Small School, P4 Frame: Baldwin's WR/DB Langston Griffin Wants All The Smoke

Langston Hughes takes us through breaking school record in Triple Jump, transferring to Baldwin, playing Both sides, HS Adversity & much more…

0:00 - Introduction

0:25 - Breaking Triple Jump record at Trinity Christian Academy

1:36 - When he started Running Track

2:08 - Transitioning to Baldwin HS

3:31 - What he prefers to play at next level

3:49 - Playing Style at Corner

4:21 - Mindset playing on an Island

5:20 - Run Support

6:08 - Trash Talker?

6:24 - Favorite Route to Run

7:52 - Creating Separation

8:28 - Mindset after a Drop

9:20 - 2 Sports in college?

9:30 - Do coaches ask you to pick 1 position?

9:55 - Origin of being a 2 way player

10:44 - Offseason Weight Goals

11:25 - Toughest WR to guard (Marquez Hicks)

12:35 - Funny story about Nugget

13:39 - Best DB He has faced

14:39 - Deeper Position in 904 DB or WR?

15:48 - Legacy at Baldwin

16:19 - Pitch to College Coaches

16:57 - New Teammates and Coaches

19:03 - Personal & Team Goals

20:36 - Rapid Fire

21:35 - Last Message

21:53 - DOWNLOAD, RATE & REVIEW

Twitter: @behindTW904

Transcript

Introduction

Coach Moss 0:01

Six foot two, one hundred and seventy-five pounds, long lean and a two-way player from Baldwin High School. He'll press short broad receiver number one, then he'll line up and become a receiver one. He covers touchdowns, then he catches them. And Duval, two-way stars are built different, and the Indians have got one. Baldwin and DB receiver, Langston Griffin. Welcome to Behind the Whistle 904.

Langston 0:23

Thank you for having me.

Coach Moss 0:24

Thanks for coming

Breaking Triple Jump record at Trinity Christian Academy

Coach Moss 0:25

on. So when I was doing my research, I saw that you had, when we while you were at Trinity, you had broke the triple jump jump record. How was that?

Langston 0:34

Yes, it was a it was a great experience, really. I knew because we had a Ridge view meet a couple months earlier, and I had jumped a 13.65, and the school record was a 13.72. And after that meet, I knew I could get, I was like, I gotta finish the season and getting the school record. So then it was state, and my coach had told me, because I think my highest jump before that was a 13.5. And my coach had came over and told me he was like, sit down, lock in. You got one more big jump for this season. So I sat down, went through everything. Because I was kind of I was kind of nervous and I was kind of frustrated. So he he told me to sit down, calm down, took some deep breaths, went out there, jumped the school record, and I was happy after that. For real. It was good. It was good to finish the season off on a high note, really.

Coach Moss 1:30

So what place did you end up coming in state?

Langston 1:33

I got it, I got seventh place.

Coach Moss 1:34

Okay.

Langston 1:35

So I meddled.

When he started Running Track

Coach Moss 1:36

And you then you came in first place in the region, right? Yes. So how long have you actually been um doing track? Have you just you just started or have you been doing it like since you was little?

Langston 1:47

I just started. I did triple jump last year, but I was really just going out and doing it. I didn't really take it seriously until this year.

Coach Moss 1:59

Is that all you did triple jump or do you do it did you do any other events?

Langston 2:03

I did the triple jump and I was on the four by four relay.

Coach Moss 2:07

Okay.

Transitioning to Baldwin HS

Coach Moss 2:08

So um how was how were your two years at Trinity and what kind of went till you um transitioning into Bald Win?

Langston 2:16

Um the transition to Bald Win, it w it was just that Trinity wasn't really a fit for me. Like Trinity's a great program and everything, but it just wasn't a good fit for me. And some schools cater to other people better, and that's what Bald win, that's what bald win, I think, was to me. Like I knew I was gonna play both ways. I wasn't really playing both ways. At Trinity, I was more of a rotational guy at DB, which is still good, but there was a better opportunity elsewhere, and that's what really went into it, really.

Coach Moss 2:54

Yeah, and I think that's kind of big because sometimes people just want to go to a school for the name and not the a school that's kind of is the best fit for them. So I think that's great that you found that at Baldwin. Yes.

Langston 3:07

So And that's that's what I told people as well. Like this is this move wasn't really a move for this move was more of a move for me. It wasn't like, oh, I I don't like you guys. I don't I told all I told all the coaches and players I'm cool with y'all, I love y'all, thank you for everything that I did over the years, but I just it was a better situation for me.

