Where should Shaquem Griffin be drafted?

The darling of the NFL Scouting Combine is about to be the darling of the NFL.

Shaquem Griffin - a one-handed outside linebacker out of Central Florida - is mere days away from making the jump to professional football. The question isn't whether he'll be drafted, it's where and by what team.

Upon the completion of his redshirt senior year with the Knights, Griffin was projected as a fifth- or sixth-round pick by NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein. By Day 2 of the Senior Bowl in January, he was forecasted as a fifth-round draft choice by Zierlein's colleague Daniel Jeremiah.

Then the combine happened. At the talent showcase in early March, Griffin took hold of the spotlight and never let it go.

He began by pumping out 20 reps on the bench press with the use of a prosthetic. His final tally was 11th among linebacker prospects.

Then, the following day, Griffin stunned talent evaluators by running a blazing 4.38 in the 40. That time was tops among linebackers and the fastest a player at the position has run in 15 years.

To put that number in perspective, Griffin's 40 time beat this year's entire running-back field and put him third among receiver prospects.

His 4.38 tied the time of his twin brother, Shaquill, a corner who weighed 33 pounds lighter at last year's combine. It also was a better time than those posted by current NFL stars Antonio Brown, Ezekiel Elliott, and Julio Jones.

On the strength of his star turn at the combine, Griffin began garnering third-round grades.

Brugler at NFLDraftScout.com rates Griffin eighth out of 180 outside linebacker prospects. A coach told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport the performance put Griffin in the fourth round.

Griffin's talents go far beyond testing. On the field, he posted 92 tackles in 2016 and led his team in tackles for loss (20) and sacks (11.5) on his way to earning the AAC Defensive Player of the Year award.

This past season, he was named first-team all-conference for the second consecutive season after posting 74 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, a team-high seven sacks, a pick, and two forced fumbles. He was also the Peach Bowl Defensive MVP for the undefeated Knights.

His college resume is superior to that of his twin brother, who was a third-round draft pick and the 90th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Shaquill was voted second-team all-conference the year his brother won Defensive Player of the Year.

That's comparing apples to apples. In a comparison of apples to oranges, Griffin slots behind projected 2018 first-round draft choices Roquan Smith and Rashaan Evans in linebacker rankings, and in the mix with the likes of Lorenzo Carter and Uchenna Nwosu. Griffin's stats and test scores hold up against the latter two, who played against Power Five competition.

The 22-year-old has proven he has the speed, agility, and tenacity to produce at the NFL level. He's being projected as a future special-teams star due to his relentless pursuit and effort, but he's proven adept at getting to the passer and could reward a team with his pass-rushing prowess. Plus, he has the ball skills to be an immediate difference-maker.

But, talent evaluators have concerns about his ability to shed blockers at the pro level. And for all of his physical traits, his 6-foot-1, 227-pound frame is small for the position.

Overcoming adversity is nothing new to Griffin, however. He's been playing the game with one hand since he was a child and has made it this far.

Aside from the impact Griffin will make on an NFL field, his influence will be immeasurable off it.

Griffin will attend the NFL draft, and such a decision carries some significance. Few players have hung around to hear their name called on the third day of the draft.

He's currently projected as a Day 2 pick and teams that have fallen in love with Griffin's inspirational story will presumably target him in the third round. But if there's a groundswell of interest from teams attracted by the instant impact a selection like Griffin will have on their public image, they'll likely have to reach into the second round to get him.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)