With less than 48 hours before Signing Day, elite defensive back Olaijah Griffin is still going back and forth on his decision. Griffin has taken official visits to Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and USC and all four schools have given him something to think about. Tennessee was his first visit and really wowed him on his trip.
The entire Vols staff, namely DB coach Terry Fair and head coach Jeremy Pruitt have done a great job recruiting Griffin and he's very comfortable with making the move out to Knoxville if that is indeed his decision. Location won't be an issue for him and Pruitt really opened his eyes on his home visit to how well he would fit in that defense.
Where he can develop the best and get to the NFL the quickest are two of the biggest, if not, the biggest factors in Griffin's decision. As a result, Alabama has also made a huge impression. Griffin loved his visit to Tuscaloosa and mentioned how many corners make the NFL and how hands on Nick Saban is in working with the defensive backs USC is the dominant leader in the 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast with 95% of the votes. They're the local school that he has visited numerous times, the childhood favorite and we know it's the school much of his family would like to see him at.
From talking to some people close to his recruitment, the feeling is Alabama and USC may have nudged ahead with Tennessee right there in the mix. As mentioned, Griffin is still going back and forth and has yet to finalize his decision. Griffin has said location won't play a huge role but it always seems to in the end when a player is this torn between 2-3 schools. The safe/convenient choice is stay home and play in front of friends and family. Griffin has said his biggest thing is being developed as a potential NFL corner and feels the two SEC schools give him the best shot.
Family is high on the USC degree and alumni support and we know that's something Griffin is weighing as well. We know when his playing days are done, he wants to live in Southern California and feels the networking at USC will be big in that respect. Griffin knows he can get to the NFL at any of his four choices and has a strong comfort level at each school as well. This one will definitely go down to the wire and it won't surprise us if Griffin doesn't decide on a school until he wakes up Wednesday morning.
If we had to make a guess right now, it would still be on USC but that's based more on past history then anything else. I've seen a ton of players set to leave the region as late as the night before Signing Day, then wake up the next day and choose to sign with the local school. This one is very tight and it wouldn't surprise one bit if Griffin picks Bama or the Vols. Griffin is set to announce at 9:00 (PST) on ESPN.
