2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Danny Pinter, RT, Ball State University
Student-Athlete Profile:
- Danny Pinter
- Ball State University
- RT
- 6’4”
- 300lbs.
- Hometown: South Bend, IN
- Twitter: @dannypinter75
- Major: Business Administration
2019 Accolades & Statistics:
- 2019 All-MAC First Team Offense.
- GP: 12
As an athlete, what is your motivation?
My motivation to be the best I can be every day and to do whatever my role is to help my team win.
What defines success for you?
Success to me is when you give everything you have into something and you know there was nothing else you could have given.
What would your teammates say about the type of teammate you are?
That I am someone that who cares about all of my teammates, competes everyday and consistently holds myself to the same standards I hold them too.
What are some of your personal “rules” that you never break?
I don’t have specific rules, but I try and hold myself to the standard of treating everyone kindly and to attack everyday with the mindset of being my best in whatever I do.
When did you fall in love with football?
When I was in fourth grade I went to a Bears and Packers game and loved the atmosphere and rivalry, then I started playing organized football the next year and loved it.
What do you do to calm the butterflies before a game?
I try to stick to the same pregame routine each week so that I know when to have my mind calm and ready, usually when I get back to my locker I’m calm and ready to go.
Who is the toughest player you’ve competed against during your collegiate career?
Either Julian Okwara from Notre Dame or Mike Danna who now plays for Michigan.
Who is the best player in the NFL?
Khalil Mack.
What is the best part about competition?
The fact that you have to work hard to be successful in any type of competition, and those who work the hardest will come out on top in the end.
What is your team of choice on Madden, why?
Chicago Bears, they’ve been my favorite team since I was little so I feel like I have to pick them every time.
Failure is inevitable in life. How do you handle situations that don’t go in your favor?
I like the quote by Michael Jordan that says, “Losing only becomes a failure when you make excuses about it.” When situations don’t go my way I make sure that I fully understand and own the reasons failure happened so that I can learn from them and fix them.
Who is your sports hero? Why?
Walter Payton. I never got to watch him play but I read books about him when I was younger and getting into football, and my dad used to tell me stories about him. The way he carried himself on and off the field is something that I admire and look up too.
Is there a current/former NFL player that you model your game after?
Olin Kreutz.
Knowing what you do now, what would you go back and tell yourself as a High-School Freshman?
Don’t look into or worry about the future, just enjoy High School football because there’s nothing like it.
What is your go-to restaurant near campus?
Chava’s.
If your life was a book, what would its title be?
I would title it, “Keep Going.” There’s been a lot of times that I’ve had to work myself into situations I wanted but I always told myself to just keep going and pushing.
What is playing in your headphones before a game?
I start with slow music at the hotel like The Lumineers and work my way up to higher intensity things like rap or Mötley Crüe right before the game.
If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
Walter Payton, he was my sports hero and I would love to be able to take any advice he would have to give about both football and life.
When football is over, what will your legacy be?
I just hope to be remembered as someone who came and worked the hardest he could day in and day out.
Give me your elevator-pitch to a Pro Football GM in 15 words or less. Why should we invest in you?
I believe I am someone who is consistently a leader, competitor, tough and a hard-worker.
