University of Arizona tight end Richard Griffith against UCLA in 1990. Griffith was a Catalina High School football player. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Griffith was named the Brian Murray Award winner in 1987, honored as Arizona’s best high school lineman for his work as a defensive tackle, recording 109 tackles and 9 sacks his senior year.
On offense, the 6-foot-5-inch, 220-pound Griffith caught 25 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns, earning second team 3A tight end honors in 1987, along with a scholarship to Arizona, where he was named a Sporting News freshman All-American in 1989.
Despite being used mainly as a blocker, Griffith caught 26 passes in 40 starts over four years at Arizona, earning Pac-10 honorable mention as a senior, eventually making his way to the NFL where he was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL draft. Griffith spent five years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting a career high 15 games in 1995. He last played in 2000.