Coach Moss 3:30

Yes,

What he prefers to play at next level

Coach Moss 3:31

sir, that's perfectly understandable. So um when college coaches come to recruit you at ball, do you tell them you're a receiver or a DB, or you tell them you you can play both sides?

Langston 3:40

I told them I told them I play both.

Coach Moss 3:42

Yeah.

Langston 3:42

I could play both sides at a high level. And that's why I really showed in the spring game before I got hurt.

Playing Style at Corner

Coach Moss 3:49

Yes, sir. So your your playing style as far as that corner, when the ball's in the air, are you trying to go get the ball or you trying to make sure the receiver don't catch it?

Langston 4:00

It really depends on the receiver. If I know, if I know the receiver has strong hands, I'll more prioritize punching the ball out. Because if I miss, he's gonna haul it in. But if it's somebody with, let's say, weaker hands, I'll go for the ball. It just really depends on the receiver. Like the receiver really judges how I'm gonna play my technique.

Mindset playing on an Island

Coach Moss 4:21

Okay, yeah, that that makes sense. So um I'm gonna just give you this scenario. So basically you're on the island, you don't have no safety up. Like, what's your mindset as far as going into that play?

Langston 4:34

Where am I at?

Coach Moss 4:35

Yeah, at corner against the receiver, a receiver outside on the side.

Langston 4:39

No, I'm saying I'm saying like yardage. Where would I be at?

Coach Moss 4:41

Just say we're in the open field.

Langston 4:43

Okay, open field. Yeah. First I'm thinking, okay, where is he aligned? Is he more in the slot or is he more outside? And then I'll play off of that. If they're more in the slot, I know they're gonna do more of an outbreaking Route. So I'll just protect the inside. Once they get that outside release, I know I have him, and I'll just read and react off the break. If they're outside, I'm just protecting the inside. If he comes inside, I got him. If he goes outside, he's he really can only run a goal ball if he's outside. So I know he's either gonna run a goal ball or probably a comeback. There's not really much you can do if you're at the outside receiver and you take an outside release.

Coach Moss 5:19

Yes,

Run Support

Coach Moss 5:20

sir. So at one stage, you kind of you're you're not kind of like the linebackers, you know they're bigger and stuff like that. So like as far as coming down for run support, are you just flying down there like crazily, or are you just trying or are you just trying to make sure he don't get outside outside of you and let your linebackers and those bigger guys make the tackle?

Langston 5:38

I make sure nobody gets outside of me. Because if I do fly down and he cuts outside of me, that's a touchdown. There's no other help. Whereas if I'm coming down more at a tempo pace, and I can get him back inside so linebackers can make a play. Because that's really selfish football for real. Like, if I fly down, that's more selfish for me, and it could result for as a touchdown for the other team, and it just wouldn't be a good play. That's more selfish than anything.

Coach Moss 6:07

Yes,

Trash Talker?

Coach Moss 6:08

sir. So are you a trash talker? Like, if you press that line against the receiver, or you just kind of just play?

Langston 6:14

It depends. If they're talking to me, I'll talk back. But if if they really if they ain't really saying nothing, I'll really say nothing either. I'll just let my game talk.

Coach Moss 6:23

Okay,

Favorite Route to Run

Coach Moss 6:24

now we're gonna talk about the other side of the ball as far as you're at receiver. So do you have a what's your favorite route like that you think DBs can't stop? Like if you if if it's a big play, what's one route you're saying, Coach, give me this route? I'm I know I'm gonna get open.

Langston 6:41

Probably, probably a post. I like running a post.

Coach Moss 6:45

What do you like about that?

Langston 6:48

Um, just because a lot of DBs, they play trail technique. So it's something like a post. I know I can get inside because I'm a big physical receiver. If a receiver, if a DB tries to jam me, I'll just push them off of me and then I'll get into my route. And then when I break, I really take my post high so the so the quarterback can throw it like over the shoulder in front of me. And then yeah, so if they're playing trail, I really haven't beat off the brakes. So that's what I really like about it. A go ball, a goal ball to me is pretty predictable. Like everybody loves it. You know, you you can tell when somebody's about to run a go ball. Like in the spring game, for example, we were on the goal line and they were doing a little audible. They were doing like the money sign kind of thing, and I was like, oh, this is a goal ball. This is a fade ball. It wasn't even like fade balls are so easy to predict. And he came to the line happy, he was ready, he ran full speed to the line, got lined up. I'm like, yeah, this is a fade ball. It's everybody's favorite route, so it's pretty predictable.

