2018 USC Football Roster
Roster
Olaijah Griffin
- Position:
- Cornerback
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 180
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Long Beach, CA
- High School:
- Mission Viejo HS
CAREER: He has 67 tackles, including 2.5 for losses of 6 yards, 14 deflections, 1 interception, 3 kickoff returns for 52 yards (17.3 avg) and 1 punt return for -2 yards (-2.0 avg) in his career. He has appeared in 25 games, with 15 starts, in his career.
2020: Griffin was impressive starting for his season season at cornerback as a junior in 2020. Overall in 2020 while appearing in all 6 games and starting 5 (all but Washington State), he had 22 tackles (with 1 for a loss of 2 yards), 4 deflections and 1 interception for -1 yard (-1.0 avg), plus 3 kickoff returns for 52 yards (17.3 avg) and 1 punt return for -2 yards (-2.0 avg).. He made 2020 All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 second team. He had 4 tackles, a deflection and 3 kickoff returns for 52 yards against Arizona State, 4 tackles and a deflection at Arizona, 4 tackles (0.5 for loss) and 2 deflections at Utah, a tackle and an interception versus Washington State, 6 tackles (0.5 for loss) at UCLA and 3 tackles and returned a punt for minus 2 yards against Oregon.
2019: Griffin started most of 2019 at cornerback as a sophomore. Overall in 2019 while appearing in 11 games (all but Washington and Arizona) and starting 10 times (all but Washington, Arizona and California), he had 37 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss of 1 yards, plus a team-best 9 deflections. He injured his back against Utah and missed the Washington game, then reinjured it at Notre Dame and missed the Arizona game. He made 2019 All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 third team. He was limited in 2019 spring practice while recuperating from 2018 shoulder surgery. He had 5 tackles and a deflection against Fresno State, 4 tackles and 4 deflections against Stanford, 4 tackles at BYU and 4 tackles and a deflection against Utah. He had 3 tackles (0.5 for loss) at Notre Dame. He had 5 tackles with a deflection at Colorado, a tackle against Oregon, 5 tackles and 2 deflections at Arizona State, a tackle at California, 2 tackles against UCLA and 3 tackles against Iowa.
2018: Griffin saw action in 8 games (all but Utah, Arizona State, Oregon State, Notre Dame) at cornerback and on special teams as a first-year freshman in 2018. Overall in 2018, he had 8 tackles, including 1 for a 3-yard loss, and a deflection. He injured his shoulder against Colorado, forcing him out of the Utah, Arizona State and Oregon State games, then re-injured it at UCLA and was sidelined for the Notre Dame game, then had post-season surgery on both shoulders. He had 3 tackles and a deflection against UNLV, a tackle at Stanford, 2 tackles (1 for a loss) at Texas and 1 tackle each against Washington State and Arizona.
HIGH SCHOOL: He made 2017 Max Preps All-American first team, PrepStar Dream Team, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, USA Today All-California first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Division 1, Los Angeles Times All-Area Back of the Year, Orange County Register All-Orange County first team and All-South Coast League MVP as a senior cornerback and wide receiver at Mission Viejo (Calif.) High. In 2017, he had 40 tackles, including 2 for losses, plus an interception, 4 deflections and 2 forced fumbles on defense, caught 33 passes for 875 yards (26.5 avg) with 12 TDs on offense and had 4 punt returns for 122 yards (30.5 avg) with 1 TD and 2 kickoff returns for 55 yards (27.5 avg). As a 2016 junior, he made Max Preps Junior All-American first team, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Junior first team, All-CIF Division 1, Orange County Register All-Orange County first team and All-South Coast League first team while getting 35 tackles (4 for losses), 2 interceptions and 2 interceptions, plus catching 39 passes for 759 yards (19.5 avg) with 11 TDs. As a 2015 sophomore, he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore first team, All-CIF West Valley Division, Orange County Register All-Orange County second team and All-South Coast League first team.
PERSONAL: He is a communication major at USC. His father is rapper and hip-hop producer Warren G.
