NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Simba Gwashavanhu, DB, University of Delaware
NFL Draft Diamonds has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible 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 our next prospect!!!!
What is your name?
Simba Gwashavanhu
What is your Height/Weight?
6’1
What is your position?
Free Safety/ Cornerback
Where do you play college football?
University of Delaware
Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?
Help setup and work numerous camps for kids but as for something unrelated to football I volunteered for the food manna project. Its an organization that collects canned and nonperishable foods to give to those in need. My job was to help fundraise the foods over a period of time, transport them to the warehouse and load them onto the trucks to get shipped away
What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?
Nutrition was by far the hardest class I took
Where are you from?
Gaithersburg, Maryland. Born in Harare Zimbabwe
Who is your role model, and why?
My Mother, she has the craziest work ethic and successfully took care of the family by herself
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Soccer, Cricket, Rugby, Track, and I Swam
Did you play any other positions in football?
In high school I also played wide receiver, I actually got recruited as a wide out and made the switch to defense when we graduated all of our DB’s
At your position, what separates you from others?
My length and range. My ability to pick up what the offense is trying to do, not getting lured in to some B.S before they hit you with the money play. I’m coachable, I listen and I am always ready to learn new techniques and new info about the game that could up my game. I’ve also played in many packages so I can line up at safety, corner, in the box and am not afraid to play nickel and guard the slot
When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?
When breaking down film I first break down all the offenses tendencies. Are they pass heavy, run heavy or balanced. What do they like to do on first and second down but more importantly how do they handle their 3rd down situations based on down and distance. Is the offense conservative and control the clock or are they trying to light up the score board. Are they a 1st half or 2nd half team? After gathering all this information I then individually break down the receivers that I’m going to be lined up against. Whose the QBs best friend, and who’s the 3rd and short/medium guy. What are each individuals most common routes. Whose the deep threat, speed guy, quick screen/reverse guy. In the red zone whose the jump ball/slant going to? And my favorite part, what is their plan of action when pressed. Speed release? Like to dance? Use of hands? Etc.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I don’t have anything unique that I do before games except listen to slow soothing music. A lot of guys listen to hype pump up music hours before games and by the time the game starts their all out of juice
What is your biggest strength?
Strength- Can adapt to sudden change, coachable
What is your biggest weakness?
Weakness- Vocal when it comes to communicating but not when it comes to leadership
If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?
I can be a great asset to your team, you don’t have to worry about my actions off the field, im a decision you will not regret
Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?
Favorite player- Deion Sanders Favorite Team- All 32 Organizations
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
Dave Chappelle, because that’s my favorite comedian. Deion Sanders, to teach me about the game and Jesus because he is Jesus
What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?
Once I am in the NFL the first way I would spend my money is by paying off any expenses that my mother has
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