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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Trenton Donald, DE, Gannon University

Trenton Donald is a big boy and hopes to be the next player to go to the NFL from Gannon
Trenton Donald is a big boy and hopes to be the next player to go to the NFL from Gannon

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 Trenton Donald

What is your Height/Weight?

6’3” 250lbs

What is your position?

Defensive End

Where do you play college football?

Gannon University

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

Doing the Labre Project back at my high school, Walsh Jesuit. We go around the city of Akron and help feed and clothe the homeless and needy. It is a very cool experience to be able to interact first hand and have conversations with those people.

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

Physics

Where are you from?

Uniontown, Ohio

Who is your role model, and why?

My entire family. They each offer something unique that I am able to look up to and model my life and work ethic off of.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played basketball all the way until college and baseball growing up as well.

Did you play any other positions in football?

I have played at every position on the defensive line at some point in my college career. Also have played a little linebacker as well.

At your position, what separates you from others?

My motor and consistency. I really pride myself on consistently being the first one to the ball. If you watch my film you will see that I am never being out hustled to the ball throughout any game. Also, my ability to really understand the game sets me apart. Along with my athletic ability to make plays, this is vital to being able to know what moves and positions I need to be in to be successful.

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

When I break down film I am watching the overall strength and weakness of the guys I am going against. Things such as if he leans or sits back to much during pass protection, or how soon/late he shoot his hands. As well as the tendencies of their Offensive formations. Certain formations can give away what play they are going to be running, so it is not just lining up and playing but also being able to have in your mind what is going to be coming my way.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Offensive lineman Matt Feiler from Bloomsburg University. Pretty sure he was on the Houston Texans for a little bit last year.

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

Paul Kruger from the Browns. He has the relentless motor that gets him to the ball and makes plays consistently.

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

My biggest obstacle in life was getting to where I am at now in my football career. Coming out of high school I had many major Division 1 teams tell me that I would never be able to put on the weight to play at a high level, I was 230lbs at the time. Since then I have gotten all the way up to 260 without losing my speed or anything but I prefer to play at a solid 250.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I have been listening to the same music playlist before every game since my sophomore year in high school; I would say that’s a pre-game ritual. As well as watching the speech from Any Given Sunday, that really puts me in the right mindset heading into a game.

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

Being able to prove that I can play with the big dogs. That’s obviously the first thing people assume when they hear about a small school player is that he is not as talented. But small school players have consistently shown that we can play at the highest level too.

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength I believe is obviously my athletic ability but more important just my level of understanding on how to play this game at a high level and be productive. Which I have done throughout my entire college career starting since my very first game as a true freshman.

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness I believe is sometimes having a slow start to my games. In a few games there were times where I was not 110% during that first snap.

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

I am first and foremost a student of the game that has sacrificed and will continue to sacrifice anything that is necessary to keep playing at a high level. Not only am I a leader by example but I believe I possess the ability to make those around me better as well. With owning a strong willed mindset, I can take the coaching and use it to improve myself as need be. I have gotten myself this far, I refuse to stop now.

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

My favorite player has to be Ray Lewis. No one has played the game as violent and productive as long as he has. I have always been a Cleveland Browns fan, so my loyalty has always been there.

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

Jesus, Ray Lewis, Kanye West

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

I would make sure that every person that has been there to support my dream from day one is taken care of. That is ultimately number one. 

Rapid Answers:

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

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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