NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Demario Donnell, DB, Tennessee Tech

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? 

My name is Demario Donnell

What is your Height/Weight? 

I’m 5ft. 8in 165pds

What is your position? 

I play Corner back

Where do you play college football? 

I play at Tennessee Tech University

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

I feel that giving back is a key essential as the fraternity that I’m apart of (Omega Psi Phi Incorporated) puts major emphasis on serving the community. The most recent community service project I did was go to Kroger’s and purchase about 20 turkeys and deliver them to close by neighborhoods in Cookeville,TN. To see the happiness we brought them was priceless.

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

The hardest class I have ever taken is Intermediate Finance.

Where are you from? 

I am from Nashville,Tennessee

Who is your role model, and why? 

My role model is my mother. She was the one I depend on and I wouldn’t be at this point in life without her.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Growing up I played a little basketball and in high school I ran track.

Did you play any other positions in football? 

In high school I played Wide Receiver and Free Safety

At your position, what separates you from others? 

What separates me from others is I will leave everything on the field. I play bigger than the eye can see. I have great technique and more physical than the typical Corner back. I feel like I can be lined up at safety and still produce.

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

When I breakdown film I look for alignment,assignment, and technique. I feel those are very important aspects of the game

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

The toughest player I have ever faced would have to be Jared Abbrederis when he was at Wisconsin. Very clean and quick route runner.

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

I would compare myself to Brent Grimes, Corner back for the Miami Dolphins. Not only for size but play making ability he has

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

One of my biggest obstacles in life was making sure I didn’t settle for mediocrity. I push myself everyday. Nobody is perfect so there is always room for improvement. I try to perform better each time i repeat something in life from class,life, and the gridiron.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

Before the kick-off of each game I sit down on the bench and say a specific prayer.

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

I have to overcome the simple fact that many people are going to look down upon you because you didn’t play FBS ball. Just let them talk and prove to them on the field. Everybody wears the same pads and helmets.

What is your biggest strength? 

Biggest strength is I have great feet and hips and that’s key for a Defensive Back.

What is your biggest weakness? 

My biggest weakness is that I lack height.

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

I would tell you that you won’t make a mistake if you choose me and I will represent and give this franchise everything I have.

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

Growing up Ive always been an Atlanta Falcons fan. My favorite player was Deangelo Hall.

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

If I could have dinner with three people, it would be my granny, Brent Grimes, and Sean Taylor.

What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?

The first thing I will do once I’m in the NFL is pay off any family debt, whether its car notes, house payments, or things of that nature.