NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: De’Andre Coley, DB, University of Arkansas

What is your name?

De’Andre Coley

What is your Height/Weight?

6’1/210

What is your position?

FS/SS

Where do you play college football?

University of Arkansas

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

I have done a lot of cool things off the field. My favorite is giving back to the community. Visiting schools giving back learned knowledge about my college experience, I love when I get a chance to feed the homeless or give them clothes.

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

The most challenging class I have ever taken was chemistry. College chemistry was very new to me. Unlike math, this class allowed me to use more than just logic, I had to remember formula’s, break them down, and then apply them to what I was learning. Although chemistry was very challenging, I had to find a way to get through it.

Where are you from?

Miami, Florida

Who is your role model, and why?

My role model is my father. He raised me to be the man I am today. He taught me how to be mentally tough. He also taught me how to never give up on anything in life. He always told me “just because it’s hard, Don’t ever give up because it may allow multiple attempts to get the job done.”

Did you play any other sports growing up?

While growing up, I played Basketball in middle school and ran Track in high school.

Did you play any other positions in football?

Other Position I have played was outside Linebacker.

At your position, what separates you from others?

When compared to others, I would say my aggressiveness and my nose for the ball would separate me from others. You have to be aggressive every play because at the end you have to leave it all on the field. I also have a nose for the ball meaning wherever the ball is you will see me right there.

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

When breaking down film, I look at the quarterback, the offensive line, and the wide receivers. I look at the quarterback to see if he is a stare down guy or a person who likes to run first and pass the ball second. I also look at his hot game to see how fast he turn his shoulders. Secondly, I look at the offensive line to see how they pass and run block so I can read my keys faster. Lastly, I look for how good the Wide Receivers run their routes and their releases, most important how physical they are when blocking

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest player I ever faced was Derrius Guice. No matter how hard he gets hit, he will get back up every single time.

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

I would compare my play to Earl Thomas. He and I are both aggressive, have a nose for the ball, and gets off the hashes fast and gets to the ball every play.

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

The biggest obstacle in my life was losing three of my cousins in one year to gun violence. They were my cousins so of course we grew up and basically did everything together. Losing them took a huge toll on me. Despite them dying, I had to remain focused and level headed. I didn’t let it get to me because I knew they wouldn’t want me to stop pursing my dream. Although I lost them, I had to make sure I graduated from high school and get my college degree because I knew they would have wanted me to and that would have put a big smile on their face.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

One of my pregame rituals is taking a shower before every game to wake my body up. It allows me to feel loose. I also pray and read Psalms 23 from the bible. Before my grandma died, she used to always read that scripture with me.

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength is my aggressiveness.

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness is being over aggressive at times.

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

If you were a GM, I would tell you I’m the missing piece to this organization. No matter how tough the road gets, through my hard work and dedication, I would work my tail off to help bring a Super bowl to this organization along with the help of my teammates .

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

My favorite player while growing up was Sean Taylor. He was my favorite because How he put fear in other players heart because they knew what he was about at Safety, his love for the game, and how people were scared to throw things his way. My favorite team was the Miami Dolphins. I’m from Miami so the Dolphins is all I know. I used to go to their games all the time as a kid. Seeing them on the field gave me hopes and dreams of one day being out there as well.

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

If I could have dinner with three people dead or alive I would talk to Sean Taylor so he can give me a few tips on playing safety and also tips on how to up my game. I would also have dinner with  Jay Z to talk about how he made it from nothing, but through his rough circumstances he built his own empire. Lastly, I would talk to Earl Thomas because that’s my favorite player in the league right now. He could also provide me with tips on how he’s become successful as a football player thus far.

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

The first big item I would buy, would be a new house for my parents. Buying them a house is something I have always dreamed of. They have always been there for me and they have been my number one supporters through this entire journey. Repaying them with a new house is the least I could do.