NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Sean Mardis, RB, Campbellsville 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?

Sean Mardis.

What is your Height/Weight?

5’11 200 lb.

What is your position?

RB/Athlete.

Where do you play college football?

Campbellsville University.

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

I use my social media platforms to encourage and mentor young players and people about life, recruitment and a number of things that may be useful to them.  

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

Mass Media Law; it’s a tough class with a lot of legal jargon, reading and open discussion. I had never heard of a lot of things that were covered in this class but it was very interesting and helpful.

Where are you from?

Birmingham, Alabama.

Who is your role model, and why?

My role model is my trainer/mentor Coach Otis Leverette. Coach Otis has taught me how to handle adversity as a man and helped me grow since I was in High School and College into a Professional on and off of the field. He helps many young men and women and I strive and hope to be half as good of a man as him when I am older.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Track and Field (Ran the 100m Dash as a Freshman in College at Morehead State University), Basketball, Soccer.

Did you play any other positions in football?

I have played literally every position on the field. QB, RB, WR, OL, DL, LB, CB, KR, PR and Safety.. I have even punted and played kicker before.

At your position, what separates you from others?

At my position the thing that separates me from others is my football IQ, willingness to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed, my blocking, soft hands and my cut ability. I am a student of the game. Coming from a football background; I almost know what a defense is doing pre snap most plays. My brother and uncle played college football and my dad coached youth football for years. So I grew up around football. I also train with a few college and professional football players. 

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

When I am breaking down film I am looking for the defensive fronts, are they a 3 man front, 4 man front, how the D-Line is lined up in the different gaps, etc. those are very important keys that can tell you what the defense plans to do.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Reggie Ragland. (Now Plays for the Buffalo Bills)

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

Marshawn Lynch. (Beast Mode). I am a powerful runner who can also make great cuts and make defenders miss in the open field. I also have a laid back personally and don’t care about fame and just love the game of football like he does. Jalston Fowler too because of his blocking ability and how he overcame adversity to reach the NFL.

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

I believe that everyone’s obstacle in life is trying to overcome fear in all aspects of your life. There is always apprehension and doubt in everything we attempt to do. I get over my fears #1 by trusting in God. #2 by preparing myself mentally and physically to do the best that I can do and let the chips fall where they may. #3 by never giving up.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I go in the back of whatever locker room we are in and just sit by myself and read a book until we head out for warm ups just to get my mind calm and focused and ready to do my job on the field.

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength has to be my perseverance and diligence. 

What is your biggest weakness? 

Procrastination; like most people we have good intentions but sometimes other things take priority and we can lose focus on the small things that truly matter. 

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

As a GM you want to have professionals on your team and representing your organization. I am proven to be a Professional on and off of the field, I have never had off the field issues, I am a team first guy.

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

My favorite NFL player growing up had to be Mike Vick. He was like my idol growing up; I got to meet him and hangout with him and other NFL players when he had a camp in Georgia when he played for the Atlanta Falcons.

I did not have a favorite NFL team growing up.

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

Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, M.L. King Jr.

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

Not really sure yet