NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Ben Deighton, K, Eastern Kentucky

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? 

Ben Deighton

What is your Height/Weight? 

6ft 3” / 208 pounds

What is your position? 

Kicker (Kickoff Specialist)

Where do you play college football? 

Eastern Kentucky University (FCS – Ohio Valley Conference)

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

During the summers I volunteer at local soccer. I love working with kids, putting a smile on their face and educating them on the game of soccer.

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

The hardest class I took was Elements of Statistics – ECN 279. I took this course during my four years of undergraduate at Baldwin Wallace University.

Where are you from? 

I was born and lived in Newcastle, England the first nine years of my life. I moved to Maryland for a couple years and then moved to Richfield, Ohio. Richfield is located right in between Akron and Cleveland. Fun fact – My parents’ home is only ten minutes away from Lebron James’ house.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I have played soccer my whole life. I played high school and club soccer. I eventually went on to play collegiate soccer for four years at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH.

Did you play any other positions in football?

I have only been a kicker. This year at Eastern Kentucky is only my second year of football. My first year playing football was during my senior year of high school. After only one year of high school football I had preferred walk on offers from Akron and Eastern Michigan. I decided to continue to play soccer instead. I loved the game too much to give it up at that time.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I believe I am quite a raw talent and I have a huge upside. I believe my kickoffs separate me from other kickers in the nation. I am very confident in my kickoffs and believe I can kickoff as well as anyone in the nation. On 31 deep kickoffs I have 24 touchbacks. That’s a 77% touchback rate. What will also separate me is the amount of work I am going to put into perfecting my accuracy on field goals. After the season I am going to train with my kicking coaches. Hopefully I can showcase my field goal ability at a senior showcase bowl game.

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

I watch film from every practice and game at Eastern Kentucky. I look for consistency in my approach and how I strike the football.

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

I would compare myself to Jordan Gay. He is a kickoff specialist for the Buffalo Bills. I know at the very minimum I can be a kickoff specialist in the NFL.

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

I haven’t had to overcome many big obstacles in my life. I think one of the biggest obstacles is about to take place. I believe not kicking a field goal in a collegiate game and wanting to kick field goals in the NFL is a massive obstacle in which I am going to have to overcome. I am going to train with some of the nations best kicking coaches. I am also going to go to combines and compete with some of the best talent out there. I am even willing to start my career in the arena league or the CFL. Any opportunity would be greatly appreciated.

As a small school football player what obstacles do you feel you have to overcome? / What is your biggest weakness? 

The biggest obstacle I need to overcome is proving to NFL teams I have the ability to hit field goals. I am going to finish my only season of collegiate football attempting zero field goals. I need to prove that I am more of an asset than just a kickoff specialist. With hard work and training I fully believe I will kick field goals in the National Football League one day.

What is your biggest strength?

I believe my biggest strength is my leg power. Some things you cant really teach, such as leg power. I also believe I am very coachable. I can’t go a day without thinking about making it in professional football. My motivation couldn’t be higher and that strives me everyday to get better. I am embracing the process and look forward to the grind of training.

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

If our team is down two points with a couple seconds remaining I want the game to come down to my leg. I like pressure and always have. I thrive in pressure situations and I love to compete. I would love and greatly appreciate the opportunity of showcasing my talents at a NFL rookie mini camp.

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

When I first moved to the United States I liked the Baltimore Ravens. After living close to Cleveland since 7^th grade I am now a Cleveland Browns fan.

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

I would probably have dinner with Justin Tucker, Steven Hauschka and Phil Dawson. I would ask them many questions about kicking. These three kickers are some of the best in the business.

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

I would take my parents to a nice steakhouse restaurant where they can get a nice filet mignon and a glass of wine. I look forward to the day we can go for a nice dinner and I can pay the check. They have done and sacrificed a lot for me to be at Eastern Kentucky playing football. I owe them everything.

Rapid Answers:

• Spongebob or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
• Backstreet Boys or One Direction?
• Lifetime Channel or HGTV?
• Waffles or Pancakes?
• Snakes or Spiders? I HATE BOTH!
• Madden or Mario?