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Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Deshawn Dinwiddie, LB, Emporia State University

deshawnEvery year, NFL Draft Diamonds brings our readers the best in depth interviews on the internet. We specialize in giving players an opportunity to showcase their talents on our website. We conducted interviews last year with over 300 plus players. We want you to enjoy our interviews, because when these young men are in the league, we will not be surprised, and neither should you. 

What is your name?  

Deshawn Dinwiddie

What is your height/weight?

6’2/ 215 pounds – LB

Where do you play college football?

Played two years at North Dakota State University before transferring to Emporia State University

How many teams were recruiting you out of high school?

Four- KU, Baylor, NDSU and UNI.

How did you choose your school? Took visits and NDSU showed the most love! They also offered me a full-ride scholarship before my senior year even started.

Where are you from?

Raised in Hutchinson Kansas, Born in Lansing Michigan

Who is your role model, and why?

I would say my big brother Deveon Dinwiddie. Out of everyone I know he is my role model because we got taken away from our mom when we were young and had no one else to look up to! When we didn’t have anything he would find ways to get it! We never had a father figure growing up but even during the hardest times of my life, my brother was that father figure I needed that helped keep me out of trouble. He is the only person that has been everywhere with me through thick and thin and that is why he is an amazing big brother. Both of us are now chasing our DREAMS together!

Have any scouts met with you yet, and if so what are they saying?

I haven’t talked to any scouts personally but I know for sure during the season about 15 different scouts were coming to see me. My coach said they all talked good about me especially after seeing my game film and seeing that I could still produce good stats while playing through an injury. Scouts said that is what they look for, D2 players that can play through ANYTHING because a lot of those big time D1 players get hurt and can’t or won’t play through injuries.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yes, I played basketball and ran track

Did you play any other positions in football?

Yes, I also played safety, outside linebacker, and nickle.

At your position, what separates you from others?

Natural at playing the game, Hard Hitter, Field Speed, ALWAYS around the ball. I also have a good body frame and am able to put on weight to improve my game.

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

What offensive formations are used the most, Run-to-pass play ratio, and if I’m in man defense I study the WR different alignments and routes.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

I would probably say Paul Cornick, OL that play for the Denver Broncos currently.

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

A taller Matt Elam, Can cover and also come down hill to lay the wood! Good open field tackler.

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

Getting taken away from my mom when I was in 4th grade and bouncing from one foster home to the next. I overcame it by keeping my head up and playing football to take my anger out and focus my mind on something else.
Do you have any pre-game rituals? Watch Sean Taylor highlights.
What is your biggest strength? Being natural at playing the game, very PHYSICAL, Special teams is my bread and butter.

What is your biggest weakness?

I am a little undersize coming from a D2 university with not as much money and I am not very good at talking to the press.

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

I would be the hardest working player on the team, I would leave everything on the field every game, I would represent the team in a positive manner, I am a team player that will play wherever needed and I would never stop working my hardest or working to get better.

Who was your favorite player and NFL team growing up?

Sean Taylor was my favorite player growing up and my favorite team has always been the Minnesota Vikings.

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

Michael Jordan, Ray Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr.

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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