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Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Devin Mahina, TE, Brigham Young University

devin mahanaEvery 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?

Devin Mahina

What is your Height/Weight?

6’6” 255

What is your position?

Tight end

Where do you play college football?

BYU

How many teams were recruiting you out of high school?

BYU, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Colorado State, Colorado, Utah, Utah State, UTEP, Washington, Washington State, Boise State, CAL

How did you choose your school?

I knew BYU had a great history of successful tight ends and I wanted to go somewhere where I would be a viable asset to the team.

Where are you from?

Ontario, California

Who is your role model, and why?

My dad was my role model, he passed away in 2013. He came from the island of Tonga and worked his way up from the bottom to give his family a good life. He showed me how to work hard and stay humble. He always supported me and pushed me to be the best in everything.

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

I haven’t met with any scouts in person, but what I’ve heard is that they like my build and my size. They also said I have good hands and good blocking skills with great upside.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, and Track and Field

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played a little H-back and special teams at BYU. I also played defensive end in high school.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I am as good of a blocker as I am a pass catcher. I can use my big body to my advantage. I am competitive, mentally tough, and I have a strong desire to succeed. I will do everything I can to achieve my dreams and won’t let anything stand in my way.

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

I usually start off breaking down the fronts and blitzes for blocking. I then look at the coverages in the open field, third down situations, (short, medium, and long) what coverages they use in the red zone, and goal line situations (fronts and coverages as well). Then, I take our playbook and visualize my routes and where I’ll be in those situations.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Ziggy Ansah

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

Rob Gronkowski, we have similar builds and like him I’m deceptively quick and fast for my size.

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

I broke my neck during practice in 2011. I was able to fully recover, rebuild my confidence, and prove that I can play without any hesitation. It never slowed me down, it only helped me to fight harder and realize not to take things for granted.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I always catch at least 100 balls, listen to music, and visualize making big plays.

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength is my ability to catch the ball away from my body and display good body control.

What is your biggest weakness?

I’m working on becoming more explosive.

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

I am here to work hard, succeed, and produce. I know I will help make a difference on the team no matter if it’s on offense or on special teams. I have a high football IQ and will bring maturity and leadership to the team.

Who was your favorite player and NFL team growing up?

Shannon Sharpe and the Denver Broncos

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

John Wooden, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Young

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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