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CHAMPAIGN — Caleb Griffin’s modified the lock display screen on his telephone after the 2019 Illinois soccer season to easily show “25.”
It was the variety of video games the Illini had performed since he arrived on campus in 2018. The variety of video games wherein Griffin didn’t make an affect as a result of he wasn’t on the sphere. The Danville native redshirted in 2018 behind future professional Chase McLaughlin after which misplaced a coaching camp battle in 2019 to James McCourt.
Information final Thursday that McCourt would miss the Purdue recreation due to contact tracing associated to roommate and Illinois beginning quarterback Brandon Peters’ constructive COVID-19 check thrust Griffin into the function because the Illini’s beginning kicker.
It additionally acquired Griffin fascinated about how lengthy it had been since he final competed in a recreation. He had to return to his senior baseball season with the Vikings — an 8-Four Class 4A regional semifinal loss to Moline on Might 22, 2018.
“It had been 893 days since I performed in any recreation,” Griffin stated Wednesday. “For those who keep in mind me in highschool, that’s ridiculous for me. Snapchat simply jogged my memory three years in the past (Wednesday) was my final soccer recreation my senior 12 months. All that point off — on a regular basis not being in video games, simply watching video games — it was a giant change for me coming from enjoying three video games per week in highschool.”
Griffin was a four-sport standout at Danville. He performed soccer and kicked for the Vikings’ soccer staff within the fall, shifted to basketball within the winter and completed up with baseball within the spring. Then nothing. For 893 days.
Griffin made all three of his further level makes an attempt and drilled a 28-yard discipline aim in final Saturday’s 31-24 loss to Purdue. He was as regular in his new function as Illini coach Lovie Smith anticipated.
“There’s a purpose why we put him on scholarship,” Smith stated. “He’s waited patiently for his alternative. My confidence stage is excessive with no matter we’d ask him to do. We want him to step up now and kick till James is able to go. I assumed he did a very good job Saturday along with his first motion, and he’ll be prepared if we name upon him this week.
“He has been ready patiently whereas he’s been competing day by day. It’s not prefer it was a giant shock and, ‘Oh, I’ve acquired to kick now.’ He prepares that manner. If you happen to’ve ever been to one among our practices, he’s undoubtedly concerned and locked in and in tune to every thing that is happening. The boldness stage with him is actually excessive.”
Griffin’s confidence stage in himself is fairly excessive, too. Even kicking in a largely empty Memorial Stadium final Saturday. That wasn’t a brand new expertise.
“I most likely have extra kicks on this discipline with no followers than anybody — ever,” Griffin stated. “I’ve been coming right here kicking in the summertime since my sophomore 12 months of highschool. Each time we’re on a break, I can come 30 minutes and kick within the stadium with my dad and my mates.
“I’m used to kicking within the stadium with no followers. I used to be excited for my first alternative to be with some followers, however then I most likely would have been just a little bit extra nervous. I acquired on the market and was like, ‘Dang, this is rather like kicking with my dad.’ It felt good.”
Griffin’s dad was within the Memorial Stadium stands final Saturday. So had been his sister and his uncle. Mother, too, even when it wasn’t initially the plan.
Solely household of the Illinois gamers, coaches and employees are allowed in Memorial Stadium on gameday per Huge Ten guidelines this season regarding the continuing pandemic.
“My mother wasn’t scheduled to return to the sport,” Griffin stated. “She had different plans. I known as her Thursday night time and was like, ‘Mother, I don’t need to break your Saturday plans, however I’m beginning on Saturday. If you wish to come to the sport, I’ve acquired a ticket for you.’ She jumped proper on it as a result of she needed to be there for that second.”
It was a second Griffin needed to look ahead to the final two years. He thought he was going to be “the man” final fall earlier than McCourt gained out in coaching camp. Griffin nonetheless embraced his function on the staff — keen to assist McCourt or punter Blake Hayes or particular groups coach Bob Ligashesky with no matter was requested of him.
“I stated to individuals I used to be like an intern for the final two years,” Griffin stated.
That have may give Griffin a leg up on his future profession. He desires to be a coach and has spent the final two seasons doing a few of that. All the things he takes in throughout particular groups conferences, he makes use of to assist his teammates on punt and kick protection, kickoffs or the sphere aim unit if they’ve any questions.
“It’s not straightforward if you solely have one particular groups coach and an analyst,” Griffin stated. “You want the blokes within the room to step up.”
Now that he’s gotten on the sphere, although, Griffin appears like he could be a fair higher chief.
“I’ve at all times thought-about myself a pacesetter, but it surely’s arduous to steer if you’re the backup kicker for 3 years,” he stated. “You may solely achieve this a lot. I feel getting on the market and with the ability to show myself, that I’m prepared, helped me from a management standpoint.”
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