NFL DraftProspect Interviews

2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Darius Wade, QB, Bowling Green State University

  • Name: Darius Wade
  • Height: 6’1
  • Weight: 216
  • Position: Quarterback
  • College: Bowling Green State University (Transferred From Boston College)
  • Twitter: @dwade_4

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

• I am from Middletown, DE it is a small town in Delaware but has blossomed over the years. It continually grows and more and more families are raising their kids there. My hometown is a place where I felt safe and was able to flourish and make a name for myself and other than my friends and family that is what I loved most about it.

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

• Film Study, Practice, and Strength and Conditioning. Film study is my first ranked item as it is essential for all players. Film study is not simply watching film of your opponents; it is also a way for you to improve your game. By watching your own practices and games you are able to drastically improve your game and lessen the number of mistakes. Practice is second because practice makes perfect. Without the hundreds of reps it would be nearly impossible to be an effective player. Practice allows you to hone in your skills, master the playbook, and build a strong rapport and chemistry with your teammates. Lastly strength and conditioning. This is a vital aspect for any athlete however; I do not view it as the most important. Many have talked about how much more mental football is then physical. Yes you must be strong and yes you must be well conditioned but the most important things to work on, as a football player is football it’s self not lifting weights.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about a lot of things. When you grow up you gain more and more responsibility and are put through tougher situations. However, in regard to football I do not worry. This is a sport I am passionate about and have played my whole life. I have self-confidence and a belief that even if things are tough I will find a way to overcome it. So with this mind-set there is no need for me to worry, I will let my preparation and determination lead me on.

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

• I do not believe I have ever failed at something because I have never quit. I have gone through adversity and faced my fair share of losses and struggles but I do not see that as failure. None of these experiences were able to waiver my integrity or character. They have only given me lessons and experiences that better prepare me for life.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates see my poise as my best quality. In the heat of the moment or even in life I do not allow things to easily waiver me. I am able to stay calm and focused and face these challenges head on whether if it’s something unexpectedly happening in my life or a middle linebacker coming free on a blitz.

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

• Lamar Jackson was the best player I have ever played against. At Boston College being in the ACC I was able to see this man play each year. He constantly improved as a player and was a terror for our defense. I fortunately was able to beat him my senior year but with his elite speed and arm talent it was no easy feet. But it is easy to see why he will be this years MVP.

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

• If professional football is not God’s plan for me then I will join the Air Force as an officer and serve my country. After my service I will then use my three degrees to get into the business world as a franchisee owner and grow my assets over time.

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

• I would clean my room first. Your room is the equivalent of a football player’s locker. Many people believe the way your locker looks is typically a direct representation of how your life is and how focused you are on the small details. So I would definitely clean my room first and ensure it stays clean.

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

• In this situation I would save the three strangers. I am a believer of Jeremy Bentham’s normative ethics philosophy of the utilitarian approach. This principle speaks on the greater good for the greatest amount of people. By thinking this way it eliminates the labels of stranger and family member to 3 and 1. So in this situation I would help the greatest number of people I could. This may not be the normal answer and it is understandable why as I love my family dearly as well but in this situation it is not a time for one to be selfish.

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

• I would choose Batman. He is someone who fights for what he believes in and helps those in need. In reality he is just an ordinary man not gifted with powers but the knowledge and determination necessary to become the character that we know.

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

• My biggest adversity was dealing with depression. This is a serious mental illness that unfortunately many people who play this game do not come forward about. I was just like most and didn’t say anything but the weight of me trying to carry all the pain on my shoulders was unbearable and made things worse. I was able to make it out the other side better then when I came in because it forced me to self reflect and gain a better understanding of my faults and myself. Then by seeking help I was able to move past this time of weakness and grow as a person overall.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• When my mother shows off my embarrassing photos from childhood to friends and family when they visit.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• Throwing my first pass this past season. The year prior I was told I would never be able to play again so that first pass is forever memorable as it was me proving the doctors wrong and myself right.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Scared of the dark (xxxtentacion & Lil Wayne)

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

• Mental toughness. This sport is violent and very difficult, as you will have to clear many hurdles throughout your career. But having the mental toughness to stay the course and never stop believing in yourself and your abilities is extremely important in surviving in this business we call football.

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

• I would bring back Martin Luther King. He is known as one of the greatest leaders of all time. I would love to speak to him and listen to his words of wisdom as well as ask how he became such a great leader. I would ask this because I am a believer that there are no born leaders so certain things in his life shaped him to the leader he became and I would want to know what experiences helped him get to that point.

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

• The Get Down

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

• Carson Wentz. Yes he receives some credit but his abilities and his talent in many instances go unnoted. The accomplishments he was able to make this season have been nothing short of miraculous and he deserves the praise. I think once he gets his weapons back he can then once again be seen as an MVP caliber quarterback.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would want to be respected. Being liked by all is overrated but being respected carries true significance in this world. This is also one of the key elements of becoming the leader of a team. If I were looking to become prom king then I would want to be liked but respect in our game of football is everything.

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

• Colin Kaepernick. He was a player who was simply trying to use their platform to enact change the only way he knew how. However, his actions were then twisted by the media forcing him to get black balled from the NFL. I truly believe that was not ok and I do feel sorry for him as he was a good quarterback and had a lot of football left to play.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• All true competitors hate to lose more then they love to win. Winning is simply the result of your preparation but to lose it is something that eats at you and forces you to work harder. A prime example of this is Tim Tebow when he was at Florida. After losing a big game you saw in the interview how much that loss pained him but he let that fuel him and go on a historic run to win it all. So I too agree with him and I hate to lose more than anything.

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

• My biggest influence would have to be my brother. He has supported me from the start and helped me grow along the way. Being the little brother and looking up to him I saw the joy football brought to him, which inspired me to follow in his footsteps and do the same.

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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