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NFL draft: Robert Griffin III’s success has come via hard work

Robert Griffin III’s life will change this week as he is expected to be the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft and will be tasked with reviving the ailing Redskins.

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The life of Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is about to change when the former Baylor quarterback gets selected in this week's NFL draft. Griffin is widely expected to be selected second overall by the Redskins.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin — a Copperas Cove, Tex., native — is the product of a military family and is renowned for his discipline and hard work away from the football field.

Griffin — a Copperas Cove, Tex., native — is the product of a military family and is renowned for his discipline and hard work away from the football field.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin is supremely gifted athletically, but those who knew him growing up see a blessed young man who is also willing to work hard to maximize his talent.

Griffin is supremely gifted athletically, but those who knew him growing up see a blessed young man who is also willing to work hard to maximize his talent.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin didn't play football until he was 12 or run track — a sport in which he also stars — until he was 11. When Griffin was young, he told his father he wanted to be like NBA legend Michael Jordan instead.

Griffin didn't play football until he was 12 or run track — a sport in which he also stars — until he was 11. When Griffin was young, he told his father he wanted to be like NBA legend Michael Jordan instead.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Robert Griffin Jr., left, was intimately involved in his son's training when Robert III was growing up. The younger Griffin's training regimen included both traditional and unorthodox methods. Father and son used to study videos of Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach and Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson together.

Robert Griffin Jr., left, was intimately involved in his son's training when Robert III was growing up. The younger Griffin's training regimen included both traditional and unorthodox methods. Father and son used to study videos of Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach and Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson together.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

When Robert Jr. — a petroleum supply specialist for the army — was shipped to Iraq in 2003, he and Robert III continued to talk regularly by phone and Robert III continued training on his own. By the time Robert III reached high school, both his parents had retired and devoted themselves to their children’s activities.

When Robert Jr. — a petroleum supply specialist for the army — was shipped to Iraq in 2003, he and Robert III continued to talk regularly by phone and Robert III continued training on his own. By the time Robert III reached high school, both his parents had retired and devoted themselves to their children’s activities.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

The elder Griffin always made sure Robert III had new shoes and the best equipment, but coaches said the Griffins were never too pushy. 'I always wanted to make my dad proud, but he never made me feel like I was obligated to do anything,' Robert III said.

The elder Griffin always made sure Robert III had new shoes and the best equipment, but coaches said the Griffins were never too pushy. "I always wanted to make my dad proud, but he never made me feel like I was obligated to do anything," Robert III said.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

A big part of Griffin's workout routine growing up was the steep half-mile of N. First Street a few miles from his home that the Griffins call 'Griffin Hill.' Father and son would come to the hill after midnight when the traffic was light and run up and down the hill.

A big part of Griffin's workout routine growing up was the steep half-mile of N. First Street a few miles from his home that the Griffins call "Griffin Hill." Father and son would come to the hill after midnight when the traffic was light and run up and down the hill.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin would run the hill every Thanksgiving, every weekend, after football practice, or whenever he needed a pick-me-up. “I even had him run down it one time in college,” the elder Griffin said.

Griffin would run the hill every Thanksgiving, every weekend, after football practice, or whenever he needed a pick-me-up. “I even had him run down it one time in college,” the elder Griffin said.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

“When you train, you got to have something you’re confident in. So this was something we were confident in,” said Griffin III. “Didn’t matter what time of season it was. If I needed to get in shape, we came to Griffin Hill.”

“When you train, you got to have something you’re confident in. So this was something we were confident in,” said Griffin III. “Didn’t matter what time of season it was. If I needed to get in shape, we came to Griffin Hill.”

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Copperas Cove, Tex., is 65 miles south of Austin with a population of about 30,000. There's only one high school, but a conspicuous abundance of strip malls.

Copperas Cove, Tex., is 65 miles south of Austin with a population of about 30,000. There's only one high school, but a conspicuous abundance of strip malls.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Football is huge at Copperas Cove High, where Griffin III starred. The football team's 10,000 square foot weight room is at least three times the size of the Redskins' weight room in Northern Virginia.

Football is huge at Copperas Cove High, where Griffin III starred. The football team's 10,000 square foot weight room is at least three times the size of the Redskins' weight room in Northern Virginia.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin III threw for 3,300 yards, ran for 2,161 more and accounted for 73 total touchdowns in his two seasons playing for Copperas Cove High. His teams appeared in consecutive state title games, but college coaches were more impressed with Griffin's legs than his arm.

Griffin III threw for 3,300 yards, ran for 2,161 more and accounted for 73 total touchdowns in his two seasons playing for Copperas Cove High. His teams appeared in consecutive state title games, but college coaches were more impressed with Griffin's legs than his arm.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

A replica of the Heisman Trophy Griffin won at Baylor is on display at the Copperas Cove High football facility. Former Houston Coach Art Briles accepted the head job at Baylor in 2008 and Griffin followed him there — graduating high school early and ranked seventh in his class.

A replica of the Heisman Trophy Griffin won at Baylor is on display at the Copperas Cove High football facility. Former Houston Coach Art Briles accepted the head job at Baylor in 2008 and Griffin followed him there — graduating high school early and ranked seventh in his class.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin considers himself a homebody, and doesn't drink or smoke. His competitiveness is sometimes interpreted as cockiness, but teammates say his personality is what makes him refreshing and unique.

Griffin considers himself a homebody, and doesn't drink or smoke. His competitiveness is sometimes interpreted as cockiness, but teammates say his personality is what makes him refreshing and unique.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

When the Redskins select Griffin in the draft — as they are expected to do — he will be looked upon as the potential savoir of a struggling franchise.

When the Redskins select Griffin in the draft — as they are expected to do — he will be looked upon as the potential savoir of a struggling franchise.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin is a tremendous runner, but he can also beat teams with his arm. “There are a lot of different ways we measure quarterbacks on and off the field,” said Steve Mariucci, a former NFL coach and current NFL Network analyst. “This guy seems to have an ‘A’ grade in all of them.”

Griffin is a tremendous runner, but he can also beat teams with his arm. “There are a lot of different ways we measure quarterbacks on and off the field,” said Steve Mariucci, a former NFL coach and current NFL Network analyst. “This guy seems to have an ‘A’ grade in all of them.”

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin's friends say money and fame won't change him, and his parents say his work ethic won't waver. NFL experts say the only thing that can derail him is an injury.

Griffin's friends say money and fame won't change him, and his parents say his work ethic won't waver. NFL experts say the only thing that can derail him is an injury.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Griffin doesn't seem unnerved by the task of reviving the moribund Redskins. 'He’s a special young man,” said ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, a former NFL head coach who noted that Griffin almost single-handedly turned around the Baylor football program. “I think he can do the same thing for the Redskins. He can revive the Redskins.”

Griffin doesn't seem unnerved by the task of reviving the moribund Redskins. "He’s a special young man,” said ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, a former NFL head coach who noted that Griffin almost single-handedly turned around the Baylor football program. “I think he can do the same thing for the Redskins. He can revive the Redskins.”

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

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