NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Malik Morris, CB, Ithaca 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?
Malik Morris
What is your Height/Weight?
Height 5’10” Weight 190 lbs
What is your position?
Cornerback
Where do you play college football?
Ithaca College, Upstate New York
Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?
Ithaca Football give back day. Local Pop-Warner teams come to our field and we spend the day playing football, doing drills, and working on touchdown celebrations with the kids.
What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?
Primary Human Anatomy (Dissecting Human Cadavers)
Where are you from?
Long Island, New York
Who is your role model, and why?
My mother. Everyone that knows her understands. She is the most selfless person i know, and my character is a direct result of her great job raising me as a kid.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Lacrosse, baseball and wrestling.
Did you play any other positions in football?
Running back, Safety, Linebacker, Kick Return. I tried to play both ways in college but my coach was not having it.
At your position, what separates you from others?
It would probably be my ability to come up in the box and make tackles. Most defensive backs don’t like to hit but i consider myself a well rounded player, and can fill the box with the big guys.
When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?
Split tendencies from receivers, where they are lined up in space. Also the speed of release off the ball to indicate some routes.
Who was the toughest player you ever faced?
Joe Ingrao. He was slow but this guy caught EVERYTHING.
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?
Eric Reid, he’s one of the most underrated players in the game and his presence is felt no matter who the 49ers play. He’s fast, physical and just a great overall person.
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
When I graduated elementary school, my mom wanted me to have the best options possible so i went to a private school that was a 2 hour commute there and 2 hours back everyday. It sucked for the time being but it was definitely something that set me up for all of the success that i have had in my life.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Sitting on the field hours before the game, just soaking up the pre game hype.
What is your biggest strength?
Physicality. I love playing bump and run coverage. Hopefully i can put the receivers in the sidelines.
What is your biggest weakness?
Being too confident in my own abilities.
If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?
I have a versatile set of skills, so I can play wherever you want to plug me in. Most players dread playing on special teams, those are the opportunities that I strive for. One key block/tackle can change the course of any game. Last but not least, I am a low maintenance player. You know what you are going to get from me on and off the field, and that’s excellence and leadership.
Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU days. The honey badger don’t care. Buffalo Bills would have to be my favorite NFL team.
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
DJ Swearinger, OBJ, and J Cole.
What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?
Call up the people from house hunters paradise and tell them that my mom is ready for her own episode after years of watching.
Rapid Answers:
- Tupac or Biggie?
- NFL Network or ESPN?
- Coke or Pepsi?
- Pizza or Burgers? Bomber Pizza All the way
- Dogs or Cats? Dogs (German Shepherd)
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