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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Taniela Tupou, DT, University of Washington

Taniela Tupou has overcome quite a bit and this kid will be on an NFL roster. Amazing athlete
Taniela Tupou has overcome quite a bit and this kid will be on an NFL roster. Amazing athlete

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?

Taniela Tupou

What is your Height/Weight?

6’2 288

What is your position?

D- tackle 3 tech

Where do you play college football?

University of Washington

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

Helping put together a Polynesian outreach program. We did an after school program at local high schools in the Seattle area. We tutored kids and encouraged them to pursue higher education. We also helped put together a workshop at UW for them to attend and get more info about how to apply for college and why going to college is important.

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

Volcanos and Drama. Volcanos was hard because it was about how plates shift in the earths core. I originally thought it was going to be easy however I was wrong. It went in depth about how volcanos operate. Drama was hard because getting up in front of people and acting out was a challenge. It’s one thing to take the field with thousands of people watching you with your pads on but it’s another thing to get up in a class with 40 people and say your lines.

Where are you from? 

Marysville, Washington

Who is your role model, and why?

My parents because they both have helped me with everything. They both get up every morning and go to work so that my sister and I could have a better life

Did you play any other sports growing up

Basketball wrestling baseball track 

Did you play any other positions in football?

Fullback

At your position, what separates you from others?

I’m always finding a way to the to the ball. I’m always around it and always running to the ball.

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

I’m first looking for the back and TE. They usually tell you where the ball is going and what type of play it’s going to be then I look at the O-line. Watch their footwork hand placement and how they fire out.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Josh Garnett Stanford and Charles Nelson Oregon

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

Stephen Paea  because we’re both explosive players

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

My sophomore year of college I was asked to transfer to another school. Although it was going to be tough I decided to stick it out and control what I could control, which was my effort and attitude. We had a coaching change and I eventually made my way up the ranks and started. This year I was a team captain, was voted most inspirational and was considered the heart and soul of the team. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Listen to music, watch videos of Bane and the Joker

Taniela`What is your biggest strength?

Stopping the run, goal line stands and leadership

What is your biggest weakness?

I have difficultly with transitioning from run to pass

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

I have a high motor, I’m always looking to improve my game, everyday I bring great passion n energy to the game, I’m a leader on n off the field. You wouldn’t have to worry about me doing stupid stuff off the field. I’m always around the ball

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

Eagles

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

Bob Marley Mike Tyson JFK

What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?

Pay for my wedding in June 

Rapid Answers:

  • Tupac or Biggie? Tupac west coast is the best coast
  • NFL Network or ESPN?
  • Coke or Pepsi?
  • Pizza or Burgers?
  • Dogs or Cats? Dog pit bull 

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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