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2015 Prospects

From The Big Screen To The Big Field Skyline’s Riley Griffiths Shows Up Big

Enter Skyline Football stud Riley Griffiths. The 6’3″- 250 lb Defensive End started for the mighty Spartans last season at Defensive End and he played some Offensive Line too starting both ways at times. His connection to this story is a direct one because he is in fact the actor that player Kaznyk

From The Big Screen To The Big Field Skyline’s Riley Griffiths Shows Up Big

There is no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of similarities to making a hit Box Office movie and building a power house football team.    Having not thought about that much before it is something that came out as we interviewed this kid, Charles Kaznyk, the other night for a story.  Together we went back and forth talking about Football and Film and the tie in between the two became more obvious then you might suppose. Both require intense teamwork, bonding, long hours, total commitment, Coaching and Direction, rehearsal and repetition, and even some special effects at times.  In the end it all leads up to  one big performance.  A game of football is in fact much like the final cut of a movie.

Riley Griffiths AKA Chalres Kaznyk gets it done on the football field.

Riley Griffiths AKA Chalres Kaznyk gets it done on the football field.

So who is Charles Kaznyk you might ask?  Well he is a famous character in legendary Writer – Director J.J. Abrams Box Office smash Super 8 that came out in 2011.   The Sci-Fi Horror film was a fun ride for sure and Charles Kaznyk was one of several young teen characters in the movie who come discover a big secret and catch it all on film.  In that movie he plays the role of the “big kid” and boy is he great!  His role helped propel the film from a meager $48 Million Dollar budget to a Box Office Winner at over $250,000,000 making it Abrams all time best in a string of elite hits.

But how does this Kaznyk kid or this movie have anything to do with football in our case?

Enter Skyline Football stud Riley Griffiths.  The 6’3″- 250 lb Defensive End started for the mighty Spartans last season at Defensive End and he played some Offensive Line too starting both ways at times.  His connection to this story is a direct one because he is in fact the actor that player Kaznyk and who has had several other roles acting.  Griffths made himself a real name in Super 8 and has had several roles brought to him through his agents.  Most all of those he has turned down in order to pursue his love in the place they call Sparta.

“I love football as much as acting, at least right now, so this is what I plan to do for a while,” said Riley by phone.  “The acting career is on hold through High School as it is not something I can do part time very well and football and school are full time right now.  So I am still connected to acting but my agents understand it is going to wait for a bit in the wings.”

He of course is working on his craft and staying sharp as an actor and he says he is up for big roles potentially but the biggest role he is preparing for right now is the one he will be playing roaming the defensive line looking for quarterbacks and running backs to devour.  Griffiths had 4 sacks last season against some of the best competition in the State of Washington and was an effective part of the Skyline pass rush.  He has a great motor, likes to hit, and plays whistle to whistle.  He is showing he can be a definite prospect into college should he continue to progress.

Have a Look At Riley Griffiths Premier Prospect Form

Riley says he has been a part of the Spartan squad since 8th grade when his family moved to Washington from Utah.  He has been playing football since 2nd grade and has always been enamored with the warrior sport.   Last season as a Junior he was brought into action and started every game at Offensive Center and Defensive End even playing through a broken index finger.  So he clearly has the stuff college coaches will want to tap into.  Last season he came onto the field at 265 lbs and this year he is looking to be at 255 lbs and faster and stronger then before.  He is well coached and a very sound fundamental kid who is an every down contributor on the film we reviewed at length.

“Right now I am evaluating my college options and targeting the right schools  that offer football and a strong program of Theater Arts and or Film School.  That has CWU, UCLA, Montana and Montana State, and some of the Utah schools in the mix for sure,” said Riley who says once he is in college his studies will propel him back into his acting craft and possibly film making.

Did he get to know JJ Abrams (LOST, Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, Alias, Fringe…) well or was the relationship more casual?

“We got to know him really well.  He is an amazing guy.  It was amazing because we were all together everyday for long hours.   He told me he wanted me to stay humble and be myself on film ,” said Griffiths who identified Bad Robot Productions (Abrams Company) as something he would like to shoot for.

So the future is bright for this young kid who hails from Cedar City, Utah.  As far as this year Spartan Head Coach Mat Taylor will play the part of Abrams and Direct the Spartans and Griffiths hopes to be a big part of the cast that brings home a box office smash by way of the Tacoma Dome and another shot at the WIAA 4A State Football Championship.

Watch Riley Griffiths as Charles Kaznyk right here in a few minutes of Super 8 the Movie.

Watch Riley Griffiths right here in his role as Spartan Football player from the 2013 Football season in his HUDL High Lights; simply click the HUDL Icon on his Premier Prospect Page.

 

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

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