Creating Separation

Coach Moss 7:52

Yeah, so speaking on that, as far as like when you create um separation at receiver, do you kind of more use your speed or do you use like the techniques as far as in your route to um get open and create separation?

Langston 8:06

Like I said, from a DB standpoint, as a receiver, it depends on the DB as well. So if they're more of a lunging DB, if I know they're gonna lunge at me, I'll kind of step back and use my speed. But if they're more of a patient DB, I'll be more technical and actually get more into my break, in and out of my brakes, and use a more technical release.

Mindset after a Drop

Coach Moss 8:28

Yes, sir. Makes sense. So um we just talk about like as far as catching, catching the football. So let's say you drop a pass. Are you the type of receiver that wants the quarterback to come back to you the next play, or do you kind of want like a drive or a couple of plays to kind of reset your mentor before he throws the ball to you again?

Langston 8:47

Yes, I want I want the quarterback to go right back at me. Get give me something else. And if they don't they don't give me something else, I'll just get it back on defense. I need I'm gonna need the other quarterback to throw at me so I can make a play. Like, it's really on both sides of the ball. When I make bad plays, I just need I just want to have I just want another play back so I can get right back at it. And if I don't get it, I'll just look at the other side of the ball. So like if I get beat at DB, I'll be like, alright, I need to go catch a ball at receiver. Or if I get beat at receiver and don't get it back, I need to go do something at DB.

Coach Moss 9:19

Yes, sir,

2 Sports in college?

Coach Moss 9:20

definitely. So as far as like when you get to college, do you are you trying to do track and football or you just going stiff with football?

Langston 9:27

Yes, I want to do track and football.

Do coaches ask you to pick 1 position?

Coach Moss 9:30

Okay, yeah, that makes sense. So, um, like when you talk to coaches, do they do they ask you like if you had to pick one position what what you would want to play, or they just kind of um talk to you about playing both sides?

Langston 9:45

They ask me uh one position. I just say wherever they need me at because I don't really like one more than the other. Wherever you need me, I'll play.

Origin of being a 2 way player

Coach Moss 9:55

So have you always been playing have you always played two sides of the ball?

Langston 9:59

No, like I said, well, I really started out my football career playing receiver. And then I was long and tall, obviously, during the park ball days, so I pretty much tried every position for real. So I played DB one day and I caught three picks during the practice, so they were like, oh yeah, we gotta put you at D B. So then I started playing DB a little bit, went back to receiver, and then when I came to Trinity, I started at safety actually. My ninth grade year. I started at safety JV, played safety, kind of rotated around until I found corner for real.

Coach Moss 10:38

Okay. So as so what as far as your weight, like are you are you trying to get gaining? Like, what's your focus as far

Offseason Weight Goals

Coach Moss 10:44

as going into going into this year weight wise?

Langston 10:48

Weight-wise, I want to at least reach 180, 185 around that range. Don't want to get too heavy, but I'm not really satisfied with 170 right now. I'm gonna get in that 180, 185 range.

Coach Moss 11:01

Yes, sir. So, um, as far as like are you going to any camps this year? Or have you been to any yet?

Langston 11:08

I'm trying. We're actually trying to figure that out right now.

Coach Moss 11:12

Okay. So are you like if you have to pick a side, are you gonna go to receiver or DB or are you gonna try to go at both sides?

Langston 11:20

I'm gonna try to go both sides, but I'm gonna start out at D B.

Coach Moss 11:24

Okay.

Toughest WR to guard (Marquez Hicks)

Coach Moss 11:26

I'll start out at D B. Okay. So now we're gonna kinda t talk about just your experience as far as playing in the games and stuff. So who would you say was the toughest receiver that you guarded? It could be in the game or it could be like as far as in practice, if it was at Trinity, like who would you say would be the toughest receiver that you had to cover?

Langston 11:47

Okay, overall?

Coach Moss 11:49

Yeah.

Langston 11:53

Dang, I don't even I don't even remember his name. It was somebody it was an Ohio State commit from 24K, my freshman year. That was probably the toughest year I guarantee because he was quick, fast. But if I had to say somebody that I do know, probably probably Marquez Hicks.

