NFL DraftProspect Interviews

2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jacob White, MLB, Ball State University

Jacob White the hard hitting MLB from Ball State University recently sat down with Jonathan Joyce of NFL Draft Diamonds.

Student-Athlete Profile:

  • Jacob White
  • Ball State University
  • ILB
  • 6’0”
  • 230lbs.
  • Hometown: Clarendon Hills, IL
  • Twitter: @cobwhite

2019 Statistics:

  • GP: 12
  • Total Tackles: 117
  • TFL: 8.0
  • INT: 1
  • PBU: 2
  • FF: 1
via @BallStateFB (Twitter)

As an athlete, what is your motivation?

My motivation is the fear that football will eventually come to an end for me, as it will for everybody else. I have had such fun and formed so many great relationships over my years of playing that it would be an insult to myself and my team if I didn’t attack each day with the mindset that it could be my last. That is what drives me each day to achieve the ultimate level of success.

What defines success for you?

Success, for me, is looking in the mirror and knowing that there was nothing else that I could have done that day to get better mentally and physically. Also winning a MAC Championship and Ball State’s first bowl game.

What would your teammates say about the type of teammate you are?

That I am a blue-collar kid that shows up each day and puts in the required and extra work to be successful. Also, I expect to see my same level of effort, focus, and tenacity from others each day as I know that the price to win is a high one.

via @PFF_College (Twitter)

What are some of your personal “rules” that you never break?

Always get at least seven hours of sleep a night and practice visualization when preparing for games and practices.

Who is the toughest player you’ve competed against during your collegiate career?

Corey Davis.

Who is the best player in the NFL?

Khalil Mack.

via @NCAAFNation247 (Twitter)

Failure is inevitable in life. How do you handle situations that don’t go in your favor?

I put things into perspective. There are many people that I have read about and listened to that have failed many times in life only to have the last laugh. Steve Weatherford, David Goggins, Michael Jordan, and many others have failed multiple times in their careers. The difference between these highly successful people and average ones is that they don’t make the same mistake twice. I believe that failure can be a weapon if you listen and study it. No person on this earth will get through life without failure and the person that gets up and learns from it will always find a way to be successful at the end of the day.

Is there a current/former NFL player that you model your game after?

I model my game after 2 players. The first being Pat Tillman. I believe that football is a very violent game and he played the game as fast as possible with minimal regard for his body. He was a true student of the game and allowed himself to play with the mental and physical speed that he did because of his preparation. The second is A.J. Hawk. He is as solid as a linebacker as it gets with the length and production of his career. His consistency over his career in terms of creating turnovers and stopping the run was elite.

Knowing what you do now, what would you go back and tell yourself as a High-School Freshman?

I would tell myself that it is important to reach out to coaches more in terms of recruiting. I don’t think that I put myself out there as much in terms of exposure at an early age. I didn’t “play the game” in order to get more offers. I did not have a Twitter in high school which I feel hurt my recruiting a lot. I am obviously happy at Ball State but I believe that I should have had more options coming out of high school looking back at my film. In addition, I played basketball and baseball all four years of high school, so I did not have as much time for recruiting as some other single or two-sport athletes.

What is your go-to restaurant near campus?

Subway.

If your life was a book, what would its title be?

“Suffer Now, Celebrate Later.”

What song or artist do you like but rarely admit to liking?

Johnny Cash.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

I would want to have dinner with Vince Lombardi. I would love to pick his brain about what football was like back in the day compared to what it is today. I would also enjoy hearing him talk about what it takes to win, as he is one of the greatest coaches ever.

Forty-years from now, what do you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for the positive effect that I have had on young people and colleagues. I am planning to be a collegiate or NFL coach when I am done playing. I want to be remembered as a selfless coach that put his players before himself in the pursuit of success. I believe that I can be a catalyst in changing a culture by holding players to a standard of excellence. Football is a detail-specific game and so is life. I would enjoy the opportunity to help a player become a self-reliant man in the process of winning championships.

In 15 words or less, why should an NFL team invest in you?

  • Team-Player.
  • Competitor.
  • Goal-oriented.
  • Driven.
  • Highly Motivated.
  • Nasty.
  • Tough.
  • Addicted to Winning.

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