NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: James Caligone IV, CB, Langston University

• Name: James Caligone IV
• Height: 5’11
• Weight: 190
• Position: CB/NB
• College: Langston University 
• Twitter: @CaligoneIV

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

• My hometown is Tulsa, Oklahoma. What I love most about Tulsa are the restaurants. A lot of people don’t know but Oklahoma has some really good BBQ and Tulsa, to me, has the best BBQ I’ve ever had.

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

• Film study is the most important out the three. The reason why its the most important to me is that of what Ronde Barber said. When he retired from the league in 2012 after being in the league since 97. That’s a lot of years for a cornerback. His main reason for why he said he could play in the league that long was because of film study. When you get older in the league and younger faster guys start to come in you have to have something that separates yourself from them that can still allow you to not only play but be a factor and I feel film study is just that. 2) Strength and conditioning are my second most important because without that you really can’t play in the NFL. I believe no team wants a player who is weak in weight training, injury prone, or can’t run or stay running with the age of people in the league at that time. So staying fit is always important. 3) The third most important is practice. Practice is very important. It is really just important as film study and strength and conditioning. I love to practice. I get to work on new things like different techniques and different alignments for the upcoming week and that always excites me. play recognition is always good also and helps in the game just like film study does.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about what God has planned for me next. It’s more of an eager worry than anything else. I have a degree in Criminal Justice but I love the game of football. I don’t believe I’m done but statistics can show otherwise. I just can’t wait to see what he has in store for me next, whether its a criminal justice job or football. I know with him and through him, he will put me in the best position to succeed for me and my family.

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

• My freshman year of college I injured my knee and had to have surgery. I came back to early from rehab and injured it again. The team doctor advised me and the head coach that I  should stop playing football and just go to school. He even went as far as giving me a full ride on academics. I gave that up and transferred to another school. At that point in my life, I had felt like I had failed. Like i had let everyone including my family down.  All I wanted to do was play football and it was being taken from me. When I got to Langston University I worked like no other and later became a 2 year starter, one of the best defensive backs in the conference and is able to say I have a chance at going to the next level.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• I believe they would say I am very outgoing. Im always the life of anything we do as a team. We have practice at 4:30 am everyday and the way I get to wake myself up and get ready for practice or get others tempo up I yell very loud. This may not seem like a lot but at 4:30 am you have to be a different type of person to be loud and that is the type of person I am. I always look at the bright sight of things and if something is going wrong in a game of even in practice or i feel we are getting off task I will crack jokes, lift the team up or something to lighten the mood. I love the game and bring a different type of mentality to it.

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

• JJ Nelson of the Arizona Cardinals is the toughest player I’ve ever went against in college. I went to UAB out of high school and this was my first time hearing about JJ. We had a drill in practice where the corner would be 15 yards off and JJ would run a go ball and we would have to catch him. Now if you don’t know JJ, he ran a 4.28 40 in the 2015 NFL combine. So guarding him on a streak or a fade ball as a freshman facing one of the fastest football players in college everyday was very tough.

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

• I would be a judge. I have a plan that if football does not work I will go to law school, become a lawyer and later a judge.

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

• I would clean my car first. I’m always in my car, always running around town or listening to music so I would definitely have to clean my car first.

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

• I would choose a family member. With them, I already know what type of person I’m going to get in a disaster and it would be easier to work with them. If I choose three strangers who knows what type of person they are in a disaster. They may make the situation worst.

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

• Will Smith on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Its really just my favorite TV show. A lot of people say my personality is shaped from that TV show and i act just like that. I would just like to try it for a day just to see if what people say are true.

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

• I would say my failure I stated earlier would have to be my biggest adversity. I had never thought someone would tell me I can not play football anymore. It never crossed my mind. At that time I had a choice. I could sit there an pout for the rest of my years and blame everybody else for what happened to me or i could get up and find another school and that’s what I did. After a couple weeks, I had found another school to attend on a full scholarship and they were going to let me play ball.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• I believe my most embarrassing moment came last year when we played Texas Westalyn at home. Me and the receiver was going at it the entire game and he had came off to block me and I just knew i was going to bring the wood. So when I brought it to him, he was taller than me, so I kind of had to jump into him. When i jumped we pushed each other and he got the best of me. I straight fell on my butt and he was standing over me. I got up so quick and my sideline just started cracking up at me.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My most memorable play is a embarrassing one also. This year on homecoming vs Lyons my opposite side corner had just caught a pick and he was running to my side. So I knew I had to pick up the next block which would be the next person I seen. That just so happen to be a big O-lineman. So I turned and tried to block him and he blew me straight back and the whole crowd ooo-ed.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Nipsey Hussle- Hustle and Motivate

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

• My most important trait is my ability to work as a team. I’m a great team player, leader, and follower. I’m extremely humble and love to take criticism and ways to get better at every aspect in life not just football.

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

• My best friend from my freshman year of college. His name is Greg Maclin. I miss my guy so much. He was always smiling never had a problem with anything and never complained. When they say the good die young, they were telling the truth.

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

• Clamp Squad

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?

• Josh Norman since he joined the Redskins.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected. I grew up in a house where being respected is the most important thing you can have. Being respected can take you a very far place in life and can get you a lot of open doors. “A person may not like you but, they will respect you” -James Caligone III

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

• Justin Blackmon. He was better than Dez and was set to be a great player in the league but the drugs and physicals stopped him.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to lose.

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

• My pops. We have the same name, the same birthday, people say we look just a like and act just a like. He’s bumped his head a couple time in life so he’s the first person I run to when I need something and his love is unconditional.