NFL DraftProspect Interviews

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Ian Berryman, P, Western Carolina University

  • Name: Ian Berryman
  • Height: 6’0
  • Weight: 195
  • Position: Punter and Holder
  • College: Western Carolina University
  • Twitter: @Ian_Berryman83

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

  • I am from Marietta, Georgia. Marietta is in the suburbs just north of Atlanta. The thing I like the most about Marietta is how close it is to Atlanta, but it’s still far enough away to get out of the traffic of the big city.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

  • 1. Strength and Conditioning
  • 2. Practice
  • 3. Film Study
  • It is really difficult to put these in an order of importance. I would say they are all important when wanting to be a successful athlete and football player. For me, i put them in an order that shows good flow and maximizes my time and effort on and off the field. Training with Hammersmith Sports in Atlanta this summer, I realized the value of having a consistent schedule. For example, starting with Strength & Conditioning first allowed me to get my muscles warm and feeling explosive. After Strength & Conditioning, I would head to the field to punt and work my technique. Lastly, I would watch the session that I filmed in its entirety to find what needed to be fixed or changed. I took this routine into fall camp this year and it has really worked out well for me.   

What do you worry about, and why?

  • My biggest worry has always been not doing enough to help the team with field position. This has become an obsession of mine and I feel like this obsession to perfecting my craft to help the team has benefitted myself in my progression as a punter. 

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

  • When I failed a class my true freshman fall semester. I overcame this by working hard and focusing on my studies more. Since then, I have been on the Dean’s List (3.5+ GPA) or the Chancellor’s List (3.8+ GPA) every semester since then and have been named an Academic All-American.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

  • Always being there for teammates and my optimism
  • My ability to directional punt effectively 

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

  • The best punt returner I have ever faced was Alvin Kamara when we played Tennessee my Redshirt Freshman year. The most dynamic all around athlete I have ever faced was Myles Garrett. They are both incredible athletes and it was awesome being able to play against them.

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

  •  I have always wanted to be a Sports Play-by-Play Commentator or a Special Teams Coordinator.

Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?

  • Room  

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

  • I would save three strangers because saving three people over one person is more morally correct in my opinion. 

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

  • Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore. Confident in his game and he’s not afraid to show it. 

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

  • It has to be earning the starting punting job after walking-on at Western Carolina. I overcame this obstacle by working hard, trusting myself, and believing I could do it.

What is your most embarrassing moment? 

  • When I hit the occasional bad punt (that any punter has) because I know I am better than that and I can help the team more than how I just performed. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

  • My first punt of my career against Mars Hill. It was a 49-yard fair catch in my first career start. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

  •  Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

  • A calm and focused mindset  

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

  • Tom Petty, would love to get to sit down and speak with him 

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

  •  El Tigre

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL? 

  • Not sure the answer to this one  

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

  • I would rather be respected than liked. I say this because I would rather have someone respect me in the position I play than be liked by a ton of people

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why? 

  • One example that comes to mind is the former Eagles and Saints Long-snapper, Jon Dorenbas. Having a career derailed by an unknown medical issue is heartbreaking and I really feel for him  

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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