2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Sam Gillison, WR, Misericordia University

• Name: Sam Gillison   
• Height: 6’1
• Weight: 195
• Position: WR
• College: Misericordia University
• Twitter: @valid_gill

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

• I grew up and matured in Burlington, NJ in a suburban community. Burlington is relatively small so it is common to know a lot of people. The people that I grew up with stayed close all through high school and I began to see them as my brothers. We had the same goals, mindset, and mentality. We always had each other’s backs when it came down to it. Living in Burlington helped me create strong bonds with my friends and now I will always look at them as family.

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

• Based on the order of significance I would choose them in the order they are already presented in film study, strength and conditioning, and lastly practice.
  • Film Study first because studying and knowing the game is first and foremost. Most people are talented, others have natural size and speed, but not everyone has the knowledge. Watching film consistently aids in building IQ, which I believe separates the good from the elite.
  • Strength and Conditioning follow because it is important to get the body in top-notch shape. Lifting and running are critical to growth on and off the field. It also helps tremendously when taking what you watched in film and translating it to the field.
  • Lastly, following film study and strength and conditioning in practice. Practice is where you strategically put everything you’ve been doing off the field and in the film room to the test. You take the notes, criticism, techniques, recognition, along with the lifting and running and mesh it together to give it 100% every single practice. It is important to do so because at the end of the day you’ll play how you practice. 

What do you worry about, and why?

• Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” I try my best not to worry. Worry is the result of me putting my trust and faith in something other than God. He’s carried me until this point, I will keep trusting Him.   

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

• One time I remember in particular is when I failed my first class ever freshman year of high school. I didn’t know how to feel because everything usually came easy to me. I was getting help but it still was not enough. From then on I paid attention to the classes I was registering for and how difficult the workload was. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• They would say my big-play ability. When we need a big play I feel as though they can rely on me to make that play and give us the momentum we need. 

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

• The best player I ever played against was Razonte Dunn, a senior from Stevenson University. He was an All-Conference LB that rang my bell on the sidelines my freshman year. He administered my “welcome to college football” hit. 

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

• I would either be playing basketball or dedicating myself to becoming a pediatrician.

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

• I would clean my room first because it is my living space and since my desk is most likely in my room I would clean and organize my desk in the process. My car would be last because it is my extended living space. I do not spend as much time in my car as I do my room. It is important to have a clean living space because it will indicate how organized your life is. 

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 one family member because my family has been behind me, supported me, and loved me through it all. Without them, I would not be where I am today. Also, I know without a doubt they would save me. 

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

• I would choose Iron Man because he is the best Avenger. But aside from that, he does not fit the generic definition of a superhero. He is sarcastic, blunt, and says what needs to be said instead of what people want to hear. He is also strong in his beliefs and always gets the job done. However, he has a good heart and he is intelligent and will risk his life to save the world. He does what needs to be done for the greater good.  

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

• September 26th, 2014 I got left ACL surgery. I was 17 years old. It was my senior year and all I wanted to do was play with my brothers and chase a championship, but it was taken away from me. I wanted to get offers and experience recruiting. However, I was unable to do so. But after surgery, I was determined to get back and play at a higher level than ever before. So I attacked rehab and therapy and worked to be better than I was before. As bad as it seemed at the moment, I am grateful for it. It made me a totally different player and gave me a new level of confidence. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  It was a competition during spring ball my sophomore year and I got mixed up and forgot the numbers. Being that I was immature at the time and I could not figure it out I just stopped and rejoined the group. It was embarrassing because usually, I do things correctly and if I can’t, I’ll try my best to figure it out. Also, I hate to lose so not being able to figure it out in front of my teammates hurt my pride as well.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• I’ll never forget the game winning 2-pt conversion I caught against Widener my junior year. It was the first time in program history we beat Widener. Widener has a history of winning and dominating the conference. So being able to come back against them and catch the 2-pt conversion to seal the game was surreal. To make it even better, it was a busted play and we had to make something out of nothing. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Major Bag Alert by Migos 

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

• Personally, I believe the most important trait is knowledge of the game. Everyone at the next level has the speed, strength, athleticism, etc, but the difference is how well one knows the game. With more and more knowledge, technique gets better and that is what makes guys legendary. 

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

• I would bring back my maternal grandfather because he would be the father figure in my life and he would have made sure I stayed on track. He would support me in my ups and downs and build me up to be the man that I needed to be. 

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

• Different Breed

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

• Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I’d rather be respected because people can dislike you, but at the end of the day, they will still respect you. People change every day. They can like you one day and not the next. But respect goes a long way. If earned correctly, it takes a lot to get it revoked. 

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

• It is very controversial, but I feel for Michael Vick. He was in the prime of his career and it was taken away because of a very idiotic decision. He spent 18 months locked away when he could have been thriving. He changed the game of football single-handedly. It was a shame to see his career begin to spiral out of control because of one immature decision. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I love to win. When I am going out on the field I do not think about losing, I think about doing everything in my power to win. Some people are motivated by trying not to lose. So they will be content with barely winning. I want to go out there every game and dominate play-in and play-out. I love to win. 

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

• Without a doubt, my mother is the biggest influence on my life. If everyone only knew what she has been through they would understand. She has been a single mother for the past 17 years and she has nearly killed herself to make sure my siblings and I have what we need. She makes the most out of what we have and I know I can count on her for anything. She also builds me up mentally and spiritually and makes sure my mind is in the right place daily. Without her, I honestly do not know where I would be. She is my rock. She keeps me grounded. She is my world.