NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: James Dugan, P, West Georgia

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?

James Dugan

What is your Height/Weight?

6’5 205lbs

What is your position?

Punter

Where do you play college football?

University of West Georgia

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

Volunteered coaching kicking, punting, and holding to middle school and high school specialists

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

Operations Management

Where are you from?

Carrollton, Ga

Who is your role model, and why?

Peyton Manning. Peyton is a great, yet humbled leader. He has overcome tremendous adversity and is a testament to the fact that hard work and preparation pay off.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Growing up I played football, soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, ran cross country, and was on the swim team.

Did you play any other positions in football?

Yes, I started out as a wide receiver and defensive back.

At your position, what separates you from others?

My ability to place the ball in the direction that I want, and to pin the opponent deep in their own territory.

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

The returners tendency’s, direction of the kick, and my mechanics.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Returner Tyreek Hill from West Alabama (formerly at Oklahoma State)

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

Ryan Allen of the New England Patriots. There are visual similarities with us both being tall and left footed (which makes the ball rotate the opposite way). Also, he may not have the biggest leg for a punter in the league, but his consistency and ability to pin the opponent deep in their own territory are huge.

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

Not starting my first game of my senior year in high school. We ended up not punting that game and I earned the job the next week and became All-State by the end of the season.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I listen to Believe by Brooks & Dunn before every game.

As a small school football player what obstacles do you feel you have to overcome?

Exposure

What is your biggest strength?

Work ethic

What is your biggest weakness?

Over critiquing film

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

Each person should be able to add some inherent value to the team, and I believe that by being a team player and doing my job to the best of my capabilities I can do that.

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

The Atlanta Falcons

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

Jesus, Peyton Manning, Bear Bryant

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

Apple Inc. Stock

Rapid Answers:

• Spongebob or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
• Backstreet Boys or One Direction? Neither
• Lifetime Channel or HGTV?
• Waffles or Pancakes?
• Snakes or Spiders?
  
• Madden or Mario?