Former Richmond Tiger Ben Griffiths has signed with the University of Southern California as an American football punter.

The 27-year old announced his retirement from the AFL in January 2018 after eight seasons at Punt Road and was was offered a scholarship by USC thereafter.

Griffiths has since been training with former AFL player and NFL punter Nathan Chapman's football academy ProKick Australia. The academy has produced the last five punters of the season award-winners in college football.

The 200cm big man will follow in the footsteps of AFL turned NFL converts such as Ben Graham, Sav and Anthony Rocca and Chris Bryan.

The American football college season is set to commence in August 2019.