NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jihad Abdur-Rahman, DL, Delaware State University
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?
Jihad Abdur-Rahman
What is your Height/Weight?
6’3 270lbs
What is your position?
Defensive Lineman
Where do you play college football?
Delaware State University
Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?
Coolest thing I’ve ever done was visit the Home for the Chronically ill in Delaware. Myself and a few other teammates had the chance to get these patients to have a good time
What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?
Organic Chemistry
Where are you from?
Savannah,Georgia
Who is your role model, and why?
My Parents,they are the hardest working people I know. They raised me from a boy to a man. Wouldn’t have made it out of Savannah without them.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Played basketball my entire life until the end of my freshman year in college .
Did you play any other positions in football?
Tight End
At your position, what separates you from others?
The biggest separation from me and other players that play my position is that I can play multiple defensive linemen position.
When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?
I look at tendencies of the offensive lineman and the entire offensive. I also pay attention to snap counts and specific backfield sets.
Who was the toughest player you ever faced?
Jonathan Burgess from Liberty is by for the best offensive lineman I’ve ever faced.
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?
Michael Bennett most definitely. He plays defensive end, 3 technique, and nose tackle at times. He does all of this weighing only around 270lbs. I played all 3 in College which is why I compare my play to his.
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
Biggest obstacle I had to overcome was improving my academic grades after transferring to Delaware State. The first semester at Delaware State my GPA was a 1.7 but after a lot of hard work and guidance I graduated with a 3.3 GPA. My girlfriend Jasmine Jackson and my academic adviser pushed me hard so I could not only stay eligible but be a honor student.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Yea listening to music keeps me focused and locked in. I also joke around a lot and always get my team involved in pre-game. But most importantly I pray to the lord before every
What is your biggest strength?
My strengths are my quickness and hand speed. Being that I played basketball my entire life I believe that puts me at an advantage over most offensive lineman.
What is your biggest weakness?
My weakness would be my emotions at times during the game. I love winning so losing is hard for me.
If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?
I am just a dedicated and hard working type of player. It’s doesn’t matter if I get selected in the draft or if I am picked up in free agency I am going to compete every single day. Whether I am a starter, reserve or practice player I will always give this team a 100%. Selecting me to play on your team would not be a mistake.
Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?
Favorite Player and Team growing up was Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
My Great Grandparents, and my Grandfather Willie Gray Harris SR.
What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?
I know I could never repay these two women back but I would buy my grandma a new car and my mom a new nice truck.
Rapid Answers:
- Tupac or Biggie?
- NFL Network or ESPN?
- Coke or Pepsi?
- Pizza or Burgers?
- Dogs or Cats?
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