At Cornell: Rihn enters his senior season as one of the top defenders in the Ivy League. A versatile player who can stand up and play linebacker or play down as a defensive lineman, he is equally effective against the run or pass. Rihn is an outstanding playmaker who has both great speed and strength. A two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week in 2007, Rihn ended the 2007 season with 46 tackles, two sacks and a team-best 10 tackles for loss en route to taking home honorable mention All-Ivy honors. He also blocked a pair of field goals, broke up four passes and forced two fumbles on the year. Rihn posted eight tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and blocked a kick in the win over Columbia and had five tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks vs. Bucknell, while also causing two fumbles. As a sophomore in 2006, Rihn made 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack, while seeing action in all 10 games. He made three tackles at Brown and two in the win over Penn. Rihn also intercepted his first career pass against Colgate and broke up another pass. He was one of the top young players on the defensive line as a freshman as well, making eight tackles, including one for a loss, and breaking up two passes. A bull against the run, Rihn got his hands on a pair of passes against Penn and posted a career-best five tackles in the win over Harvard. The three-time letter winner saw action in nine games overall as a freshman. Rihn is enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
At Pittsburgh Central Catholic: Rihn was a first-team all-state selection according to Pennsylvania Football News as a senior at Central Catholic HS. He was named first-team All-Quad East and All-Class AAAA in 2004. The three-year starter recorded 74 tackles (10 for loss) and four sacks to go along with two fumble recoveries in 2004. He also started at left tackle, leading the way for a 2,000-yard rusher. Rihn helped lead his team to WPIAL and PIAA Class AAAA championships. He was selected to play in the 48th annual Big 33 All-Star Classic that pits Pennsylvania and Ohio high school senior all-stars. Rihn’s Central Catholic team ranked sixth in the final USA Today Super 25 high school poll and was the top-ranked squad in the East Region after going 16-0 in 2004, the first team in state history to record 16 wins. He was selected to several all-star teams as a senior, including the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Terrific 25, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 team and the Harrisburg Patriot News’ Platinum 33 squad.
Personal: Graham Gerard Rihn is the son of Thomas and Karen Rihn and has three older brothers. Two of his brothers, Chris and Jeff, played soccer at Duquesne.
