NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jesse Gibbon, OL, University of Waterloo

•       Name: Jesse Gibbon
        •       Height:  6’4”
        •       Weight: 300
        •       Position: Offensive Line
        •       College: University of Waterloo
        •       Twitter: @BIGGibbz

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

        •        I’m from Hamilton, Ontario, just on the outskirts in the southwest part of Hamilton called Glanbrook. The part I love the most about Hamilton is the diversity it has, in terms of variety of areas that make up the city. There several areas that make up Hamilton, and all are unique from the downtown core, to the countryside. Another reason I love the city because of the passion the people have for their local sports teams.

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

        •        In order of importance, I would rank Practice as number one, because the field is where you become the player that you are molded both physically and mentally. If a player cannot practice, there is no way they will become a successful player overall. Practice is a simulation of a game and I believe is no better way to get better than to play football.

Second, I believe Strength and Conditioning is the next important. Since physical development is what makes athletes prepared for competition. With out being physically ready, there is no way an athlete can preform regardless. Being a healthy athlete is integral to success in the long term.

Film Study being ranked third, I believe it is still crucial piece of becoming a successful player, it brings out the errors in practices or games. Film Study is the mental aspects of football, and mental preparation is crucial combined with an abled bodied athlete. The mental aspects of film can be covered on the field during practice.

What do you worry about, and why?

        •        I worry about details, and the main reason why I worry about details is because it is one thing to do a job, but to do a job perfectly in everything you do, is unparalleled. Taking advantage of every opportunity and executing perfectly makes you a step closer to goals. I want to make sure I do everything I can to make something work the best it can. Perfect practice makes perfect.

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

        •        An example of a way I failed at something is at the beginning of my academic career at Waterloo, being unprepared for University, balancing football and school was a struggle for me, I reacted to over come the struggles by using resources around me to help develop and learn skills that helped significantly raise my academics and life skills later on in life. Along with learning from senior players and coaches, using them as role models.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

        •        I feel my teammates would say my ability to lead by example, being a mentor to other players is important and raising the standard. I think teammates of mine can see the passion I have for the sport and use it to fuel their own passion to compete at the highest level.

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

        •        The best player I played against in college is Kwaku Boateng from Sir Wilfred Laurier University, he is a player that brought the most to the table. In terms of ability to stop the run, pass rush extremely effectively, and solely disrupt plays on a consistent basis. It was frustrating going against him in my first and second year at Waterloo.

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

        •        My career would be in correspondence to my studies of Geography and Environmental Management, where I would enter the world of Environmental Assessment. Hopefully working for an environmental consulting firm where I would help protect the world we inhabit.

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

        •        I would first clean my room, being able to function at all, having a clean room is essential no matter what you are doing within the room. Having a messy room, I feel would affect daily life the most out of the three.

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

        •        One family member, as selfish as it is. I feel my family has done a lot for me and has immense impact on the success I’ve had in my life and I am family oriented.

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

        •        I would choose “Blondie” or The Man with No Name, starring as Clint Eastwood in the movie “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” along with the two other movies in the trilogy. I feel like everyone under estimates him in the movie and shows everyone he should never be underestimated. I feel like the character is bad ass, mysterious, and is a person who no one would want to be faced against.

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

        •       The biggest adversity I have dealt with in my life is dealing with the death of my grandma on my mom’s side of the family. It was a moment in my life where I was spending many days with her, and to see her go broke me. Dealing with and overcoming was mainly by, at the time competing in hockey to take my mind off it and spending time with family, trying to remember her for the great person she was.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

        •        My most embarrassing moment has to be in grade school, I had got off the bus and slipped and fell on my driveway in front of all the people on the bus.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

        •        The come-back win we had against the Carleton Ravens in 2017. One of the toughest games I have ever played, and most rewarding games. I will never forget the determination we all had coming back from a 26-point deficit at half time, with our offense, defence and special teams working to push our team to a 4-0 record with a win 45-43.

What song best describes your work ethic?

        •        Jump – Van Halen, I feel like it is a motivational song that talks about just doing whatever you’re trying to achieve. I see the message as to give it your all, go in head first and not look back.

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

        •        Non-physically, I believe mental toughness, the ability to tell your body to push through. Mental strength to maintain composure and mentality to come back and win the next one-on-one battle.

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

        •        I would choose Michael Jackson, I could learn a lot from his enormous success. Being one of the most successful people in pop culture, I would try to soak up as much knowledge on how he was successful and his ideologies.

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

        •        I would name it “The Pasture” after our nickname we call our offensive line unit at Waterloo, “The Herd.”

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

        •        I believe Jason Kelce is one of the most underrated. I feel all attention is given to other positional groups, and even less so to centres out of the offensive line players. They control the offensive line’s calls, and I feel it is underappreciated having a great centre. I find centre to have the most unique skill set with being able to pound defensive linemen, make calls like a quarterback and snap the ball.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

        •        I would rather be liked, I feel that people if they were to like someone, they would inevitably respect you.  I think someone who is respected is mainly respected for one reason, and people are liked because of who they are.

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

        •        I feel most for Sean Taylor former Washington Redskin defensive back. A deceased player who had a young and hopeful career that was taken away in unfortunate circumstances. He died too early and would have made an immense impact with his aggressive, smashmouth playing style.  

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

        •        I definitely love to win, the satisfaction of out competing another team is unbelievable. As well the hard work my team and I had to put in to get our team to become a winning culture makes it that much better.

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

        •       My parents for sure are the biggest influence on my life. I feel without their ability to raise me, I would not be where I am today. They raised me to become the man I am today, and I could not thank them enough for everything they have done.