2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jaquan Blair, WR, University of Maine

• Name: Jaquan Blair
• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 210lbs
• Position: WR
• College: University of Maine
• Twitter: @Quanb_11

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

• I’m from Harrisburg, PA. The capital of Pennsylvania. What I love most about it is, the city isn’t very big. For being the capital of the state it doesn’t have the tallest buildings or the most people.So communities throughout the city are close and supportive of each other. That’s what I love about Harrisburg.  

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

• For me the order is Practice, Film Study and Strength and Conditioning. They are all important and help you expand your game. But you can study all the film you want and come up with the perfect scheme, or be the strongest and fastest guy on the field. But if you can’t execute plays and schemes in practice you can’t be at your best on gameday. So Practice is the most important for that reason. Then Film Study makes you a student of the game and makes things on the field easier, that’s why that’s second. And Strength and Conditioning is hard work that you see come out after you execute the first two before gameday, that’s why that’s third. 

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about succeeding. I believe everyone worries about that from time to time, that’s life. But I just want to be able to support the people I love. Establishing myself so they don’t have to worry about me and if I’m okay.

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

• My junior year of high school, I failed my permit exam twice. It was very embarrassing and humbling. I thought I would just be able to pass it without putting the work in but I was wrong. That’s an event that helped me mold my work ethic to want it is today. So I studied and prepared extra for the drivers test and passed both. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• Catching to the majority of them. Being able to catch passes in all areas of the field and be effective is huge.Catching in traffic and winning 50/50 balls are what stands out. But the receivers and QBs would probably say my IQ. I’m very savvy with my game, I do a lot of little things that people don’t see. And it’s not just to help myself succeed it’s to help put the team in the best position to win.

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

• Andy Isabella from UMass or Sean Bunting from Central Michigan 

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

• It would be something with music, I love music but I can’t sing… so probably a music producer.

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

• I’ll clean my room, because that’s a reflection of myself as a person and it’s my private space where I’m most comfortable. 

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

• I’ll have to save my family member. Just the fact that we are family speaks for itself. Having a relationship and bond, families take care of each other and this is no different.

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

• I’m a big anime guy so I would be Goku from Dragonball franchise. Just because he is always looking to improve himself with the next opponent and is always his humble self. 

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

• Getting injured my junior year of high school and being under recruited because of it. It was tough not being able to really play and reach my potential. No being able to show what I could really do was what hurt the most. I knew I had to put up huge numbers my senior year to have a shot to play D1 football. So I worked my ass off to get physically healthy and mentally ready to attack senior year.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• My first varsity basketball game on TV, my shoe came off and I slipped and fell. I’ll never forget that because my man scored and I was shoeless. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

My first collegiate TD against UNH, it was special because we won Brice-Cowell Musket trophy in 2018. And the play made Sportscenter’s Top 10.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by Kanye West

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

• My mental toughness and IQ. Due to everyone getting better with their strength and speed at the next level. I need something that will help me stand out and gain an upper hand. So being mentally tough and improving on my IQ gives the savvy flare to my game I need to help me achieve big things. 

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

• My Grandma, so I can just show her how I’ve grown into a man. Conversate and show her that even with success and other events throughout life, I’m still going to be the same person. 

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

• LLL (Live Life Lit)

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Jarvis Landry 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would be respected. Respect goes a long way, because at the end of the day, not everyone is going to like you no matter how much you try. But they can respect you, and if they do it’s cause you made an impact on their life. 

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

Brain Banks, he has his career set out in front of him and it was all ruined because he was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. He served time and lost his shot at the NFL during his prime years. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I HATE LOSING! I can’t stand it. 

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

My family has been the biggest influence on me. They allowed me to always be myself and grow into my own. Every decision made they supported me and allowed to flourish in things that interested me. I appreciate all the love and support I get from them. They just give me more motivation to keep getting better.