Florida 2026 QB Will Griffin learns quickly about Ohio State and Michigan rivalry
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
TAMPA, Fla. – Performing at college camps helps players learn more about their position and allows prospects to work one-on-one with their potential future position coach. In some circles, performing at back-to-back camps between bitter rivals can lead to a lesson learned. For Florida 2026 QB Will Griffin, the Tampa Jesuit talent spun it at a couple handful of college camps going back to the Sunshine State with a better understanding of the hatred between the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
The summer spin it tour was successful for Griffin pushing his offer total to eight. The offering teams include Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Toledo.
The camp season was covered by Griffin.
“I tried to cover most of the south,” Griffin stated. “I got to Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, up a little further to Tennessee, and then I went up north to Ohio State and Michigan. After that, I came down to LSU and then hit Florida and Clemson.”
Hitting targets in Columbus was one of Griffin’s top performances.
“That went really-really well,” Griffin shared. “I feel that I did my best there. It was a good day; I got the offer when I was up there. I got to talk to coach (Ryan) Day and coach (Corey) Dennis (QB); I really like the crew they have there.”
Getting face-to-face time with Buckeyes’ head coach Ryan Day left an impression on the rising quarterback.
“One feedback that I got, that I really liked, was from coach Day,” Griffin said. “He said to always stay hungry. You can let things get to your head sometimes, and then you don’t appreciate everything as much as others do. Staying hungry was a good one that I took back with me.”
Heading to Ann Arbor after Columbus, that’s when lessons were learned about college football rivalries.
“I was at Ohio State and then went to Michigan, I learned quickly not to say that around them,” Griffin stated. “That rivalry is like no other. You got Florida and Florida State, and a lot of other big rivalries, but nothing like this one. This one is pretty crazy.”
Time with Michigan’s head coach also made an impression on Griffin.
“Coach Jim Harbaugh was amazing,” Griffin shared. “That guy has the most experience after playing in the NFL, played at Michigan, and now he is back there wanting to end his career there. He’s got something special. The same with coach Kirk (Campbell – QB), and they brought on coach Josh (Sinagoga – OA) as well. I like what they are doing there too.
“I got some good advice from coach Harbaugh. He said to push yourself down and pull those up around me. I try to do that, but when he said it, that really stuck out. I try to do that, especially with the younger guys, when they are down, try to pull them up letting them know it is alright.”
After earning the starting spot for the Tigers during the 2022 season, college scouts will have a watchful eye on Griffin this fall.
“Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, USC, Texas, they all show really good interest,” Griffin shared. “When I visit them, I will be really happy to see them.”
Wide open in his process, Griffin is actively pursuing several schools building bonds as he looks for his next level landing spot.
“All the offers I have, and even with the ones I don’t, I try to stay in as much contact as possible,” Griffin said. “Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, Miami, Alabama, Clemson – I try to stay in contact with all of them letting them know that I am interested too, it is not just one school I am narrowed down to.”
The fall travel schedule will depend on Jesuit’s season.
“It will mostly be based around my schedule and which ones I can make,” Griffin stated. “I want to get around to the Florida schools that have offered, Florida, Florida State, Miami, and I also want to get to know Georgia and Alabama a little bit more. USC is kind of far out there. Ohio State and Michigan, I’d love to get up there for their game. Texas – there are a lot I’d like to go to, but I can’t go to all of them.”
*Click the link for the June 4 RNG interview with Will Griffin.