The Hawaii football team will have a new dimension to its offense with the addition of a plus-sized offensive lineman.
David Griffin of Mesa (Ariz.) Community College said he made an oral commitment to play for the Warriors in 2013.
Griffin, who is 6 feet 6 and 320 pounds, will sign a letter of intent on Wednesday. He will enroll at UH in January and compete in spring training. He will have two years to play two seasons.
"It feels like a good fit," Griffin said. "I’m comfortable with the coaches. It’s a good situation."
Shawn Gloden, Mesa’s line coach, described Griffin as a hard worker and aggressive blocker.
"He’s one of those guys who can get to the second level real quick," Gloden said, referring to blocking linebackers. "He raises all kinds of trouble in the second level and, definitely, the third level. He loves getting to that third level, and getting in the face of those strong and free safeties. They don’t like that very much.
"A big body roaming around the third level is like a big wave in a little pool."
Griffin was raised in Tallahassee, Fla., where he rooted for Florida State.
He was a standout basketball player at Florida A&M University High. After receiving one Division I basketball offer entering his senior year, he decided to focus on football.
Griffin redshirted at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College in 2010. He attended Mesa for three semesters. He will receive an associate’s degree in two weeks.
Gloden recalled Griffin weighing 250 pounds when he first enrolled at Mesa. They both decided Griffin needed to gain weight.
"There are two things that God gives you: height and speed," Gloden said. "Coaches can’t do much for that. He had both of those. He did the rest with hard work in the weight room and a good diet.
"He’s a born left tackle. He’s fast. He has really fast feet. He has long arms, and a long reach."
Griffin received offers from Arkansas, Mississippi State, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky and South Alabama. He said none compared to UH.
"It was the coaching staff," Griffin said. "I felt comfortable with them. The way they recruited me was different than anybody else."