NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Mohammed Sankoh, LB, West Liberty

What is your name? 

Mohammed Sankoh

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’0 , 230 lbs

What is your position? 

Edge Rusher/ Linebacker

Where do you play college football? 

West Liberty University

Where are you from? 

I was born in Ummul Hamam, Saudi Arabia then moved to Accra, Ghana at the age of six. I came to America when I was 13 a couple of days before high school started.

Who is your role model, and why? 

My mother has always been my role model. Life as a single mother isn’t easy especially with two kids. She put us through college while taking care of her parents back in Africa. Her relentless resolve towards life taught me a lot and lead me to become the man of the house.

Who was your favorite teacher?

Dr. Chen, my QBA professor was a joy to have in class. She always answered all my questions and explained the material until I thoroughly understood.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

I originally came into the country as a soccer player but decided running a mile as warm up was too much for me. I ran track and medaled in the 4×1 at districts.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

The toughest player I saw was Corey Ernest, the starting left guard on my team. We always had heated battles at practice which made us both better at the end of the day.

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

Terrence Baldwin, a 4-year starter at corner. He didn’t give up a touchdown in his senior season.

What is the one song that would fire you up before the biggest game of your life? 

Meek Mill- King. It depicts coming back from great losses and getting to the top and being the king you are. It’s the first song playing on my highlight tape.

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

I would compare my play to Von Miller. Not the regular sized DE but always coming off the edge with a great get-off and wreaking constant havoc in the backfield but also be able to drop into coverage.

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

Balancing school, athletics and my personal life. I realized I couldn’t spread myself too thin and cut out the unnecessary areas of my life. Put my priorities first and everything else after.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

Before every game, I had to call my mother, play King by Meek Mill and do my signature handshake with my teammates.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

My senior year, game 3 against Charleston. I made the game winning TFL and we won the game 9-6.

What is the coolest thing you ever did off the field for someone else?

I gave $200 to a homeless man when I visited Ghana. It was the last of my savings but I knew it would go much further for him than it would for me.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up? 

The Philadelphia Eagles! Fly Eagles Fly!!

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

Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King for being visionaries and paving the way for the next generation. And lastly, my father because I only got to talk to him as a boy, not a man. I’d tell him I’m taking care of the family and that I’m chasing my dreams!