2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Joshua Donaldson, CB, College at Brockport

• Name: Joshua Donaldson
• Height: 6’0
• Weight:195
• Position: CB
• College: Brockport
• Twitter: @jkd031

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

• I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. I lived in an apartment complex in Perry Hall. What I loved most about it was that all my friends had similar interests. We all loved football, basketball, and video games. My friends were like my brothers. We did everything together. Every day after school we played football even when it rained. Our parents would get mad because all of our jeans would have grass stains on them from playing. We all lived in the same neighborhood too. I will never forget the times I had with my friends back then.

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

• My list is practice, film study, and strength and conditioning. I have practice first because perfecting your craft is the only way you can compete at the highest of levels. I have film study second because often times you get better from watching practice film. Also, I have seen first-hand people who are less athletic be able to beat those with more natural talent because they are always in the right spot and they recognize formations and tendencies from film study. I put strength and conditioning last because although it is very important to be strong and in shape, there will always be someone stronger than you or faster than you. No matter how strong and in shape you are, if you aren’t training your heart muscle you won’t be the best you can be.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I try my best not to worry about anything. When I was younger I used to worry about my mom when she was battling against cancer. She taught me how to stop worrying and trust in God, that he would take care of us. My favorite scripture is Joshua 1:9 and in that it talks about how we are to be strong and courageous. There is no need for me to worry about anything, especially anything I cannot control.

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

• In high school my senior year I wanted to play running back so bad. I had played every year before that but my coach told me that I was a corner and that I did not make the cut for running back. When I first heard this I thought that I failed myself because the goal was always to play running back in college and how could I do that if I couldn’t even play in high school. However I did not give up I listened to my coach stuck with a corner, and used that pain from not being able to play running back to becoming the most physical corner on my team. I took out my that frustration on every running back we played during the season. I was able to turn failure into success at the corner position. I love my high school coach. He saw something in me that took years for me to see in myself.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates love the energy I play with. Rather it’s a practice or a game I am going to bring it. I love to compete and I always want to get the best out of my teammates and myself. I was always taught that if you love the game others should see it by the way you carry yourself on and off the field.

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

• The best player I have ever played against in college is a wide receiver at Misericordia University named Sam Gillison. Sam is a tall physical receiver that runs, in my opinion, the best routes I have seen at this level. He is my favorite receiver to compete with because I know it’s going to be a battle every single play rather it’s a run or pass. I believe he has all the intangibles needed to play on Sundays.

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

• If I did not play football, I would probably pursue music. I have been playing the drums at my church for 14 years and I think that I would become a musician if I did not play football.

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

• Definitely my room.

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

• I would save my family member. They have been with me since the beginning and I know they would save me.

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

• I would be Iron Man because he is very intelligent and hard working he also does anything to protect the people he cares about. He is a very unselfish person, and he also knows how to dress.

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

• My biggest adversity in life was gaining weight. It seemed like for the longest time no matter how much I ate or worked out I would not gain any size. I overcame this by working out 6 days a week twice a day for a whole year. I also made it my responsibility to eat at least 4 times a day, and I also drank milk every single day. My freshman year I was 5’10 170 pounds. By the beginning of my junior year, I got to 6’0 190.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• My most embarrassing moment happened in a scrimmage. I was going to block the kick and as I dove to block it my hands were spread too far and the ball went right through my hands into the uprights.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My most memorable play would be the very last play of the first game of the season. At the time I was at Alvernia University and we were playing our first game in program history. It was fourth and goal at the two-yard line. They ran a triple option to my side. They faked the dive and the QB pitched the ball to the running back. The running back dropped the ball and everyone started to celebrate. However, he dropped the ball in bounds and as I fought through the receiver who was trying to seal me off I was able to make the tackle at the one-yard line right as the running back was picking up the ball. I will never forget that play. We were able to start the season off at 1-0.

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

• The most important trait you can have at the next level is the ability to be coachable. Every team runs things a little differently at the next level. You have to be great at adapting to that coaches system, and you have to have to be able to pick up new information fast and execute what you learn effectively while maintaining a positive attitude.

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

• I would bring back my cousin Myron. He died from heart failure a few years ago. I always looked up to him as a big brother. He would wake me up at 6 am to train during the summer. He was the reason I got into football. Growing up I wanted to be just like him. I would give a lot to see him one more time and thank him for being him.

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

•I would name it Club Escape because it would be an escape from whatever you were going through. A place you would go to have the best time of your life.

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

• In my opinion, Richard Sherman is the most underrated player in the NFL. Nowadays people praise Ramsey and the youngers corners which are well deserved. However, I feel like Sherman is still the best corner in the league. He is the smartest corner and he is the best corner on his team always. He even balled out battling a calf injury. Not too many could do that at the highest level.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected than liked. Respect is something that all successful relationships need. It’s not a bad thing at all to be liked, but I know people who are liked by many but respected by few.

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

• I feel for Steve McNair. I was devastated when the news came out that he had been shot. Then to be shot by your wife at that, the woman he’s supposed to protect. Before Lamar, he was my favorite Ravens QB and I am sad that his career got taken away from him like that.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I love to win. Winning is a culture, and if you prepare mentally and physically to win in whatever it is you are doing you do not have to fear to lose.   

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

• My mom has definitely been the biggest influence on my life. My mom is a 6-year breast cancer survivor. I have seen her fight with a smile on her face all my life. She worked 2-3 jobs at a time just to provide for me and my family, while also running a daycare. She has always believed in me and she is the most encouraging and uplifting person I have ever known. I get my strength from her. She taught me that nothing is impossible for God and that if I trust him with my life he will never fail.