2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Matthew Castner,OL, Cumberlands

• Name:: Matthew Castner
• Height: 6’2″
• Weight: 300
• Position: Guard and Center
• College: Cumberlands
• Twitter:@matthewjcastner

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

• I was born in Florida but grew up in a suburb north of Atlanta. Since high school graduation, I live in Cocoa Beach Florida when I am not in school.  Growing up north of Atlanta was a great experience.  Truly the best part of being in the Atlanta area is the quality of youth and high school football.  I was very fortunate to have a lot of incredibly great youth coaches and attended Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell GA.  I owe a lot to BT and the coaches at BT.  We played in the state championship my senior season and playing in the GA Dome was a great experience.

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

• Strength and Conditioning – helps build mental and physical strength/toughness 

Film – Film allows me to see myself and what is working and what I need to focus on to get better.  The film allows me to see the other O-linemen and see how we are working as a unit.  The film allows me to see my opponent and provides me with his tendencies and his weaknesses, etc.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about a lot about failure and yet I am a very confident individual.  I think that is why I try and outwork everyone on the field; in the weight room and in the classroom.  I never want to be unprepared and always want to put myself and my team in the best position to win.  I love to win – I hate losing.  I am very competitive.

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

• Every failure whether it be personal or a team failure motivates me to work harder – smarter – and longer.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My work ethic and hopefully the example I set as a leader on the team.

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

• Teon Burroughs from Reinhardt.  He is a very good DT and he gave me a challenge, but I handled him.

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

• I will be graduating college a semester early with a double major (business and Christian studies) and if football at the next level does not materialize I will focus on business and being an entrepreneur.

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

• Room – I spend the majority of my time in my room so I want it to be very clean.

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

• Family member – Family First ALWAYS!

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

• Tony Soprano – he was an effective leader though he did use unconventional methods to lead and I like the fact that he never backed down.

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

• My parent’s divorce in elementary school.  It brought my father and me closer together as I lived with him from the latter part of middle school and high school.  He was and is actively involved in my life and is a great example for me.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• I really do not recall an embarrassing moment. I can laugh at myself so I do not really get embarrassed.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• Actually, it will happen this coming season when we take a knee to end the game and win the NAIA championship – that will be the play that I will remember forever and will not have even drive a DT off the line.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Devastated by Joey BadA$$

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

• The ultra-competitiveness that fuels me to work harder than everyone else.

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

• Ray Kroc – founder of McDonald’s. I read the book “Grinding it out” which details how he started McDonald’s and how he differentiated himself from other entrepreneurs.

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

• Cocoa Cabana – I like the name and I live with my father in Cocoa Beach when not at school

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Shaq Mason RG for the Patriots.  He is only 6’1″ and he handles his business.  I was glad to see him sign a huge contract this year.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected – you earn respect through your actions, words and execution.  

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

• Michael Vick – One of the greatest talents ever to play in the NFL.  I do not condone what he did – but public opinion played a large part in him being sentenced for 3 years and spending 2 years in prison.  I believe his fame and notoriety played a part with his excessive sentence – but I do think this failure made him a better man when he emerged from prison.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Hate to lose.  Winning is awesome but it is fleeting…losing gnaws away at my soul.

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

•My Father – he is my best friend and my mentor.  He is very successful and he taught me about honesty, loyalty, work ethic, perseverance, and leadership.