(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – When the University of Central Florida lost to Arkansas State University in last year’s AutoNation Cure Bowl, it had to be a bit of a surreal moment for Knights linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Barring a reunion in the National Football League, that game was likely the last he would play with his twin brother Shaquill Griffin.
Shaquill was out of eligibility, graduating and, months later, would be off to the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks. Shaquem, who red-shirted his freshman year, still had one year of eligibility left at UCF. He was now losing his brother, a friend and someone he was closer with than anyone else on the team.
While the relationship between family—let alone twins—can never be replaced, Shaquem has developed a new bond with another teammate. Shaquem and redshirt freshman linebacker Dedrion “Bam Bam” Bacote have fostered a friendship that has been spearheaded by both players staying in the team’s on-campus facility, the Wayne Densch Center, during fall camp.
“I would say [the teammate I’m getting closer with] would have to be Bam Bam,” Griffin said after practice on Aug. 8. “‘Cause that’s the one who stays here with me in the Wayne Densch, and he been here since Day 1. I was like, ‘Man, you don’t have to stay here.’ He’s like, ‘Nah, I’m gonna learn everything I can. ‘Cause when you gone, it’s gonna be over. I gotta be able to teach everybody else.’”
Griffin and Bacote have been in the Wayne Densch Center since training camp started. Bacote wasn’t originally planning on staying on campus during camp until Griffin told him about his intentions.
“I was like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna just do this with you and see how it goes,” Bacote said after practice on Aug. 15. “So I just went in and did it with him. We just camped in the meeting room, in one of our coach’s rooms. And it’s not as bad as people think. It’s actually easier for us.”
Since that first day at the Wayne Densch Center Griffin and Bacote have almost been inseparable.
“I know he took the role of just being that guy who’s always with me and not just only being in the Wayne Densch and at football—everywhere we go,” Griffin said. “If I’m going back home, he’s with me. If I’m just hanging out, going bowling, you know, Bam Bam’s right there.”
By growing their friendship and building their bond, Bacote and Griffin hope to bring the team closer as well.
“We went bowling. Linebackers, all of us went to the movies sometimes,” Bacote said. “We try to stay close off the field, too. So, like, any type of team bonding ‘cause that’s what we’re trying to build with the team right now. That goes a long way with us. That’s like a process. A family. Like, we trying to bring this family together.”
As last season’s American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Griffin knows a thing or two about playing linebacker. Fortunately for Bacote, Griffin sees the second-year Knight is progressing in the right direction.
“…I think [Bacote’s] learning a lot very fast,” Griffin said. “And just from last year to now, he pick up on everything so fast, and he’s getting so much better.”
Griffin, Bacote and the rest of the Knights take on Florida International University in the season-opener on Aug 31.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for their season-opener, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
