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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Tyler Jenkins, LB, Rowan University

Rowan University linebacker Tyler Jenkins hits hard
Rowan University linebacker Tyler Jenkins hits hard

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?

Tyler Jenkins 

What is your Height/Weight?  

5’10, 240lbs

What is your position?

OLB

Where do you play college football?

Rowan University 

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

The coolest thing I have done off the field is go and talk to the inner city youth football team that I played for when I was younger. I gave them some motivational words to keep them focused. The kids thought I was a super star it made me feel good about myself. 

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

The hardest class I ever had to take was intro to ethics, which is like philosophy. The class was dumb hard and the professor didn’t make it any easier. 

Where are you from?

I’m from Woodbury New Jersey 

Who is your role model, and why?

I never really had a role model, I kind of paved the way for myself. There really was nobody that I wanted to be like. I was my own role model. I want to build my own legacy I want  to be a role model to others. 

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I wrestled, ran track, and played baseball. 

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played running back before, fullback, and receiver. 

At your position, what separates you from others?

My mentality is what separates me from others. I hate to lose and I’m going to give 110% every time no matter who is on the other side of that ball. They are going to get my best, and they will know that I am there and I ain’t going nowhere. I’m just a dog out there on the field.

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

I look for formations and tendencies. I look for what a team usually runs in different formations and how many times they run it. I look for if they are a running or passing team or if they are balanced. I look to see what type of plays they run on each down. I look at the lineman and the running back because those are the people I will be going against most of the game. 

tyler jenkins1Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest player I ever faced was Gerald Hodges who plays for the 49ers now, his school was our rivals in high school. I was getting my first start in high school when we played against him. He was strong he was big and he was fast. He was a great player and still is. 

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

I would have to say Ray Lewis, I say that because he played with intensity and I do the same. He played with passion as well he loved the game a lot of people play football for the wrong reasons he loved the game and gave everything he had to the game. I admire that and that is how I look at this game I really love football it’s more than just a game.

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

The biggest obstacle in my life was transitioning from high school to college. I’m talking about both with school and football. It was just different and I didn’t know what was going on. But I just asked my self why am I hear? And that is for school and ball and in Oder to play ball I had to keep my grades right in school so I had to perform on and off the field. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I always get real quiet right before we go out for kickoff. Everyone knows not to talk to me right before game time. And I sit and my locker and I watch Ray Lewis, the last ride on YouTube until it’s time to go out. 

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

The biggest obstacles is exposure, hardly anybody knows about you coming from a small school you really have to put yourself out there just to get someone to glance at you let alone give you a shot. I feel like I am a diamond in the rough coming from a small school. I just need a shot. 

What is your biggest strength?

My power and strength. 

What is your biggest weakness?

My 40 yard dash. I was never taught the right way to run the 40 and I have good game speed but in this business your 40 yard dash is crucial so that is something I really am focusing on. I just have to test better.

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

I would just say that I’m hungry and I will do whatever it takes to make an impact on this team. My work ethic is ridiculous. I will either out work everyone or I will die trying. I will give this team and this game my all. I have been the underdog all of my life and I play with a chip on my shoulder always. That is why I am an All-American linebacker I didn’t hold nothing back. I’m young and I am determined. I never been so hungry in my life I never wanted something so bad in my life. I just need someone to take a chance on me that’s all I ask, that’s all I need. 

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

My favorite player growing up was Brian Dawkins and my favorite team is the Eagles. 

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

Barack Obama, my Grandmother, and Malcolm X. 

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

A house for my Mother. 

Rapid Answers:

  • Tupac or Biggie?
  • NFL Network or ESPN?
  • Coke or Pepsi?
  • Pizza or Burgers?
  • Dogs or Cats? 

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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