NFL DraftProspect Interviews

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: James “JD” Davis, OL, University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB offensive lineman James “JD” Davis is a big boy who will likely convert to a guard at the next level. He held his own at tackle for UAB and will be a solid player at guard.

•       Name: James “JD” Davis

        •       Height: 6’2.5″

        •       Weight: 305

        •       Position: LT/OL

        •       College: University of Alabama at Birmingham

        •       Twitter: JDCincoUno

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

        • My hometown is Jackson, Mississippi but we call it Jucity. What I like most is the fact that it’s just a big city but it has it rural areas. If you’ve never been to Mississippi and you imagine what you think is there it would probably be country, a lot of land, etc. Honestly it has it parts like that but the state has a lot to offer. A lot of some of the best things in the state are in Jackson. 

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

        • Practice, Film Study, Strength & Conditioning. Everything thing starts at practice. Practicing is the most important because it prepares your mind and body for the task at hand for that week. It’s where you go to polish your craft.  Film Study is second because once you’ve practiced film gives you the opportunity to critique yourself. You’re always supposed to be harder on yourself than coaches are on you. It shows you how somethings look in a live setting. It helps you see where you need to improve. But again you have to go all out in practice and watch you and your body move at game-like speed to see what you need improvement on. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO GET BETTER. Finally, Strength & Conditioning to be able to play at a high level late in the season and to minimize injuries while getting stronger through it all. The stronger you are and the more in tune you are with your body the better the results on the field will be. The strongest guy on the field doesn’t necessarily have to be the best guy. It’s the guy who moves more efficiently and plays at a full speed pace.

What do you worry about, and why?

        • I worry about what I can control. It’s cliche but it’s true. I try not to worry about over things that I can’t do anything about. Usually, for me, these issues would always be off the field, just life in general, just things that aren’t immediately involved with football. I can’t say I’ve never let it get to me sometimes but I’ll do whatever I have to to make sure it doesn’t affect what I’m doing all the field. In life, you’re going to have sunny days and cloudy days. You’ve got to be able to maneuver through both.

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

        • Freshman year at Southern Miss I was a very self-centered and immature player. I thought that everything revolves around me as the coaches owed me something. They invested their livelihood and everything on me.  I told them when I signed what I could bring to the table. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep my word and I failed the coaches and my teammates who wanted to see me shine. My response to that was to never ever let down the people who would risk it all to see me make it. I worked hard than ever before and went through all types of mental training to prepare myself for the future. To this day, I’m happy that I ended up going down that path. It’s made me the grinder I am today.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

        •My good vibes and consistency. I’ve always made sure I could be the teammate you come to kick it with to have fun or come to about issues and give advice without judging. I’ve always tried to be as consistent as I can to give other players or younger player something to look up to.

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

        •Paul James III, Jaylon Ferguson, Marcus Davenport, Kingsley Keke, Sutton Smith. I know that’s not one but those are the best players I’ve ever played against in my opinion since my college days began.

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

        • Coaching and Owning a business 

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

        •Room. Can’t be laid up in a pigsty. 

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

        • That’s tough. I’m the type of person I want to be able to help whoever I can stranger or not. But it’s family over everything. It depends on so much but since I don’t do scenarios, I’ll go with family. 

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

        • I was on Last Chance U so I wanted to say myself, lol. But if I had to say probably Sasuke off Naruto. I’m an anime nerd so I’ve always loved watching it and Sasuke is one of my favorite anime characters of all time.

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

        • My situation at Southern Miss and the birth of my son. My son being born literally shook up everything for me in life. I had planned on leaving EMCC and going far away from Mississippi but I wanted to be there for my son and family. So everything I had planned for years went out the window so I kinda had to start from scratch. I had to go somewhere where my son would be able to come to me and watch me play so I could be around him and in his life. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

        •Trying to put my shoulder pads on before the game on the first ever episode of Last Chance U…lol

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

        • I have 3. When Spencer Brown broke the for game-winning touchdown again Southern Miss to win it in OT. When I caught a pass in the end zone against Colin Community College in the JUCO state championship and the very last play of my college career.

What song best describes your work ethic?

        •Don Trip – All On Me 

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

        • I feel like mental toughness.  

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

        •My grandma, we didn’t have an awesome relationship going up. I didn’t see her often either so we had our times but I’ve always loved and respected her. She started to live with us for about 3 years before she passed. We started to rebuild that relationship. She was a pure soul with all the wisdom in the world. I wish I would’ve known back then because I would’ve always listened and picked her brain more.

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

        •L.O.S (Take a wild guess what that could mean)

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

        • I don’t know. Knowing me I’d probably say all the NFL O-linemen. It’s Easy To forget they make the ship sail.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

        •Respected. People who are always liked aren’t respected. People who are respected aren’t always liked. I’d rather be respected for whatever I’m doing or have done because people will respect the hustle to get there. You may be able to tell someone you don’t like me but afterward, they’ll know me. I’m doing my thing and chasing my dreams.

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

        •Trent Richardson. Man some of the things I’ve heard that led him down the road of redemption is crazy. He was and still is a heck of a player. I don’t know in great detail how he got to this point but from his own mouth, it was a lot going on with family and other issues. Regardless he’s in a position to prove the non-believers and haters wrong. So I wish him the absolute best.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

        • I hate to lose. I remember my pancakes, my wins, all of the good. However the bad is what sits with me. I remember the plays I got blown up in the backfield or missed a block that led to a sack more. I don’t dwell on it. I move on to the next play but before any coach can get to me to rip me apart I’ve already ripped myself. I hold myself to a high standard and anything that doesn’t exceed that standard, is not it. But I always use it as fuel to keep working and perfect my game. I’ve always been like that. It’s what got me here.

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

       •My mom, sister, and dad. We have had disagreements amongst us but no matter how bad everything was between us or life, it would always get put to the side to make sure I’m good and they’re supporting me.  Through it all, a lot of lessons that I didn’t learn from the game I learned from my OGs.

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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