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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Willie Mays, DE, Tiffin University

Willie Mays of Tiffin is a freak off the edge.
Willie Mays of Tiffin is a freak off the edge.

NFL Draft Diamonds has been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the player. We hope to bring you more than 350 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 to the right.  Now let’s meet the prospect!!!!

What is your name?  

Willie Lloyd Mays III

What is your Height/Weight?

6’4 235

What is your position?

Defensive End

Where do you play college football?

College of San Mateo/Tiffin University

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

Volunteer coaching a flag football team at the YMCA

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

Organic Chemistry with Dr. Schuppis

Where are you from?

San Bernardino, CA

Who is your role model, and why?

Coach Leighton Lang helped me through junior college and made sure I was on top of my grades. He was like a mentor and a father to me.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played Volleyball in high school

Did you play any other positions in football?

Outside Linebacker and Tight End

At your position, what separates you from others?

My speed and change of direction

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

I like to look for tendencies such as their stance and their eyes so I can get a jump on the play.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest tackle I’ve faced was either Azell Mitchell on my team or the right tackle number 77 from Ashland

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

I like to try and model myself after Von Miller because he came into the league as an undersized linebacker who relies on speed

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

The biggest obstacle in my life was probably trying to transfer from my juco. I made sure first of all my grades were good and then I practiced hard and studied lots of film to make sure I was ready when it was my time to shine

willie_mays_iii_154_mfbDo you have any pre-game rituals?

It may be unorthodox but before the game I clear my mind of everything and just hangout with my teammates because at the end of the day football is supposed to be fun and I play at my best when I’m relaxed and playing for my brothers

What is your biggest strength?

I think my biggest strength is my explosiveness

What is your biggest weakness?

I would say that my biggest weakness is that my pass rush moves are side specific

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

I would express that I am a long fast defensive end that is explosive on the edge with a love of the game

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

Shawne Merriman, Ladainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers

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

My mom coach Lang and Von Miller

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

A house for my mom

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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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