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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Riley Shantz, OL, Missouri State University

Riley Shantz is the real deal. He is an awesome center

NFL Draft Diamonds website has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible 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 our next prospect!!!!

What is your name? 

Riley Shantz

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’3″ 305lb’s

What is your position? 

Center/Guard/Long Snapper

Where do you play college football? 

Missouri State University 

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

I have been able to build playgrounds and help out with low income family neighborhoods in Springfield MO. 

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

Accounting 711 – it’s a graduate level accounting class

Where are you from? 

Springfield, MO

Who is your role model, and why? 

My mom is my role model. She works her butt off and has achieved so much in life. She has taught me hard work and to be accountable in life

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

I played Soccer growing up then ice hockey. I only started playing football in 7th grade. I also threw shot and discuss in high school. 

Did you play any other positions in football? 

 I was a back up long snapper at Missouri State but I am looking to take that to the next level.

At your position, what separates you from others? 

 I am a very athletic big guy. I can run well and pull from the center position and block out in space. I am also very physical.

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

 I usually like to check the wide and see which d lineman are good at getting off the ball then look for different levels for twists. Also like to see what their favorite pass rush moves are as well as how they play screens double teams. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

The NT at Kansas State did a good job of holding the point. 

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

The Steelers Center Marques Pouncey is very athletic and can pull and block in space. I also used to love to watch Jeff Saturday play. 

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

Some family stuff along with not really being a high valued recruit out of high school and coming in and fighting and starting for 3 years and becoming an all conference player. 

What is your biggest strength? 

Smart and Athletic

What is your biggest weakness? 

Sometimes try to use strength instead of trusting my fundamentals. 

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

I would tell them that I do not quit and that I am a competitor. I am a versatile player that can provide depth at Center Guard and a hell of a long snapper. 

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

My favorite team growing up was The St. Louis rams with Kurt warner and Marshall Faulk

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

 I would have dinner with My two grandpa’s. I never got to meet one of them and I got really close to my other grandpa who is a WW2 vet. I really respected him. I would also like to have dinner with my grandma. Family is important to me I miss them a lot. 

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

I think I would probably get a little house either back home or wherever I am fortunate enough to go. 

Damond Talbot

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

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