Griffith Finding a Home at Boundary Corner

Houston Griffith was one of the top rated recruits signed by Notre Dame in the 2018 cycle and it was clear right away that he was going to see the field as a freshman. He did end up playing quite a bit at the nickel position last season, but that was his third position since he arrived on campus last January.

He started out as a boundary cornerback, moved to safety by the end of last spring, and then when Shaun Crawford was lost for the season, Griffith was moved inside to the nickel.

It wasn’t exactly an ideal situation for a freshman to be moved around that much in year one at Notre Dame. Now the coaching staff has moved him right back to where he started playing the boundary corner spot that was previously played by Julian Love.

It was a move that Griffith welcomed when they approached him about before spring ball.

“Towards the end of spring workouts we had a conversation,” Griffith said about the position switch. “I wasn’t shy about it. I know I’m a versatile player and they said I’m a versatile player so they were just confident in my abilities.”

His confidence is one reason why Griffith is suited for the role. Even when he gives up a play, he has short memory and goes out to win the next rep. He’s not someone who is going to back down from a challenge and he’s been very vocal on the field this spring.

“I love talking. I’ve never been a shy guy,” Griffith confessed. “I just love having fun and being me and having a personality out there on the field.”

That personality comes out every day in his constant battles with wide receiver Chase Claypool after he moved over to the boundary receiver spot. The two of them are trying to consistently push each other and Griffith relishes the chance to compete with a great receiver every day in practice.

“Before every practice me and Chase we go up to each other and say, “Let’s compete.” We try to get the best out of each other. He’s going to make me better and I’m going to make him better. It’s really just good competition and I’m having fun...we’re both having fun out there.”

Griffith is doing his best to challenge Claypool while adjusting to playing boundary. Last year was a far greater adjustment, though. Although Griffith played and practiced against strong competition at IMG Academy, it was a completely different situation when moving up to play college football.

“Just the game...how fast the game moves at the college level,” Griffith admitted about the toughest adjustment last season. “Coming from high school and being thrown in on 3rd down, you just have to be ready to compete. You’re in their in the slot and it’s a whole lot of field to cover. You have to be ready to use your technique and be ready to play.”

Technique, technique, technique.

It’s something that came up frequently in Griffith’s answers to many questions posed by the media scrum after last Saturday’s practice. He is trying to focus on the finer details of the position to help him translate his athleticism to production playing the boundary. The process has been enjoyable for him and it doesn’t hurt that there is more physicality involved at the boundary as opposed to the nickel.

“I love that I get to be real physical,” Griffith said. “I’m not afraid of contact. Any time there is a run out there, I’m ready to set the edge and to make a play on the running back or get up and make a play on the receiver.”

The player he is replacing made a ton of those physical plays over the last two seasons. Griffith has big shoes to fill, but no one should expect him to back down from the challenge.