Coach Moss 12:15

Okay. Yeah, you just said that you're the same person that said that. Um Nugget from Trinity, he said the same thing.

Langston 12:21

Yeah, nugget, that's my dog. Yeah. Quez, Quez, Quez is a tough receiver, and he's short, he's short and quick, so it's really got it's really kind of hard. His release package is crazy. Oh, yeah.

Funny story about Nugget

Coach Moss 12:35

So speaking of Nugget, do you have a funny story you could tell us about him?

Langston 12:39

Nugget. Nugget's funny. Nugget's funny. The funniest story probably is my freshman year. We were on JV. He he was asking for a goal line fade all season. And keep in mind, Nuggets not really, at that time he wasn't really familiar with a receiver. But every time, because our freshman year, we went undefeated, we blew every team out. So when it would get to that point where it was a bug, he would always ask Coach, Coach, let me get the goal line fade, Coach, let me get the goal line fade. So Nuggett finally gets the goal line fade. We all hyped up for him and stuff like that. This man goes take an inside release and run a corner and then try to catch the ball one-handed and fell on his back. That was probably the funniest moment. And then the the funniest part was we went to go check for pictures. They had a picture of him. His eyes were just big as he's trying to catch the ball. That was funny. But Nuggets a funny guy. That's my dog.

Best DB He has faced

Coach Moss 13:39

Okay. So, I don't know, actually, who's the toughest um receiver that you covered? Um, at as far as at receiver, who's the best DB that you would say that you lined up against?

Langston 13:50

Definitely Zakari Green. Okay. Number 14 from Trinity. He he he's very technical, very patient. As most receivers know, a patient DB really like really annoys you. He's patient, he's technical, and he he he's he can break on the ball. So it's real it's really him. We go back and forth, but he's definitely tough. I definitely have to think it more through of what I'm gonna do with him than any other DB.

Coach Moss 14:18

Okay. So who is um whose ball was rival rivalry? Rival?

Langston 14:24

Do you know? Um Baker County.

Coach Moss 14:27

Okay, and that's usually a pretty big game.

Langston 14:29

Yes, it'll be a it'll be a good game.

Coach Moss 14:31

You looking forward to it?

Langston 14:33

I'm looking forward to it.

Coach Moss 14:36

So I'm ready. Yep. So

Deeper Position in 904 DB or WR?

Coach Moss 14:39

you so you play both DB and receiver. So it's and this is gonna be a kind of a tough question, but if you had to say what do you think in in Duval as for a 9-04 area, what what position do you think is deeper? Receivers or DBs?

Langston 14:56

Receivers or DBs? In the area?

Coach Moss 15:01

Yeah.

Langston 15:03

Ooh. If it was it's probably receivers. Because if we're talking to 904 area, you obviously got Brysen Wright, you got Jaiden Barnett, you got, like I said, my guy, Marquez Hicks, you got Henry Harris who at bald win right now, you got, yeah, it's probably receiver. You got um dude from Bolles, I think his name Camden, number three, he's good. Yeah. King Mercer from from Ed White, yeah. So probably receiver. There's a there's a lot of good guys around, and I've uh had the honor to play with him, so I'd probably say, yeah, wide receiver deeper. But DBs ain't far off, though.

Legacy at Baldwin

Coach Moss 15:48

Yeah. So if you so as far as as far as when you leave Baldwin, do you want to be more known as a lockdown corner or a wide receiver one that makes like big time plays?

Langston 16:03

Really? I want to be known as one of the best two-way players to come out of Baldwin, really.

Coach Moss 16:07

Okay.

Langston 16:08

Like, I want people to know me as, oh, he was killing that receiver and then he go on DB and kill. Like just both sides of the ball, not really one dimensional.

Coach Moss 16:18

Yes,

Pitch to College Coaches

Coach Moss 16:19

sir. So if you had a 30-second pitch that you could tell college coaches why they should offer you versus another player, what would you say?

Langston 16:27

Um, I know how to fight through adversity. Like I said, I didn't really play attorney like that and then come over the ball win and just still keep a good head and not really get down on myself and just knowing that it's gonna get better. I went through a lot of adversity in my high school career. Obviously, I'm tall, I'm long, I'm coachable, yes sir, no, sir, the type of kid. And I've I'm just ready to work. I'm I work hard in everything I do, so that would probably be my pitch.

