Jam Griffin saw the stacked Ole Miss running back room and wanted to embrace the 'competition'
Less than a week ago Jam Griffin was spotted in a jersey and pads taking part in running back drills in the second week of Ole Miss’ fall camp. Griffin hit the transfer portal late but got all the clearances needed and is eligible for the 2023 season.
Now the former Oregon State and Georgia Tech running back is in a race against time to learn a new playbook in a trial by fire as he is already getting significant touches a handful of days into being a Rebel.
Saturday saw Griffin serving as the number two running back behind sophomore Quinshon Judkins. Nothing too surprising there with Ulysses Bentley IV still in the black no-contact jersey, allowing Griffin to hit the deep end of the pool now and get acclimated to the Ole Miss offense.
In this new world of transfer portals and NCAA-approved or Southeastern Conference-approved waivers players are sometimes able to be a part of one team in the summer then find themselves on a new roster in mid-August.
This is the challenge that is in front of Griffin, though he is embracing it.
“I just try to take everything as a professional,” Griffin said after Monday’s practice. “I come down here, gotta learn the playbook pretty fast. Fit in with the guys (and) not seem like I’m behind. So, that’s been a big part. Just me getting here and being here and taking everything in as fast as I can.”
Ole Miss was already loaded in its running back room with Judkins, Bentley, freshman Kedrick Reescano along with Fred McAfee and Matt Jones.
Adding Griffin only makes the room deeper and stronger. Though it also brings up the question of why would he transfer to a team that already has an established starter and lengthy list of backups.
“I like competition and I like feeding off people,” Griffin said. “I feel like (Judkins) can get me better and I can get him better in ways. I’m just here to work.”
Griffin was utilized often in the first Ole Miss scrimmage of camp, putting more emphasis on learning the playbook swiftly.
The workload was light for Judkins in last Saturday’s scrimmage which allowed for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin to see what he has in his latest portal addition.
A rushing attack was not very dominant with the Ole Miss defensive front winning the battle in the first fall scrimmage. But Griffin still took away valuable learning experiences in where he stands with his comfort level of the playbook less than a handful of practices in.
“I feel pretty good. I’m still not used to (the playbook),” Griffin said. “I still have some improvement to do. But as far as just being here for a couple days and what I have shown what I can do and how fast I picked it up, I feel good about being prepared for the season.”
This is Griffin’s third team in his collegiate career.
Making the jump from the Yellowjackets to the Beavers and now to Ole Miss is a lot for any player to adjust and acclimate to. Ole Miss has the uptempo offense, which is new for Griffin.
“At Oregon State we had a slower-paced offense. Pro style,” Griffin said. “We’d huddle all the time, mainly. Here there’s no huddle. So, I got to get in shape for a no-huddle offense. That’s the biggest change.”
