NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Sadat Sulleyman, DE, Portland State University

NFL Draft Diamonds and our staff have been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 2 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. We have tons of NFL staff that read our interviews, and we actually received several of the questions from NFL scouts we speak too. This gives them a little bit more information regarding your character. We hope to bring you more than 300 interviews of NFL Draft Prospects this season. You will be able to track them all on the front page of our website in the banner.

What is your name?

Sadat Ibrahim Sulleyman

What is your Height/Weight?

6’2 250

What is your position?

Defensive End/ 3-technique/ Outside Linebacker

Where do you play college football?

Portland State University

Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?

Working with kids at the juvenile detention center. This experience made me realize how fortunate I am and appreciate the people who helped me throughout high school and my family for supporting me

What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?

Criminal Research

Where are you from?

Born in Ghana. Raised in the Bronx. Finished last two years of high school in Tacoma Washington

Who is your role model, and why?

My older brother Trevor MacFadden. He is the most hardworking person I know.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yes I played soccer growing up.

Did you play any other positions in football?

Yes, I was a running back and outside linebacker in high high school.

At your position, what separates you from others? 

I would say my motor and leverage.

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

When breaking down film I look at the teams run and pass ratio. Then i break down their 3rd down tendencies if its a higher percentage of pass or run. Then last I study their pass protection schemes and their favorite formations to anticipate the next play.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

I can’t think of a player but i would say the toughest team I faced every year would be Cal Poly because they run a wing-t offense and that is the most physical game and everyone has to be assignment sound.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?

I would compare my game to Elvis Dumervil because we have sort of the same frame and size and I like the way he uses he hands for being undersized.

What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest obstacle in my life I had to overcome would be adjusting to the college life. Being able to balance school and football. I was able to do it thanks to some great leaders on my team such a Deshawn Shead and Drew Hubel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlkIpgRomGA

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

My program rituals are to read the Quran and look at my Father’s picture who just passed away and ask for his guidance.

As a small school football player what obstacles do you feel you have to overcome?

The hardest obstacle coming from a small school is exposure. I had to basically market my self by the way I play and by my character

What is your biggest strength?

Motor and leverage

What is your biggest weakness?

Height

If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?

I’m all about that action boss.

Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?

Tamba Hali because going to school in New York, majority of my teammates chose to go to Penn State and I watched his biography and it was similar to mine and he is one of the most successful pass rushers in the NFL and his hand usage and pass rush skills are what I try to mimic.

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?

My Father, Nipsey Hussle, Roger Staubach

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

I would buy my Grandfather’s farm for my Mother.