Coach Moss 16:56

Yes,

New Teammates and Coaches

Coach Moss 16:57

sir. So as far as your adjustment, like going to Baldwin, how has that transition gone for you as far as new teammates, new coaches, like being coach under Coach Velvet, who's pretty known around the area as well?

Langston 17:11

Um, really, the first thing I thought of when you answered that question is I'm way more tired. Not saying that Trinity doesn't condition, but like I said, I was more in a rotational type of role. So I would get breaks during practice. I baldwin, it's no breaks. I'm from defense to offense to defensive individual to offensive individual. But I'd say probably the biggest difference is that they're like Trinity is known for being a top program in Jacksonville. But Baldwin has been a great program too, but they're still trying to build something up so it can go, so it can get better. So really, I've seen like they're harder on guys trying to get guys locked in because at Trinity, like Trinity already built they brand. So people come in with the mindset of being locked in. Baldwin has built a good program, but they're trying to get, like Coach Velvet always talks about, he's not trying to be good, he's trying to be great. So he's trying to bring that great atmosphere to Baldwin. So like I said, getting, like I said, we've been adding guys, this and this and that. And he's he's talking to me about just taking a leader role, because like I said, I came from Trinity, this, this, and that, so I really know how to work for real. So just taking more of a leadership role and like I said, really just building up a program and watching a program build as as far as things like getting people to practice, making sure people run sprints, making sure everybody's bought in. Whereas Trinity, everybody's already bought in because they already built their brand to be great. While Baldwin's really good right now. Yep. So that's probably the biggest difference, I'd say.

Personal & Team Goals

Coach Moss 19:03

Okay, can you talk about some of your goals for the season as far as team goals that you have and then personal goals that you have for yourself?

Langston 19:11

So as far as the team goals, like I said, I think I think we're gonna be really good this year. I I really want to make a deep playoff run. I think Baldwin last year got knocked out the first round against FSU High School. I want to make it way farther than that. I w I at least want to go three deep in the playoffs. So we try to make it to state for real. We get some more guys in, but really just getting getting everybody on track as a team and just going out and winning games. I w there's some games I want to win bad. So just getting just just winning more as a team and really stamping ourselves as one of the best teams in Jacksonville. And then for myself, really just really just going out there and balling, like proving all the haters wrong and things of that nature. Just going out there and doing what I do because people always tell me, like, I'm good when I'm just doing me. When I be trying to prove something, that's when I really kind of mess up because I'm too much in my head. So really just going out and playing the game, I know how to play. And I know the good things will come off that.

Coach Moss 20:23

Yeah, exactly. I mean, at the end of the day, it's about going out there and having fun. If you start overthinking and putting pressure on yourself, that's kind of when you start making mistakes. Definitely. So now we're gonna shift to this last segment.

Rapid Fire

Coach Moss 20:36

It's called Rapid Fire. I'm just gonna give you some questions, scenarios, and then you just kinda write off me your answers. So if you could pick this Friday night, you could pick one thing, pick six or a 70-yard touchdown. Which one are you picking?

Langston 20:50

Uh Pick 6.

Coach Moss 20:52

So press man or or a zone, it's third and six. What what you what do you prefer to play?

Langston 21:00

Third and six, probably zone.

Coach Moss 21:02

Okay, same scenario, but now you're at receiver. And and it's third and six, we need six yards. Do you want a slant or a go ball?

Langston 21:14

I want me, man?

Coach Moss 21:16

Yeah.

Langston 21:17

Yeah, I want that go ball.

Coach Moss 21:20

So so hit hit stick or interception. What which one you think will turn you up more?

Langston 21:26

Interception.

Coach Moss 21:28

Okay. Yeah. So that so that's that that's all I got for you today. Um, thank you again for coming on.

Last Message

Coach Moss 21:35

Um, is there any last message you want to say before I let you go?

Langston 21:40

Uh just watch out. Baldwin gonna be Baldwin's gonna be great this year.

Coach Moss 21:46

Yes, sir. Y'all y'all heard the phrase from Langston Griffin. Watch out, Baldwin gonna be up, gonna be something do something special this year. Well,

DOWNLOAD, RATE & REVIEW

Coach Moss 21:53

folks, that's a wrap. Shout out to my guest Langston for coming through and keeping it real. You've been listening to Behind Uh Whistle904. Please remember to download, rate, and review, and turn that notification bell so you don't miss an episode. See you next time.