NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Brian Lipscomb, OLB, Kansas University

NFL Draft Diamonds has interviewed some of the best small schoolers to make it to the NFL.  Last year our team interviewed over 750 players from NAIA to the FBS.  This year we went to NFL teams scouts for every question on this interview.  Ten NFL scouts who are avid readers of Draft Diamonds put this interview together for our reader’s pleasure.  We hope you enjoy this interview, with another potential NFL draft prospect. 

• Name: Brian Lipscomb 

• Height: 6’ 2”

• Weight: 240 Ibs

• Position: OLB

• College: University of Kansas 

• Twitter: @blipscomb58

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

• I’m from Hampton Virginia. I really like how close I am to the beach. Also the seafood there is pretty good as well.

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

• Film study, strength and conditioning, and practice 
• Film study is the most important of the three because it allows you to study your opponent inside and out and study yourself. Allowing you to find and remember tendencies, keys, and alignments to help you excel your play. strength and conditioning is important because in order to play this game you need to be in shape and strong to endure the game and practice. As well as having the ability to outwork your opponent and stay healthy. I also believe that a game is won well before the time it is played and that is done at practice. How hard and how seriously one takes practice is the deciding factor in whether a player performs well or under performs.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I try not to worry I put my faith in god and let his will be done so there really is no need for me to have any worries. 

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

• My goal out of high school was to get a FBS scholarship in a power 5 conference and start but I ended up going to an FCS school. I failed at my goal but my work ethic, love of the game, and being a student of the game allowed me to excel on the field at VMI and earn a FBS scholarship to the University of Kansas.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates would say my best quality would be my work ethic. I would always get extra work in whether it would be after practice or after a weightlifting session and i believe my work ethic is one of my most important qualities because it is something no one can take away from you and it allowed me to be where I am today.

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

•  I would say Kylar Murray is the best player I have ever played against. He was fast, has an arm, and could get out of almost any situation.

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

• I really like computers and programming so i probably would like a career in app development.

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

• I would clean my room first because I can’t live in a dirty room. It has to be organized and then I would clean my desk after. I would clean my car last because I always keep my car clean so cleaning it wouldn’t be a priority.

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

• I would have to go with the family member because the love I have for my them is just high to let them die if I have the opportunity to save them.

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

• I would be Will from fresh prince of Bel-Air. He was just a confident, funny and athletic character and I strive to have those traits.

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

• my grandfather passing away. He was an amazing guy and always looked out for his family until the end. I remember when I was young he would always take me and my brother to this ice cream place and we always had a great time with him. I overcame this by trying to do things in my life that honor him and that would make him proud. I’m motivated to be like him and show him what I’m capable of doing.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• When I was young I was in a dunk tank and when I was climbing out the chair fell and hit me on my head 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• When I got a strip sack against Furman at VMI we ended up winning the game and at Kansas I got a TFL when I had to run from the other side of the field against TCU. We stopped them on that drive and we won that game as well.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Stronger by Kanye West 

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

• The most important trait you can have is your mental capacity of the game. If you can understand everything that is being taught to you and be easily coached then that will help you succeed. Having a high mental capacity allows you to understand your opponent, understand the jobs everyone on the field has, and constantly be able to adapt to any situation thrown at you.

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

• I would bring back my grandpa. I wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with him when my family moved from Georgia so spending the whole day with him would be great.

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

•  Reverb 

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL? 

• Patrick Mahomes… but  after watching him, he deserves all the hype

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected. If you’r respected then people will tend to like you in the long run. You don’t need to be liked but being respected goes a long way in life.

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

• Ray Lewis, because he was accused of a crime that I believe he didn’t do but this experiencing motivated him even more and even though his career got derailed he came back better then before and ended his career with a super bowl win.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I love to win but when I lose I can learn and get better at my craft 

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

• My father. Seeing him throughout my life has really made me who I am today. His work ethic is amazing and with him being a retired colonel in the army he really taught me how to be a good leader.