NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Darius Benders, RB, University of Maine

What is your name?

Darius Benders 

What is your Height/Weight?

I’m 5″6 and 185 pounds

What is your position?

Tailback

Where do you play college football?

University of Maine

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

Coolest thing I’ve done off the field is going to middle schools, talking to kids and coaching youth athletes, from the Maine area and helping them improve there skill set.

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

I would have to say a marketing class I took my Junior year

Where are you from?

Boston, MA

Who is your role model, and why?

My Mother, because her work ethic is 2nd to none. I watched her work for everything we have so she could provide for me and just her support for me throughout my whole journey has been there through the ups and downs

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yes growing up I played basketball, baseball , football , and even swim

Did you play any other positions in football?

In high school I played linebacker, safety, fullback

At your position, what separates you from others?

I think what separates me is my ability to be versatile. I can catch , run, and block

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

I’m looking for the strengths of the defensive interior. The linebackers habits , strengths , weaknesses etc. Then I’m looking at the defensive scheme.. Where my reads are most likely going to be at based on alignments of lineman and lastly I look at there secondary players habits , do they break down when they tackle or are they just flying downhill .Then come gameday the game slows down.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Udochukwu Vic Ochi from Stony Brook was a good player, who was all over the field

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

Devonta Freeman, he’s a guy who does a little bit of everything. He’s a north/south runner who possesses short area quickness

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

Getting to the University of Maine and going from walk on to starter. I went to 4 different schools including a Junior college and Community College in order to be academically eligible to play division 1 ball. I was only at Maine for 2 seasons. First season was a big learning curve for me but once I got the offense down I started making plays and coaches took notice.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Pre-game ritual for me is listening to some hip hop music

What is your biggest strength?

My lower center of gravity, power , and ability to make defenders miss

What is your biggest weakness?

Making sure I don’t get caught on long runs

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

I would say I’m going to give you 100%, day in and day out. I’m going to make plays when my number is called no matter what.  I’m going to do whatever it takes to make your organization better.

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

Favorite player was Maurice Jones Drew and favorite team still is Patriots

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

Darren Sproles , Obama , and J Cole

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

Buy my mom a luxury car and a house first