Shaquem Griffin becomes first one-handed player

Petersburg native Shaquem Griffin on Saturday in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Griffin, whose left hand was amputated when he was young, has become the feel-good story this year and one of the most popular players in this draft because of his perseverance, outgoing personality and, of course, his talent.

Exactly the sort of player the Seahawks seem to find; they drafted his twin brother, Shaquill, out of UCF last year.

“I was using the restroom and my brother came and tackled me with my cellphone, saying ‘answer it, answer it,’ and I looked, and that’s when tears started pouring down,” Griffin explained.

Griffin’s selection early in the fifth round enlivened a day in which most picks are relatively unknown or obscure players.