2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Brayden Konkol, DB, Montana State University

• Name: Brayden Konkol
• Height: 6’ 2”
• Weight: 215
• Position: Safety
• College: Montana State University 
• Twitter: @db_bronks

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

• Belgrade, MT. Small town with lots of stuff to do outside (hike, boat, ski, fish, etc.)

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

• 1.) Practice- Can’t get better if you don’t practice.

     2.) Strength & Conditioning- It’s the bass of your play. Being in good condition allows you to run to the ball every play. It allows you to play with good technique in the 4th quarter.

     3.) Film Study- Film study is what separates the good from the great. I think it is very important, but practice habits and conditioning are more important in my opinion.

What do you worry about, and why?

• My biggest fear is me or one of my loved ones getting sick or severely injured. Problems vs. Real Problems.

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

• After starting 3 games my freshman year at safety, I failed to maintain the starting role going into my sophomore season after the coaches brought in a transfer. I got complacent that off season and didn’t work as hard as I should/could have. After I loss my spot towards the beginning of fall camp I worked harder than anyone else. First on the field & last off, extra film, etc. All I wanted to do was play football and not sit on the bench. Thankfully the coaches recognized this and moved me to OLB for that year, where I led the team in tackles and INT’s. Going into Junior year (last year) I took back the starting safety spot.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• Tough, Accountable, and Loyal

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

• Cooper Kupp. WR at EWU, currently playing for LA Rams.

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

• Project Manager for a construction company. I’m getting a degree in Construction Engineering Technology.

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

• Room. It’s where you start and finish your day.

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

• One family member. Family is a core value of mine. 

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

• John Wayne in his western movies OR King Leonidas in ‘300’. I think they’re the two biggest badasses to walk the planet.

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

• The biggest adversity I’ve dealt with in my life is when I got surgery my sophomore year. It’s hard not being able to do something you love with people you love. It was hard not being around and working out with my teammates in the offseason. I’m thankful that I had a strong supporting cast to help push me and motivate me.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

    – The biggest embarrassment to me is letting down my family, my teammates, and my coaches. In that order.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

•After being down 22-0 at halftime vs Montana (our hated rival) we came back to take a 29-25 4th quarter lead, where the winner advances to the FCS playoffs. They had the ball on the 1 yard line with 8 seconds left. They handed it off, we stuffed them and made the running back fumble and recovered it, clinching both a win for the 3rd straight year and a trip to the FCS playoffs.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Running Miles by Hippie Sabotage

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

• Physical- I’m a big, physical, long and rangy safety who can run.

   Non Physical- I’m a man of high character who’s accountable and has integrity.

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

• Sean Taylor. I’d pick his brain and ask him everything I could because he was on track to be the best safety to ever play.

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

• I don’t even know cause I can’t dance

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Eddie Jackson, Safety for the Bears. It’s all about the ball and his takeaway production doesn’t lie.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected. Respect is another one of my core values. Doing the right thing might not make you well liked, but it will make you well respected.

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

– I don’t really feel for any of them. If your priorities are straight and of you love the game of football then I don’t see how you could have off field issues.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Hate to lose. Losing is one of the most embarrassing things I think. Especially if you put a ton of time into preparing and still lose, it hurts.

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

•My dad. He didn’t have a lot growing up and he’s worked for everything he has. He works hard to provide for my family and never complains about a thing. It’s my goal to pay him back one day somehow someway.