NFL DraftProspect Interviews

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Dexter Reese, CB, Alabama A&M

What is your name?

Dexter Reese

What is your Height/Weight?

5’9 175lbs

What is your position?

Cornerback

Where do you play college football?

I played at Alabama A&M University.

Where are you from?

I am from Roanoke, Alabama. Home of the Handley Tigers.

Who is your role model, and why?

Honestly, my role model is my older brother Courtland Gates. It took me a while to admit it but since I was younger I have always looked up to him and wanted to make sure he was proud of me. I admire the way he played ball and how he attacks life every day. Now he shows many acts of selflessness and kindness and always tries to help make this journey to the NFL easier on me. He is a great uncle to my son and gives me truthful advice in life whether it condemns me or praises me. I am thankful for him as a big brother.

Who was your favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher, Clifton Drummonds, was also my basketball coach. He basically took it upon himself to mold me into a young man at an early age. He tested me both on and off the court and taught me mental toughness is very important characteristic to possess.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played basketball and I also long jumped for our track team in high school.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest athlete I ever faced was Willie Quinn from Southern University. He is probably the shiftiest and quickest player I ever had to cover one on one.

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

I will say Dylan Hamilton from Alabama A&M is the most underrated player on the team. He is a hard-hitting safety that can also play the ball in the air.

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

Right Above It by Lil Wayne has been played before every football game I have played in since High school.

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

I would compare my game to AJ Bouye. I think he does a great job at route recognition. Therefore, he is able to run routes for receivers and make plays on balls. He has great hips and a tempo to be admired. I feel this permits him to press receivers or playoff coverage. Also, he will come down and make tackles consistently with control and physicality.

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

The biggest obstacle I had to overcome my freshman year when I had to balance starting at cornerback for A&M, being a father, working at Wendy’s, and also being a full-time student. Life was very strenuous at that time, but with the help of Courtland Gates and Dekaria Zachery and constant prayer, we managed to make it through that season successfully.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I FaceTime my son and both of my brothers before every game. After that, I do a lot of stretching and getting loose. I start off with gospel music as I talk to God and pray for the game and my teammates and my family. Then I’ll zone out the world with some music to pump me up before the game while running around and doing drill getting to the blood pumping.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

Most memorable play game my sophomore year when we played Prairie View in Texas. We were making a comeback but they were up by a touchdown and in our red zone. I was one on one with their star receiver. It was third down from the 6 and they ran a slant. I was able to intercept the pass for our team and our offense drove down the field and tied the game.

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

16. There have always been younger kids who look up to me because I play ball. So there have been days I dedicated to spending the entire day with the kids. We would play football, basketball, and basically just do whatever they wanted to do. It is a great feeling to bring joy and inspire the younger generation.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up?

Honestly, I have never had a favorite NFL team. I just have always enjoyed watching and playing football. I never cared who was actually playing as long as I was watching the game.

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

The first person I would have dinner with is Barrack Obama. I admire the way he handles all occurrences with such charisma and composure. I love everything he stands for and I know I would learn a lot from that dinner. Second, I would have dinner with my teammate Danny Johnson who was killed in a car wreak after our sophomore year. He was my safety and my best friend. I really just wish he was still here but it would be amazing to catch up and laugh one more time. Last, I would have dinner with my grandmother Dorothy Gates who died when I was 5 years old. It would be amazing if I could actually talk to her now. She would be able to see how much I have grown and matured over the years.

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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