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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Danian Alvarez, OL, Lindenwood University – Belleville

Danian Alvarez is a big boy who moves players out the way to get his running back down the field

  • Name: Danian Alvarez
  • Height: 6’5
  • Weight: 310
  • Position: OL
  • College: Lindenwood University- Belleville
  • Twitter: @Danian_74
Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?
  •  I’m from Ft.Lauderdale, where I can get to the beach in 15 minutes and find food from all over the world in every block of the city. They’re always new people to meet and fun events to go to. The people from my hometown are just full of life and I love it.  
List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?
  •  Film- I watch a lot of films, because I like to watch for tendencies. Defensive linemen will give away when they’re going to twist. Also, I like to see what their favorite moves are and how good their feet are as well as how well they fight with their hands.
  • Strength and Conditioning- As a linemen technique comes first, but you have to be stronger and faster than the man across from you. If you develop your body well enough it’ll pay you back tenfold. The season is long especially if you make it through the playoffs so you have to take care of it.
  • Practice- I hate putting practice last, it’s a very important aspect of preparation for Saturdays. This is where you get as many quality reps that you can get. Getting a good look and making adjustments against new defenses is a must. 
What do you worry about, and why?
  •  My biggest worry is not living up to my standards on and off the field. I am my own biggest critic, and always want to outperform my past accomplishments. It’s me vs my mentality, so I have to be a better man, son, brother and teammate day in and day out.
Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?
  •  This came when I allowed my first sack in college. I felt terrible about it because I look back and my QB is in the ground in pain. I felt as if I let him and my team down, so I went over picked him up and locked down everything the defense threw at me from that point on. 
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
  •  My communication skills on the field, and in my community I was always taught that on the line there is no secrets. I always call out what I see and encourage everyone else to do so too. It’s the best way to pick up blitzes and twists, and it completely frustrates defenses. When I’m not on the field I do my best to talk to everyone and connect with people on a personal level. 
Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
  •  The best player I played was Armonty Bryant from ECU. He was big explosive and pretty good with his hands. Also, he had a motor that just did not stop. That was probably some of the most fun I had. 
What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 
  •  If I couldn’t play football then I would end up as a High School Guidance counselor and coach. I would want to help mold the future generation of society as well as football players. I think that it is important to try to get people on the right path early on to maximize their potential in life.
Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?
  •  Room- My room has to be the first thing I clean. If I wake up to a clean organized room then I feel organized and ready to start my day on the best note. Then after a long day, I can at least come back to a made bed and relax.
  • Desk- My work area always has to be clean. If I can’t find anything and have a messy workplace then I don’t know how you can be successful in getting things done in a timely fashion. 
  • Car- My car is more of a luxury item. It’s fun to take my time to detail it on the weekends and spend time waxing it, but I always keep in mind it’s the main purpose is to get me from point A to point B, so that’s why I had to put it last.
If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why? 
  •  In a situation like this, there is no easy answer, but I would have to pick the three strangers. Knowing how my family works they would be more proud and happy that I saved multiple lives than acted selfishly and save them. 
If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?
  •  If I had to choose it would be Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. Not too many people know this but I am a huge Star Wars fan and he’s the coolest cat in the series. Whenever faced with situations that would cause anyone to panic, he just plays it cool and finds an answer in the most impossible ways.
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it? 
  •  My biggest obstacle would have to be myself. I believe in complete accountability, so if i’m not where I want to be in certain stages of my life such as school, work, or football then it is up to me to overcome it. Life has thrown me some curve balls and I have taken a more nontraditional route in getting to where I want to be, but I always keep grinding it out and relentlessly work to overcome anything that comes my way. 
What is your most embarrassing moment?
  •  That would have to be when I showed up late to my very first meeting as a Freshmen in college. My coach made me get in front of the team and dance ” I’m a little teapot”. I was never late again.
What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?
  •  That would have to be my last snap as a college athlete. We were playing the #2 team in the nation and the clock was down to the last seconds. I based upon the 3 techs and threw him to the ground as I saw one of my freshmen wide-outs catch a great pass for a touchdown and walked off the field thinking, That’s it the torch has been passed and that felt pretty cool.

 

What song best describes your work ethic?
  •  We ready, because I’m always ready for a challenge and pumped up to put in some work.
What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 
  •  Adaptability would be the most important trait to have at the next level. You have to be able to move to other positions when the team needs you to and to be able to adapt to changes at the line and on the run during the play. 
If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?
  •  It would have to be Tupac. I love his music and poetry and would love to just hang out with him and maybe see if he could make some more music, or pick his brain a bit and see if he would give me insight on how to write better. 
If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 
  •  That’s easy it would be called the Boom-Boom room. I would make sure that place is always full of life loud music and great vibes.
Who is the most overrated player in the NFL? 
  •  That’s a really hard question because I think everyone in the league earned their shot. So, I can’t really name anyone. All of these guys are the world’s greatest athletes.
Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?
  •  Respected hands down. I’ve never really cared if anyone liked me. You don’t have to like me, but you will respect me. Respect is earned through hard work and a strong will to succeed, and I will rather be respected because of that they liked. 
What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?
  • Steve Gleason, He brought hope back into a city that was destroyed. I felt bad when I found out that he had ALS.
  • Do you love to win, or hate to lose?
  • I love to win. You put all this effort and work all week in practice and then when that clock hits 0:00 and you’re walking away with the Win there is no better feeling.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why? 
  • It would have to be my mom, She raised me and supported me through thick and thin and never gave up on me or my dreams. I would not be the man who I am today without her and I’m blessed to have her.
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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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