NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Paul Smith, OT, Concord University

 

NFL Draft Diamonds has been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the player. We hope to bring you more than 350 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 to the right.  Now let’s meet the prospect!!!!

What is your name?

Paul Smith

What is your Height/Weight?

6’6 / 290lbs

What is your position?

Left Tackle 

Where do you play college football?

Concord University (Mountain East Conference)

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

The coolest thing that I have had the chance to do off the field is to work this past summer as an athletics counselor at a kids camp in Washington DC. It was an extremely fulfilling experience.

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

The hardest college class that I have ever taken has to be Math 103 at my college. It was a rigorous course that covered a lot of course material in a short amount of time. 

Where are you from?

Roanoke, Virginia

Who is your role model, and why?

My Uncle Bob, he has always been a father figure to me and took me in during a tough time in my life. He always worked hard to provide not only his own children but also me and made me feel like one of his own. 

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Basketball and Baseball

Did you play any other positions in football?

When I initially came to college I was recruited to play defensive line for my college. In 2012 (Redshirt) and 2013 I played Defensive End and Defensive Tackle before being moved over to Offensive Line in the Spring of 2014.

At your position, what separates you from others?

What separates myself from others on the field is my pass set punch. My punch is strong enough to stop defenders and alter their pass rush. 

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

When I am breaking down film I look at the Defensive lineman’s stance and alignment for pre-play ques into what they might be doing. I also watch their pad level and use of hands against the o lineman they are going against. Final thing I look at is their pursuit to the football. That can tell you a lot about a player. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Shaneil Jenkins from Sheperd University, faced him twice and he was a load to block. Very strong at the point of attack and has a great motor. 

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

If I had to compare my play to a player in the NFL it would be Tyron Smith. Right now he’s playing great football and apart of a dominant offensive line. I compare our games because I aspire to be like him while locking down the left side of the line. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Yes I always go back to my dorm after team breakfast and play a game of NCAA Football 14 and listen to my game day playlist to relax my mind. (Home games) 

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

Some of the obstacles that small school players have to overcome are exposure and name recognition. At the D2 level, games aren’t televised nationally like at the big schools so to get your name out there you have to work that much harder. Name recognition is another obstacle because of the competition level. Not many people have heard of the D 2 football schools because of the exposure level. It is because of this when you pop on a tape of a football player from a smaller school, the tape can be evaluated as lesser than someone from a bigger school. 

What is your biggest strength?

I think my biggest strength is that I do not get rattled often. Throughout tough times I can maintain a calm and cool demeanor. 

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness is I can be a procrastinator. I meet all deadlines for assignments I tend to do them last minute though.

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

I would say that I could be a great asset to your franchise for years to come. I am a hard worker who is willing to put in the time and effort to get the results needed. I am willing to do whatever it is the team needs of me in order to ensure success. 

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

My favorite NFL player growing up was Michael Vick. He was electric and played at Virginia Tech which is 45 min from where I’m from. My favorite NFL team is the Atlanta Falcons. As a kid I went to Atlanta every summer and got to catch a couple of games. I began liking them while Michael Vick was still their Quarter Back. 

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

If I could have dinner with three people it would be my mom, my grandma and my girlfriend. My mother and grandma both passed away before I got to college and met my girlfriend. I would be interested how they would like her. 

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

With my first paycheck I would find a place to stay for myself and my girlfriend. Nothing too fancy just a place to stay in my new city. 

Rapid Answers:

• Who will win the Super Bowl? The Atlanta Falcons 
• Whose better Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
• Better Running Back Adrian Peterson or Barry Sanders?
• Better safety Eric Weddle or Ed Reed?
• Better linebacker Ray Lewis or Luke Kuechly?