2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Joe Garbarino, QB, Northwood University

• Name: Joe Garbarino
• Height: 6’2″
• Weight: 223 lbs.
• Position: QB/ATH
• College: Northwood University
• Twitter: @JoeGarbo1

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

• My hometown is Shelby Township Michigan a suburb of Detroit. I love my hometown due to its diversity and all types of cultures being brought together like a melting pot. Many different styles of food, people, and ways of life. 

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

• Film study is my number one because as a QB you need to know absolutely everything from offense too defensive schemes, you can never watch too much film. Next is practice, to me I’m a hand on learner so if I am struggling with a concept, play, or a QB movement practice will help me tremendously to develop. Third is strength & conditioning. Strength & conditioning is always of high importance to me and I love the grind and grit of the struggle. I hold 4 current lifting records at my college as a QB. I find the weight room and the field are great ways to clear your mind and focus on getting better.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry most about life without football and losing. Ever since I started playing when I was in second grade its been my love. I developed a sense of competition in any sport I play and losing is never on my mind when I play. My head coach and I agree that we both hate losing more than we love winning. I spend every waking second dreaming about that critical first down, that game winning Touchdown, the next rep in the weight room. I know football has to come to an end at one point or another, but I always want that off season grind to achieve something great in the fall. 

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

• One of my failures I think about is in high school my team lost 3 straight games and on the verge of losing playoff hopes. We lost all 3 games in a row on last second touchdowns. At 3-3 we put on a player only team meeting and decided what and who we for. After that 2 hour meeting we won 8 straight games and won the Michigan state championship. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• How I am a natural leader. I am not the most vocal when it comes to leading and that’s for a reason. I would rather out work everyone in the room to show them follow me and compete with me and we will become better together. I love leading by example and that’s one of the reasons I have been voted as team captain multiple times. 

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

• Best player I played against was Zach Sieler DE from Ferris State. He was 7th round draft pick to Baltimore Ravens. He was a force, our whole game plan seemed to be centered around him and how do we stop him. It seemed like every play he made it his job to disrupt something.  

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

• I always strive to be the best at anything I get my hands on so without football I would love to have multiple degrees from top Universities. My parents always told me no one can take your education away, therefore degrees from top Universities would give me my competitiveness and the sense of reward I get in football.   

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

• I would clean my desk. I say this because my work area must be clean for me to be efficient. My mind likes things in an organized fashion. 

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. My philosophy has always been Faith, Family, and football. So family means everything to me and I would not hesitate to save a family member.

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

• I would love to be Thor from marvels Avengers. I feel like it would be fun to play him and he has my personality so it would feel natural. 

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

• My biggest adversity was when my best friend since the third grade passed away in my friends and my arms. Freshman year of college we were walking home at night and a car going 70 mph struck and killed my best friend in front of my eyes. Having a human life yet alone your best friend pass away in your arms was the worst thing I have ever had to see and experience. It was very rough for his family as well due to their other son (his brother) passed away 3 months prior too this accident at one of my friends graduation party. The driver was not found and too this day I still am working on getting through it. I use it as motivation now so his life and his dreams can live through me. Anytime i feel tired or gloomy I mentally go back to that night and it gives me the boost to be the best i can be in any aspect of life. Since the tragedy I have been GLIAC all academic and I made the deans list for my accomplishments in the classroom for 4 years straight.  

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• My most embarrassing moment was when I got selected to do a halftime half court shot at a basketball game and coming down from the bleachers in front of a packed crowd I slipped and fell down like a ton of bricks and everyone laughed at me. I proceeded to do the shot and missed to make the situation worse.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• We were playing Michigan Tech my Redshirt sophomore year and it was 3rd and 18 with around 50 seconds left and down by 5. We had a long pass play on and they blitzed so I scrambled going near the sideline I had to spin off 2 defenders and off my back foot threw a perfect ball up the sidelines for a 22 yard gain and a first down. We ended up scoring that drive with few seconds left and won the game.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Kickstart my heart by Motley Crue. Its a rapid song which describes how I workout and play I go until I physically cant anymore. I could go to the gym 6 times in a week for 3 hours a day and get told to take time off or I’m doing too much etc…

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

• My athletic ability. I grew up with 2 older brothers so being on their level of skill at multiple sports was key to my development. Due to this I feel I can play any offensive skill position due to my hands, size, and athleticism. I also have play maker abilities that come out in clutch situations.

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

• Jesus. I would love to understand my religion more clearly and understand his teachings and ways of life so I can benefit myself and my community from it. 

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

• “TK’s”. My parents always wanted to open a restaurant/ bar so in honor of them I would love to name it after their initials.

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Mathew Stafford QB for the Lions. As a metro-Detroit native i root for him every Sunday. Not to many people talk about him and he seems to be underappreciated around the league. However, he is a big time play maker and I believe in him.  

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected. As a leader and captain for multiple teams and years in a row you find everyone has different mentality when it comes to football. Therefore, not everyone will like you but if they respect you they will follow you into any situation.  

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

• Vince Young. At the Titans i always thought he would be the next great QB until his altercation with his players and Coach. He got upset when he was not allowed to return to a game because of an injury and started a temper tantrum. I feel him because he just wanted to play and help his team win. I’m competitive to where sometimes my emotions run high too. However, to show your feelings and emotions negatively to teammates and coaches was a huge mistake and should never happen.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to lose. The struggles of defeat can teach you a lot in life and football. Putting all that effort in preparation for the game and to lose is a heart breaker after you invested so much time, effort, and heart into it. 

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

• My family. I hate when i get told I can’t do something and I go out and try to prove those people wrong everyday. My family never says that for me, they have the highest hopes for me and believe I can do anything. To have them in my corner is a big uplifting feeling.