realized.

I’ve been writing off and on since 2003, where I first wrote for Southern College Sports. After a hiatus, I returned in 2012 with The Sports Chronicles, a predecessor of NGSC Sports. After a brief stint with WBLZ in 2017, I returned to NGSC Sports before joining Blue HQ Media in 2018. Also, from 2015 to 2017, I helped run Off the Cuff, a sports program and blog with STLR Media. I have done radio and podcasts dating back to 2006 with The Student of the Game, an NFL podcast. In 2012, I cohosted TSC Saturday Night on the Sports Chronicles and The OT With Andrew G on WTMY in Sarasota, FL. I later moved the OT to NGSC Sports until 2014 where I started The College Cram, also on NGSC Sports. After a brief hiatus, I returned to radio in 2015 with both Off the Cuff on STLR and The Mad Scientist Sports Lab on The Inscriber.