Lideatrick Griffin Bio
Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin (born January 23, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he earned recognition as both a receiver and a returner, including First-team All-American and First-team All-SEC honors in 2022. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Griffin signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and has since spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers organizations.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds, Griffin has built his reputation on speed, shiftiness, and playmaking ability in the open field. He remains an active professional football player entering the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Lideatrick Griffin was born on January 23, 2001, in Philadelphia, Mississippi. He grew up in the small community that shares his high school’s name, where football is a central part of local culture. From an early age, Griffin showed the kind of athletic versatility that would later define his career, playing multiple positions throughout his youth.
Griffin attended Philadelphia High School, where he starred on both sides of the ball. On offense, he caught 117 passes for 1,968 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,035 yards and nine touchdowns and adding a passing touchdown. On defense, he totaled 38 tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass deflections, and four interceptions, demonstrating rare two-way ability for a player of his size.
His stellar high school career drew the attention of several major college programs. Griffin ultimately committed to play college football at Mississippi State over other prominent programs including Auburn, Tennessee, and Memphis, choosing to stay in his home state to compete in the Southeastern Conference.
Path to American Football
Griffin’s transition from high school standout to college contributor came quickly at Mississippi State. As a freshman during the 2020 season, he appeared in the Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa, where he returned four kicks for 138 yards, including a 57-yard return on the opening kickoff, and caught two passes for 17 yards, including the game-winning touchdown. His performance earned him game Most Valuable Player honors and signaled his arrival as a dangerous return specialist.
He finished his freshman season with 10 receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown, along with seven kick returns for 261 yards. The following year, in week 2 of the 2021 season, Griffin returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in a win over North Carolina State, announcing himself as one of the top special teams weapons in college football.
By the end of his sophomore season, Griffin had totaled 26 receptions for 269 yards and 15 kick returns for 459 yards and a touchdown, establishing himself as a multi-dimensional threat. His development as both a pass catcher and returner set the stage for a breakout junior campaign that would earn him national recognition.
Lideatrick Griffin Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Griffin’s early college career at Mississippi State served as a proving ground for his unique skill set. In the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa, he produced one of the most memorable freshman performances in program history, earning MVP honors after a 138-yard kick return day and the game-winning touchdown reception. The performance foreshadowed his growth as a clutch playmaker.
During the 2021 season, Griffin cemented his reputation as an elite return man. His 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against NC State in week 2 highlighted his breakaway speed and vision in open space. He finished the year with reliable production as a receiver and a returner, building the body of work that would attract national attention the following season.
Mississippi State Breakthrough (2022)
Griffin’s junior season represented his true breakthrough at Mississippi State. In week 4 against Bowling Green, he caught a nine-yard touchdown reception, and in week 10, he returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown while hauling in a 57-yard reception in a 39–33 overtime win over Auburn. That performance earned him co-SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He later added four receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns in a 56–7 blowout of East Tennessee State in week 12.
He finished the 2022 season with 42 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns, while also returning 19 kicks for 613 yards and a touchdown. His dominant junior campaign earned him first-team All-SEC honors as a returner and first-team All-American recognition as a returner from the Football Writers Association of America.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Griffin was named preseason second-team All-SEC as an all-purpose back and third-team All-SEC as a returner, in addition to earning preseason All-American recognition. He was also named to the Paul Hornung Award watchlist, given annually to the nation’s most versatile player, underscoring his value as a multi-phase contributor.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024)
Following his college career, Griffin signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024, beginning his professional journey. He was also selected by the San Antonio Brahmas in the sixth round of the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17, 2024, though his primary focus remained on pursuing an NFL roster spot. Griffin was waived by the Raiders on August 27, 2024, as the team trimmed its roster to the regular-season limit.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024)
On August 29, 2024, Griffin was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad, giving him an opportunity to continue developing within an NFL organization. He was released by the Browns on September 10, 2024, as teams finalized their opening-week rosters, but his brief tenure kept him within the league.
Green Bay Packers Era (2025)
On January 14, 2025, Griffin signed a reserve/futures contract with the Green Bay Packers, securing his place on the team’s offseason roster. He was released by the Packers on May 5, 2025, as the organization shaped its 2025 roster. Despite the release, Griffin remained an active professional player with eligibility to sign elsewhere.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Griffin’s signature moments, his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against NC State in 2021 stands as one of the most electrifying plays of his career. His game-winning touchdown reception and MVP performance in the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa announced his arrival on the college stage, while his 92-yard kickoff return and 57-yard reception in an overtime win over Auburn in 2022 cemented his status as a premier return specialist. His 2022 first-team All-American selection from the FWAA remains the highest individual honor of his career to date.
Lideatrick Griffin Career Wins
Lideatrick Griffin’s professional career is still in its early stages, and he has yet to record a regular-season statistic at the NFL level. His most celebrated achievements remain tied to his college career at Mississippi State, where his playmaking ability on offense and special teams drew national recognition.
Mississippi State Highlights
During his time at Mississippi State, Griffin established himself as one of the most dangerous return men in the Southeastern Conference. His 2022 season included a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown against Auburn and a four-touchdown performance against East Tennessee State, both of which showcased his big-play ability. He finished his junior year with first-team All-SEC and first-team All-American honors as a returner, the defining accolades of his college career.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his conference and All-American honors, Griffin’s MVP performance in the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa remains one of the signature achievements of his career. His consistent production as both a receiver and returner throughout three college seasons established him as a versatile playmaker whose professional opportunities continued into 2025.
Lideatrick Griffin Family
Personal Life
Lideatrick Griffin maintains a relatively private personal life away from football. Public information about his immediate family, marital status, or children is not widely documented in verified sources, and Griffin has not publicly disclosed extensive details about his personal relationships.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Lideatrick Griffin remained an unsigned free agent after his release from the Green Bay Packers on May 5, 2025. His professional journey through three NFL organizations in a single calendar year reflects the challenges and opportunities facing undrafted skill players in the modern league. His combination of return ability and slot-receiver potential continues to make him an intriguing candidate for teams seeking special teams help.
Griffin’s preseason outlook for 2025 remains uncertain, as his release from Green Bay opened a window for him to sign with another organization seeking depth at wide receiver or in the return game. Teams evaluating his 2022 All-American production at Mississippi State may view him as a low-cost addition with proven big-play upside in the kicking game.
Should Griffin secure a roster spot for the 2025 season, his path back to the field will likely hinge on special teams contributions, where his track record of explosive returns offers the clearest value proposition. His career trajectory mirrors that of many late-blooming professionals, with potential still well ahead of his on-field NFL résumé.