2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jake Wood, WR, Nichols College

• Name: Jake Wood 
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 205
• Position: WR/RB/Return Specialist 
• College: Nichols College 
• Twitter: @JAWood_32 

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

•  My hometown is a small town, but what is great about it is that everyone comes together on many occasions to try and make the town for United especially on those Friday nights under Lasell Field where I played High School Football. My hometown is big into the game of football, having over 10 Superbowl rings including a state championship my senior year. My Head Coach Ken Lachapelle is the most winning-est coach in the state of Massachusetts. What I love most about my town is how everyone is close with each other and you are able to develop close relationships with people that truly care about you.  

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

• All of these are very equally important on becoming a better football player, but If I had to choose to put these in order first one would be 1) Film Study – This is the most important because I always want to be better than the day I was before. Watching myself on film gives me the ability to see what I am doing wrong so I can critique my craft and make myself a better player and increase my football knowledge. 2) Practice – Being able to apply what you learned in the film room and be able to show it out on the practice field. Also goes back to working on your craft. 3) Strength and Conditioning – This is still a very important asset to becoming a football player. The Work ethic in people really shows especially with me when it comes to the weight room. They can translate what they gain in the weight room to the playing field. 

What do you worry about, and why?

•  I worry about not being perfect in everything I do which could be bad at points because everyone is not perfect, we all make mistakes. But I try to limit those mistakes as much as possible and if I do make a mistake I make sure I fix it in the future. 

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

•  Example = When my Sports Finance group in college was working on a semester-long project and we failed our first presentation because we did not have effective communication skills at the time. After that happened I stepped up and made sure that we all knew what task we had to do each week and will hold meetings to make sure we are all on the same page when it came to presentations throughout the semester. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•  Best quality is being a locker room guy. I make sure everyone is having fun in what they are doing and try to bring less stress in the locker room when days may get tough on some players. 

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

•  Deonte Harris WR/ Return Specialist from Assumption College when I played for Stonehill College. 

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

•  Director of Football Operations for a power five conference. 

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

•  Room because when I am not on the field or weight room that where I spend most of my time. If my room is organized then I will be organized for the start of each and every day. 

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

•  Family member because I would expect the same from them and they have been there for me through my ups and downs my whole life. Family is very important to me. 

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

•  Adam Sandler because he is from the New England area and has a great sense of humor I would love to have. 

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

•  When my Grandma passed away last summer, she was one of the biggest supporters throughout my life between academics and football. This past season was for her and I was able to get through it because I know she was looking down on me and I made sure I gave it my all in every rep because she wouldn’t expect anything less. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  When I ripped my jeans bending down getting my pen during a college presentation, also one of the funniest things. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

•  My most memorable play was when I returned my second kick return after my first return in week one of last year surpassing my school’s all-purpose yard school record. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

•  Need sum mo (Derez De’Shon Ft. Lil Baby) 

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

•  Perseverance  

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

•  My grandma, so I could tell her that I gave it my all and hopefully tell her that I made my dreams come true. 

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

•  A-Woody dance Club

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

•  I think it is Julian Edelman, even though he has shown success he still has to go out every Sunday and prove the doubters wrong because of his size and consistently proves them wrong week in and week out.  

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•  I would rather be respected because it will make others feel comfortable to talk to me and I would respect others as well. 

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

•  Mine would be Johnny Manziel just because he is trying to change who he is as a person today and he also owned up to all the mistakes that I know daunts him every day. Takes a lot to own up to your mistakes especially when you have the media all around you. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

•  I love to win because at the end of the day that is why we play this sport. Winning is the most important thing every Saturday when I strap up my Helmet. I also hate to lose, but I can accept the fact of failure and then see what I need to improve on to help my team be most successful the following week. 

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

•  My father has been the biggest influence in my life. He has made me who I am today and I am very grateful for that. He taught me the traits of nothing comes easy and how I need to prove to myself and others on what I can do both on and off the field. He always had that confidence for me and that translated to how I portray myself each and every day.