Continuing his collegiate career simply wasn’t meant to be for Griffin Piatt.
In 2013, Piatt tore an ACL during spring practice and did not play at all that season. In a Week 7 loss to Washington the following year, the safety tore the ACL in the same knee.
While he was relatively injury-free this past season, he underwent another surgery earlier this offseason on the same knee yet again. The issue simply didn’t improve enough for Piatt, who has opted to take a medical retirement and move on from the sport.
The defensive back will remain on scholarship at Cal.
“Griffin kind of got to the point where he just felt like he had to move on,’' Bears head coach Sonny Dykes said at the Pac-12 Media Days. “It’s a big loss for us. Griffin is a really good football player and a guy that has meant a lot to our program, just incredibly mature. ...
“The injury just wasn’t responding the way he wanted it to. He was having some issues, so medically just didn’t feel like he was going to be fit to play.”
Despite missing half the 2014 season, Piatt led the Bears with three interceptions. He played in seven games in 2015, starting one of those contests.