One-handed UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin invited to NFL combine

After being named practice player of the week at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Shaquem Griffin has received an invite to the NFL scouting combine, the Central Florida linebacker announced Tuesday on Twitter.

Attempting to be the first player with one hand -- according to the NFL -- to be drafted in the modern era, Griffin said last week that he hadn't yet been invited to the event, which begins Feb. 27 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Griffin's twin brother, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin, expressed disappointment last week that his little brother wasn't included on the initial list of invitees.

"I feel like he's proven enough," Shaquill told ESPN. "I'm not sure what else that he needs to prove to get the invite, but you know there's going to be coaches and teams that's going to have their own opinion about both of us, actually. I feel like after a while, enough is enough. I feel like he's proven enough. But he's never been the type of person to let stuff like that get to him, so I guess I've got to get better at that because I feel like I took it harder than he did."

Shaquill, a third-round pick out of Central Florida last April, was born a minute before Shaquem. The younger Griffin was born with amniotic band syndrome affecting his left hand, preventing his fingers from fully developing. The hand was amputated when Shaquem was 4 years old after it continued to cause him pain.

Despite that, Griffin was a two-time first-team All-AAC selection for the Knights, earning the conference's defensive player of the year award in 2016. He also earned defensive MVP honors in the Peach Bowl earlier this month, which capped UCF's undefeated season with a win over Auburn.

Griffin's belated combine invitation is not unusual. Shaquill was invited last year after being left off the initial list.

--Field Level Media

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