NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Ryan Ignatovig, OL, Franklin & Marshall College

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?

Ryan Ignatovig

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’4″ 300lbs

What is your position? 

I have played Offensive Tackle for the past 8 years. I am willing to move to Center or Offensive Guard in order to play in the next level.

Where do you play college football? 

Franklin & Marshall College

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

During the Spring my Sophomore Year, I was a volunteer at Reynolds Middle School in Lancaster, PA. I provided leadership and guidance to special needs students. I served as a classroom role model for a pathway to the benefits of a College education and athletic success through individual discussions and classroom presentations.

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

As an Economics Major, most of my classes involve quantitative problem-solving. The hardest class that I have taken is “Game Theory.” This is a 300 level Economics class that involves social situations between firms.

Where are you from? 

Phoenixville, PA

Who is your role model, and why? 

My Father, Colin Ignatovig, is my role model because he has always supported me on and off the field. He has instilled in me that even if the right way is the long way, there is no room for shortcuts. If I dedicate myself to a goal, I can accomplish it no matter the obstacles in the way.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

In High School I played Baseball, Basketball, and Wrestling.

Did you play any other positions in football?

In High School I was All-Confernece Strong side Defensive End.

At your position, what separates you from others? 

What separates me from other Offensive Lineman is my knowledge of the game. I am always willing to learn from my coaches and work on any adjustments they suggest. Over my last four years, I have worked as hard as possible to come in as a Freshman and start all four years. I believe that my work at practice and in the weight room directly connects to my performance on Game day, so I give my all everyday to get better than I was yesterday.

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

First I go through all the third and long film to evaluate who I will be blocking and to see their pass rush. Then I look at the Defensive Blitz Film to identify the stunts. After that I go through the film play after play to see the weak areas of the opponents Defense and how they react to mistakes on the next play. This also shows me how conditioned they are as a whole.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

The toughest Player I have played against is Steve Ambs, a DE for Ursinus College. No matter where he is on the field, he has a motor that keeps him going. Pound for pound he is by far the strongest athlete I have faced over my four years at Franklin & Marshall.

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

I believe that my playing type is similar to Jason Kelce, Center for the Philadelphia Eagles. By watching him play, I see his athleticism, whether in between the Tackles or down field as a pulling Center, he is always blocking till the whistle. I also associate myself to him because, like him, I strive to be a leader on the Line.

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

The biggest obstacle that I had to overcome was when my mother moved from where we used to live. I decided the best thing for me was to move in with my father. This dramatic change was a big obstacle for me because I grew up raising my brother and sister who are now 6 and 8 years old and they moved with my mother. They are still a huge part of my life but because of this move I don’t see them as often as I would like. I have overcome this obstacle by managing my time and working with my mother to see my siblings as  much as my schedule allows. No matter how difficult it is, I always keep in mind the importance of family and the importance of my siblings happiness.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

My pre-game ritual consists of waking up earlier than scheduled, have a big breakfast while also looking over the scouting report. After breakfast, I sit in the locker room listening to Country music on Pandora to keep me calm. Then about an hour before the game I come on the field and work on my blocking steps and imagining the defender right in front of me. Before every series on the field for the offense, I tap my helmet and face-mask to get me excited and amped to hit. I have always played with emotion.

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

I think as a small school football player, I will have to adjust to the speed of the game in the next level.

What is your biggest strength? 

I think my biggest strengths are my quick feet, as well as, my technique. I think these strengths are the reasons why i am a Four-year starter, Three-year All-Confernece player, and Preseason All-American.

What is your biggest weakness? 

I believe my biggest weakness will be my size. Coming in as a Freshmen I was around 265lbs. Through personal training with Powertrain, I got my weight up to 295lbs before my senior year, while also being the fastest and strongest I have ever been. 

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

I believe the way I play football is connected to the person I am. I am passionate in everything I do. I work hard not just for my teammates and coaches, but for myself as well. I know work comes before success and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to play in the next level. I am a student of game and strive to always get better, from being in weight room or watching film to just spending time with my offensive line coach to see what else I need to do to continue to raise the bar as the leader of our offensive line.

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

As a child and still now, I am an Eagles Fan. I grew up watching Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb which were my favorite players as a child.

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

Three people that I would want to have dinner with would be Dwayne Johnson, Ronald Reagan, and Will Ferrell.

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

With my first paycheck I would pay off my college loans, pay my dad back for all the countless events that got me to where I am today, and I would buy my 8 year old sister and 6 year old brother a trip to Disney World.