NFL DraftProspect Interviews

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Rob Ritrovato, FB/RB, Temple University

Rob Ritrovato the Temple power back recently sat down with us at NFL Draft Diamonds for this prospect interview.

•           Name: Rob Ritrovato

            •           Height:  5’11

            •           Weight: 240 pounds

            •           Position: Fullback/tailback

            •           College: Temple University

            •           Twitter: Robertmatthew_7

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

            • WestChester, Pennsylvania is great because of its small, college-town feel and itscentral location for a lot of cool places. Philly is under an hour away, youcan get to the beach in about 90 minutes, New York in a little over two hoursand a bunch of other great spots in a relatively short time.           

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

            •            Honestly, all three phases are soimportant to having success on game-day, but for me I would have to go practicefirst because you only get so much practice time and reps to maximize the looksyou’re getting in order to best prepare for how the game is going to feel.Next, I would say strength and conditioning because it is the foundation of youas a player, if your body is not prepared for the physical taxation that comesin a game, you don’t stand a chance. Last but in no way least is film study,film can help you pick up on the things you may have missed in the limitedamount of practice time you have and allow you to be prepared for subtle tellsthe opposing team might have when they’re on the field.

What do you worry about, and why?

            •I’velearned throughout my football journey that there are lot of things that won’tgo according to plan so the only thing to worry about is if you are doingeverything you can to make yourself better in football, and life in general.  A saying you’ll hear all the time being a partof the Temple program is “control the controllables.” While it sounds very simpleits meaning is very powerful and enlightening and is a way I have learned toapproach the obstacles in my life.            

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

            • My goalin high school was to earn a division one scholarship. Whether it was because Icame from a program which struggled, injuries limiting me, or just not beinggood enough, I failed at that goal. I responded by doing the only thing I coulddo, walk on at Temple and prove my worth by earning the scholarship I so deeplydesired as well as earned a single digit, which if you know Temple football isonly awarded to the “Tuffest” players on the team as voted by players andcoaches.          

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

            •If youask my teammates they’d tell you I’m a strong leader and a positive,encouraging teammate that spends time helping to teach other guys that needsome extra help.

Who is the best player you have ever played against incollege?

            •I’ve hadthe honor of playing with and against some of the best players in collegefootball but one player that always stood out to me was Shaquem Griffin. Hisferocity on the field coupled with his playmaking ability was something trulyspecial.      

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

           • Outside of playing football, I would love to be a sports performance coach, a football coach, or a businessman in the marketing field.

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

           • Assuming the desk is in my room, I would say desk, room, and then the car.          

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

            •Family iseverything to me so while I would feel terrible about the people that died Iwouldn’t be able to live knowing I let my family down.           

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

            • Batman,there is nothing better than being a mysterious, billionaire bachelor that hasthe coolest gadgets and gets to fight crime.        

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

            •Being awalk-on for a division one football team was probably the biggest adversity I’vefaced. I don’t come from a family with money so I know that going the walk onroute was a risk, but I had something to prove. Facing all the things studentsathlete go through is hard enough but on top of that having to pay for schooland find ways to scrounge money was something I’ll never forget. Thankfully, Ieventually earned a scholarship which made everything a little bit easier fornot only me but my family.           

What is your most embarrassing moment?

           •My first time on the travel team my true freshman year, when I was still a walk-on, the team was in the hotel and we were at dinner. I walked up to the buffet line in front of my then head coach, Matt Rhule and not wanting to do something stupid I tried to get my food and get back to my seat as fast as possible. Instead, I accidentally knocked over a plate that was already partially hanging off the edge of the table. I was mortified, I just tried to help and play it off as best as I could. I don’t remember the coach’s exact reaction but I was beyond embarrassed.          

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

            •The mostmemorable play of my career has to be the strip tackle I had on kickoff againstBoston college that one of my teammates scooped up and ran for a touchdown. Iran down blew up the double team that was coming for me, crushed the returnerand watched the ball squirt out as my teammate took it in for six. That was memorablefor me because of the story that goes with it, The Wednesday before the game Iwas watching tape on their kickoff return team and saw that they brought thewedge double team to the third player on the kickoff. When I noticed it Itexted my special teams coordinator and asked to be switched to that spot, Iknew I could win that matchup so it when it came to fruition it was like it wasmeant to be.              

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

            •Myversatility as a player is something that can help me succeed in the pros. Ihave shown the ability to run the ball, block, pass protect and play multiplepositions on all special teams at a high level. Being able to fill multiplerolls is something teams look for in players.           

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

            • PhilKoehler was one of my wrestling coaches in high school and one of the mostgenuine people I had ever met, tragically he died back in 2015 in a motorcycleaccident. His name was the first that came to mind when I thought about peopleI could bring back, I would love to get the chance to have him in my corner onemore time.        

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

            •ClubNITRO           

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

           •I think Cordarrelle Patterson is the most underrated player in the NFL. He can play all over the field and is a weapon on special teams. Being on the patriots, they spread the ball so well that his number won’t be at the top of the league but he is a huge part of the Super Bowl champs and their success.           

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

            •Beingliked is cool but being respected is far more important. Respect will get youfurther in life because you might like someone but you can’t rely on them toget something done. Usually if you respect someone they are reliable and can betrusted in time of need.           

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

            •WhileRicky Williams returned to football and had a good career you can only imaginewhat would have been had his career gone uninterrupted. I feel for Rickybecause he wasn’t trying to be a problem, he just had his own demons that tookover his life at certain times and caused actions that led to multiplesuspensions.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

            • Both,but hate to lose just a little bit more.          

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explainwhy?

  • There have been so many people that I looked upto and that have helped to shape me into who I am, whether it be familymembers, coaches or friends, I could never pick just one.

Damond Talbot

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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