NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Aaron Givens, LB, Webber International University

• Name: Aaron Givens        
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 220
• Position: Linebacker
• College: Webber International University
• Twitter: @GivensAD31

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

• I was born and raised in Goulds, FL. What I love about my hometown the most, is the support system from within the community. Everyone looks out for one another and encourages each other to always do better.

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

• Practice would be first because there is always room to improve your craft and become great at something. Secondly it would be Film Study, because you have to always critique yourself and look for ways to become better and also studying your opponent to discover certain tendencies you can use to your advantage while facing them. Although I put Strength Conditioning third it’s a huge factor because in order to compete as much as you have to be mentally prepared you have to be physically prepared while playing any sport.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worrying about where I would be in the next two years because I have put so much hard work, time and effort into striving to become the best person I can be and also being a role model, so others can look up to me.
  

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

• During high school, I had a hard time passing the FCAT. After failing it 9^th and 10^th grade year I was extremely frustrated because I had a great GPA but could not pass the test. During my 11^th grade year, my high school offered FCAT tutoring after school and with my determination to graduate from high school, I cut back on video games and put more time and effort into studying for what I needed to. In the result of that, I passed the FCAT my 11^th grade year of high school.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates say my best quality is displaying my leadership on and off the field.

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

• Jarrell Reynolds

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

• IT Network Administrator

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?

• A family member because even though my family may feud at times, at the end of the day our bond is unbreakable and when the going gets tough, we sacrifice for one another.

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

• The Bernie Mac Show, because I love comedy and that show is not afraid to tell things ”how it is”.

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

• The biggest adversity in my life I have face is being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in early 2015. It got to a point where I could not walk at all due to swelling and pain in my knees and feet. I would give my last to my parents because they were always by my side making sure I was alright and made sure I had the best doctors so they can try to make things go back to normal as quick as possible. After being 100% healthy before January of 2015, I always wonder “why this had to happen to me?” but I knew I had a lot of people supporting me and praying for me to get well. After one doctor telling me I may have to look into stop football and focusing only on my education, that’s where I then took initiative. After therapy and treatments, on March of 2016 my body started responding well to the routines and treatments my doctor prescribed to me. After training and gaining my strength back during July of 2016, I was offered a football scholarship at Webber International University and with glory to God, I overcame every obstacle I was put me through and have not looked back ever since.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• After school, in elementary, me and my friends was seeing who can jump over this fence in my grandmothers yard the highest, which wasn’t too bright, but I ended up jumping it and my pants got hung on the gate and ripped.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My most memorable play of college is when we face Campbellsville University. It was 2 & 5 in the first quarter. We were up 10 – 6. While being held while chasing after the play, I ripped off of the block and hit the ball carrier as hard as I could and forced a fumbled and it led to a scoop and score to give us a bigger lead. After that momentum swing we ended up winning 45 – 9.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Till I Collapse

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

• Physical

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

• My Grandmother. Me and her had a strong bond and she would always look out for my family and made sure she kept the family together. Every holiday she would always cook and it was always her goal to bring family together, so everyone can have a great time.

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

• Ray’s Boom Boom Room

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?

• To me, no NFL professional player is overrated.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected because there may always be someone that dislikes you but when you have the respect for a person, whether you agree or disagree with them you would always acknowledge there thought on something or for example how they may critique you at your craft.

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

• Trent Richardson, he was big family person and I’m a big family person so that’s why we both can relate. But with all the story headlines he had to face about his own family trying to drain him financially and not continuing to push him to keep up the good work and do better was devastating.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Love to Win

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

• My dad has been the biggest influence on my life. He has showed me every detail and aspect it takes to be a great father. Even though work would sometimes get in the way, afterward he made sure he was at my games. He has always supported my dreams but was not afraid to tell me if I was doing something wrong either. Growing up I would always be under him, whether, if he was cooking, driving to the stores, or just fixing on something around the house. I thank God every day for blessing me with a great father to look up to and always be there for me.