NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jawanza Adams, DB, Newberry College

• Name: Jawanza Adams
• Height: 5’11
• Weight: 187 lbs
• Position: FS/SS/Nickel
• College: Newberry College
• Twitter: @WanzaPrymeTyme1

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

• Greenville, SC isn’t a huge city but it’s big enough to have plenty of fun places to go. The best part about it is Downtown Greenville, the food and the scenery.

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

• All of them are important, but film study is the most important because it slows the game down and shows how an offense is trying to attack you. Practice helps you act on what you’ve recognized on film. Strength and conditioning allows you to get an edge on your opponent and stay consistent through the entirety of the game.    

What do you worry about, and why?

• Reaching my full potential and being in a position where I won’t have regrets in the future.

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

• I wouldn’t say fail but struggling to be more vocal early in my career. It forced me to step out of my comfort zone and be more of a leader.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• Knowing everybody’s job on the football field and what an offense is trying to do. Also, my versatility and knowledge of the game.

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

• QB Raleigh Yeldell.

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

• I would be an entrepreneur or a football coach.   

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

• My room has to be clean first.  

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

• The one family member because family comes first and it’s impossible to save everybody.

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

• Spencer Strasmore from Ballers because it shows the life of being a sports agent and it looks interesting.    

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

• Being overlooked in the recruiting process in high school and being an underdog coming out of college. I have continued to work hard and stay focused on what I can control and on accomplishing my goals.  

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• Getting a dreadlock ripped out during the middle of a game.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My first career interception against UNC Pembroke.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Gave It All I Got – Kodak Black.

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

• Humility, perseverance and love of the game are the most important non-physical traits you can have. You must have a willingness to learn and be willing to push through adversity. The most important physical trait would be having sound technique and being able to get out of your breaks quickly.

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

• Myles Munroe; he’s one of my favorite authors who died in a tragic plane crash, but he always gave sound advice in his speeches/books and it would be cool to have a conversation with him.

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

• WanzaWhirl.

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?

• If you’re still in the NFL and considered one of the best athletes in the world I think it’s hard to call anybody overrated.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I’d rather be respected than liked. Respect is based on what you’ve done and/or what kind of person you are while being liked is based on what people think of you.

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

• I’m not going to have sympathy for someone risking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I would say Michael Irvin because he made many stupid mistakes in his past but eventually learned from his mistakes and tries to prevent current athletes from making similar mistakes.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Hate to lose.

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

• My parents because they’ve always been in my corner and supported me every step of the way and helped me stay focused during my career.