Carlsbad WR/DB could be state’s most under the radar prospect
When you’re 6-foot-3, run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and have a 3.5 GPA, chances are college coaches are going to find you, regardless of where you live. For 2021 Carlsbad WR/DB Jaret Griffin, the recruiting process is still…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWhen you’re 6-foot-3, run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and have a 3.5 GPA, chances are college coaches are going to find you, regardless of where you live.
For 2021 Carlsbad WR/DB Jaret Griffin, the recruiting process is still in the early stages. Sure, FCS Northern Arizona and D-II West Texas A&M have expressed interest and doing their due diligence, but Griffin has yet to receive an offer, making him arguably New Mexico’s most under-the-radar prospect.
Carlsbad receivers coach Michael Desmond, who also trains athletes and , describes Griffin as a classic yet all too familiar example of a New Mexico prospect being overlooked because of where they live.
“It’s tough to really recruit this state,” Desmond said. “It’s so much easier to recruit a place like Phoenix where you have so many high schools close together. In New Mexico, everything is so spread out. It’s costly for schools to come here and recruit one kid. And the lack of a youth program here to develop players (is key). There’s no Pop Warner, nothing where they go compete for a national title.”
Three Carlsbad receivers from last season are now playing at the next level: Jonathan Galindo (NMMI), Shamar Smith (preferred walk-on LB at New Mexico State) and Xavier Ingram (Western New Mexico).
Griffin hopes to join them, either as a receiver or defensive back. He started the 2019 season with the Carlsbad JV team before being promoted to the varsity midway through the year.
“Last year I mostly played JV after starting the year playing special teams with the varsity,” Griffin said. “I wanted to play varsity, but there weren’t any spots. The coaches told me the best way to open eyes was to dominate JV, doing the best I can and show up and show out. That’s what I did.”
Griffin shined at safety for the Cavemen varsity.
“The first time they put me in, we were playing in las Cruces and within four plays I had an interception and took it back for about 30 yards,” Griffin said. “So, I ended up splitting time at free safety with another guy. Same thing at the slot position. Overall, things went pretty well.”
Griffin, who currently weighs about 185 pounds but wants to get to 200 by the spring season, raised eyebrows at a combine in El Paso when he ran a 4.5 40, earning him an invitation to last month’s Blue-Gray Combine in Las Vegas, Nev.
“That camp in El Paso went really well,” Griffin said. “My numbers blew me away. I didn’t know I could perform that well. I think I opened some eyes. The second one (at Las Vegas), I still felt pretty good with my numbers. Right now, I’m working on gaining lean muscle and keeping my speed.
“I’m trying to get to the next level, so I’m going to improve as much as I can and bring my team along with me and push them to be the best they can be. One of my top goals is to open some eyes from colleges. I’m open to anything right now. I’m just trying to get any school interested in me.”
He has also attended a camp at West Texas A&M, which is located south of Amarillo.
“Right now, we’re just trying to get Jared out there,” Desmon said. “There is definitely a spot for him at the next level. Going to the Blue-Gray Combine was a great experience. It was enlightening for Jared to get some competition against players from around the country. One thing Jaret has is confidence. When I got to Carlsbad, the first thing I told Jaret was dominate JV because we had Jonathan, Shamar and Xavier.
“Show us you can play. Get out there and get after it. He did. He absolutely dominated at JV. Next you know, he was starting for (the varsity) at safety and splitting time with Xavier in the slot. That was all through his hard work. We worked with him on running routes, building a route tree and all the little nuances that should help him now and help get him to the next level.”
Check out this video!https://t.co/dkp89bV9pf. @JaretGriffin1 class of 2021, 6’3 190, 3.5 GPA, 4.5 Forty: Big things coming for this Cavemen Receiver#WIT @cavemenstrong @MikeDoc40
— Michael Desmond (@dez1130) April 1, 2020
Hidden Gems: Under the Radar 2021 Prospects, Part 3@JaretGriffin1 @therealtommy6@johnnyjimenez62 @luke_padilla24 @AaronDeller https://t.co/r5AXKeWGYx
— Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) August 5, 2020