2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State

• Name:  Christian Rozeboom 
• Height: 6’2.5″
• Weight: 230 
• Position: LB
• College: South Dakota State University 
• Twitter: @C_JJ_Rozeboom

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

•  I love the support from the community, and how everyone knows everyone. It is a very tightly knit community who has supported me from day one. It is important to me to make them proud in all I do as well. 

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

•  Practice, Film Study, Strength and ConditioningWhile all three are very important to success on the field, at the end of the day what you do on the field is all the matters. Practice is where the success starts, and film study aids in that success at practice and then games on Saturday. Strength and Conditioning are obviously very important to physical success, but football is much more of a mental game than people think. This mental aspect starts with practice and film study. 

What do you worry about, and why?

•  Failure, in anything I do. 

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

•  My Sophomore year, after losing in the semifinals, I knew that it would be a tough road ahead the next season after losing so many guys to graduation. As a team, we addressed this, and worked even harder in the offseason, and got right back to the semis the next year. We didn’t win this again, so we are in the same spot this year. We will work even harder this year to get even further next year. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•  Leadership

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

•  I didn’t play directly against him, but Dylan Cole from Missouri State was the best defender I think I’ve played against. He was everywhere on every play. I really enjoyed watching him play. 

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

•  Veterinarian 

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

•  Desk 

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

•  While I feel like this is a lose-lose situation, I would save a family member, I can’t imagine losing anyone from my family. 

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

•  Iron Man, always been a fan of him. He flies around the world and ends up saving the world, things everyone wants to do. 

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

•  Coming out of high school I was not heavily recruited. I obviously ended up at SDSU, which was my only Division 1 offer. I don’t think I had a chip on my shoulder per se, but I definitely wanted to make the most of the opportunity that the coaches at SDSU gave me. Overall I think that this was my biggest adversity but also my biggest blessing. I truly believe SDSU has made me the best player and man than any other “big” school could have. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  When I was in middle school, I was a high school basketball manager. One of our jobs was to being the rack of basketball out at a half time for the team to warm up with. At the end of halftime, we got the rack and brought them back to the locker room, but on the way, my friend jumped on the back of the rack and tipped it over. About 25 basketballs went bouncing all over the court right before the game was about to resume, so we had to run all over the court grabbing them while the whole crowd watched us. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

•  I would say the most memorable play that I was apart of was a pick 6 against Western Illinois my freshman year at home. It was my second game at my home stadium so it was really cool. The most memorable play overall would probably be one I wasn’t even apart of, against NDSU. There were about 5 seconds left in the game and it was 4th down from the three-yard line. Jake Wieneke caught a touchdown to win the game last second in Fargo to win the Dakota Marker. It was a really cool moment for our team. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

•  Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw. Everything I do is for my savior Jesus Christ and also for my family. I always work hard, but try to stay humble in everything I do. 

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

•  Instinct and knowledge, playing for four years I’ve had a lot of reps and feel as though I have great awareness and instinct on the field, and football knowledge to help me succeed not only in college but also at the next level. 

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

•  Jesus, I think the world needs Him (for much longer than a day). 

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

•  The Nine 

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

•  Kyle Van Noy. Overall I don’t think defense gets enough attention besides the big name players of course. He is a disruptive player that leads to a lot of success for the Patriots. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•  Respected, respect goes a lot further than being liked does. Respect means a whole lot more. 

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

•  Honestly, this is a hard question to answer. The media always is quick to point out faults potentially without the full story. There have been so many players that have so much God given talent that was not used due to off the field issues, but I do not know any of their personal stories or situation. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

•  Love to win. While the pain of loss seems to be more painful than the joy of victory. I play and do everything in life to win. 

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

•  My family is the biggest influence on my life. They have given me everything I needed in this world to succeed. I, in turn, want to succeed to make them proud in everything I do. They have worked so hard and set such good examples as role models for me in my life. I definitely would not be the person I am today without them.