2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Brian Kowalczyk, TE, Montclair State University

• Name: Brian Kowalczyk
• Height: 6’4
• Weight: 210
• Position: Tight End/ Wide Receiver 
• College: Montclair State University
• Twitter: @kowalczykbrian

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

•  I come from a tiny hole in the wall, known as Wallington. While we may be small, our heart is like no other. A very tight-knit community that loves our people, and loves to support each other. 

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

•  Well, they do say practice makes perfect, so I’m a firm believer that your mistakes in practice will translate to the game. So if you don’t take practice seriously, the guy on the other side is gonna smack you in the mouth. The next most important thing has to be film study. I love to watch the film, it’s like a cheat sheet to a test. Learn what your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses are and attack them on game day. Finally, strength and conditioning are just as important as the other two. You need to prepare your body for the upcoming physical demands this game asks of you. You need to layer up your body with as much muscle, not only to be strong but to prevent injuries and that’s the most important thing. Being consistent and available. 

What do you worry about, and why?

•  What I tend to worry about is being able to find time to please everybody, and myself. I have a pretty hectic schedule throughout the school year. For example, this past semester I worked 40 hours a week, as well as had a full-time student schedule (12 credits), while also practicing close to 9 hours a week and babysitting my beautiful little sister close to 10-15 hours a week. As you can see I don’t get a lot of free time to myself. 

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

•  An example of a time in which I failed would be in high school when I did not take my grades seriously. With better grades, I would’ve had an opportunity to get more exposure from a bigger school. I overcame that failure when Central Connecticut State University took a shot on me, the next 2 years I was on the Deans list with a 3.72 overall GPA. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•  I would assume my teammates would say my ability to make a play when the pressure is on. Coach Palazzo, at the end of the season, broke down some stats with us and of my 21 catches this season 19 of them either resulted for a 1st down or a Touchdown. He calls those plays “money downs”

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

•  The best player I’ve played against was actually on my team at Central Connecticut. During the summer and fall workouts, I would always try and compete with Jarrod Cann, the best safety on our roster. Knowing how strong other safeties are, I decided to compete with the strongest in the conference. Currently, Cann is playing overseas with a German team and continuing to scare the life out of opposing offenses every week. 

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

•  Well considering my mother is a phenomenal broker, I would probably have gotten into real estate at a younger age. In addition to that, I would help coach football just because I have a tremendous amount of football IQ and I know I can help spread my knowledge with younger athletes. 

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

•  Always gotta make your bed first thing in the morning so mama doesn’t run in screaming!

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

•  I personally would save a family member. I preach family every day and I even have a tattoo in Polish that reads Rodzina (Family) placed right on my ribs. 

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

•  I’ve always had an obsession with Superman. Who wouldn’t love to fly around, be super strong, be bulletproof, and shoot lasers out of their eyes? 

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

•  My biggest adversity I’ve been facing is my Crohn’s Disease. When I was at Central Connecticut, I weighed about 240 lbs and within a month I managed to lose 40 lbs just from being sick and vomiting every morning. This caused me to transfer back home and take a semester off to deal with my health issues. Since that point, I’ve been able to maintain it, since the disease is not curable. Sure enough, I still wake up every morning and Thank God for another opportunity to get better and bring the same energy to practice.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  The most embarrassing moment for me was the only time I’ve ever fumbled and it still haunts me to this day. My senior year, I caught a screen pass on the sideline and started to run upfield when a Bogota defender poked the ball out from behind me, the defense picked the ball up and took it to the end zone for 6. Since then ball security has always been my focus from the moment my hands touch the ball. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

•  The most memorable play was this past season when we played ranked Wesley, and we needed a first down to seal the game. Coach called the perfect play and Jaquill threw a great ball to me on the sideline that I managed to spin back inside and keep the clock running to let the clock expire. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

•  Stronger by Kanye West

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

•  I think to really dominate at the next level, you have to be versatile. Though-out my career I’ve been asked multiple times to go to a position my coaches think would be best for the team this week. Whether it’s being in the trenches or running crossing routes in the middle knowing I’m going to get cracked as soon as I catch the ball. Regardless of the task, as long as it applies to us being a better team overall I’m up for the challenge always. 

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

•  If I could bring someone back it would be John Sobczyk Sr. John Sobczyk Jr is one of my best friends and his father has always been a mentor to me growing up. It was such a blessing to have him apart of my life and I owe a lot to him. 

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

•  The 973 

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

•  Robby Anderson, I’ve seen that guy make play after play for the jets and for his size it’s unnatural. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•  Definitely respected, if you have the respect of your teammates then you know you can rely on them to be prepared and listen to advise that’s given. Sure you want to be liked but, nice guys tend to finish last. 

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

•  Aaron Hernandez, before he got into a run with the police, he was the next best tight end in football and just a fun talent to watch and learn from. Unfortunately, he didn’t understand that nobody is above the law and it cut his life and career short. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

•  I absolutely hate to lose. After a loss you will not see me going out, I tend to keep watching the film for the rest of the weekend to find the flaws I might have made that could’ve changed the outcome of the game. Then, I’ll usually have a light workout Sunday’s where I try and fix those flaws. 

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

•  My mother without a doubt. My mom is the hardest worker I’ve ever met. She raised me and my brother as a single mother in most of our lives. We were poor, my mom couldn’t afford to send me to any camps or things like that.  We were struggling but my mother never gave up. My mom to this day, as successful as she is, still works till almost 3 am throughout the week, to make sure everything is done the right way. She installed the same work ethic into me and I just hope to make her proud with everything I do.