NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Yawn Coleman Jr., DB, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Name: Yawn Coleman Jr.
• Height: 6’ 1”
• Weight: 205 lbs
• Position: DB
• College: Florida Tech/IUP
• Twitter: @yawnrico

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

• My hometown is Orlando, Florida. What I love most about Orlando is our culture and the opportunities that the city provides.

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

1. Film Study – prepares you for an opponent’s tendencies and identity

2. Conditioning – mental and physical preparation that is needed to win

3. Practice – gives game-like situational repetitions and scenarios

4. Strength – comes into action in the one-on-one matchup with a player

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about how can I generate wealth for my family because I come from having less and would like to be in the position to help my family and others be in a position to generate wealth.

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

• I failed at getting accepted into a graduate school that prevented me from attending an FCS school this past season. I overcame that failure by not giving up after receiving the news that I was not accepted into school during camp. I came back home and got back to the grind and a few days later I received the news that I was accepted into another school and had an opportunity to finish my collegiate career at IUP.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates would say my best quality is my character of being passionate and motivating.

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

• I have played against numerous talented guys, but I’ll have to say Devontae Jackson is the best player I’ve played against in college.

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

• I would have pursued a career in architecture if I could not play football.

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 my one family member because family is a top priority in my life.

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

• I would be Chris Gardner from the movie, “The Pursuit of Happiness”. I would be Chris Gardner because how he overcame the struggles of his life and continue to pursue his dreams and goals regardless of his situations and failures.

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

• My biggest adversity in life occurred during my redshirt sophomore season and junior year in the classroom. I was going through some personal challenges and my football career was not going as planned. I almost dropped out of school and walked away from everything. I am thankful for my family and support system because they kept me level-headed and encouraged me during a dark time in my life. I was able to overcome this time period by surrounding myself with loved ones, praying, and focusing on my priorities in life.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• My most embarrassing moment is having to leave UT Martin after announcing that I would be attending their to play my senior season and having to return home during camp due to the fact I did not get accepted into grad school there.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My most memorable play has to be my first collegiate interception against West Georgia my redshirt sophomore season. We were in cover 3 as a defense and the QB tried to throw a slant to the slot WR and overthrew him and I played the QB eyes, dove for the ball, and came up with the INT.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Nipsey Hussle – Dedication ft Kendrick Lamar

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

• Perseverance

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

• I honestly would not want to bring a person back from the dead because they would have to eventually leave again one day. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a divine purpose and I do not play with death.

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

• The Vibe

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?

• I do not have a say to this question because those players are in the league for a reason whether I agree or not. They did what was necessary to get there and are doing something right to stay there.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected because respect goes further than being liked in my opinion and from my personal experiences.

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

• The great Sean Taylor who sadly had his life taken away at a young age. Sean Taylor is arguably one of the greatest safeties to have played the game but due to an incident off the field his life was taken away from him and his career was cut short.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I love to win. My philosophy is that winning is having the will to win!

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

• My family has the biggest influence on my life because they are the ones who molded me into the person I am today and through the ups and downs that life throws at me they remain constant through it all.