2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jacob Molenaar, OL, Idaho State University

• Name: Jacob Molenaar
• Height: 6’4″
• Weight:330
• Position: OL
• College: Idaho State University
• Twitter: @molenaar98

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

• I was born in Boise, Idaho and moved out to Horseshoe bend, Idaho when I was about 8. I always considered Boise my home town. I’ve always loved how nice the people are in Boise. It’s one of the few places you can be standing in-line at a checkout and have a random conversation with a total stranger.

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

•Film Study, Practice, Strength and conditioning- I have seen extremely good players be beaten consistently by players that aren’t better than them. I believe film study will give you the answer to how to win games, and how to win 1 on 1 match ups in every position. I would say practice is #2 because physically getting reps against your opponents moves and tendencies can make you ready for whatever gets thrown at you. I would put strength and conditioning at #3 because if you have watched enough film and practiced correctly you don’t need to be stronger or faster to win against your opponents.   

What do you worry about, and why?

• Usually in games I worry about my offensive line being the most dominant on the field at any given time. Offensive lines make or break seasons for teams just like Quarterbacks do. It’s important not to worry about things that are outside your control. When I’m in a game I worry about my offensive line being dominant and making sure the opponents know who’s in charge.

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

• When we played UNI this season we lost in the last few minuets of the game because our offensive was getting swarmed. The offensive line couldn’t hold the line on pass plays and couldn’t consistently make holes in the run game. The next week we came back and ultimately dominated Portland state on the ground and in the air with no sacks given up. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• Smart, Winner

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

• Bradlee Anae, DE from Utah

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

• I will have a bachelors in Fire service in a few months, and I have always had a interest in a military career, either EOD, or a on-base firefighter.

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

• I would say whats going on that day, for example if I’m going to a job interview the car is cleaned in-case the interviewer walks with me to my car. If we are talking about day to day room,desk, car. I say room and desk first because a messy room or work area says a lot about you with no works spoken.

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

• I would have to save my family member first. In the end family, is all that you have, you always have to choose family.

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

• Thor, Thor always finds a way to win no matter what. He goes into every fight ready to lay it all out to win. 

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

• My biggest adversity in life was when my father had a stroke when I was 16 and a junior in high school. Before his stroke I had decided I was going to play D1 college football. So when my father went down I had a choice to make. My family owns a elk ranch in Horseshoe bend so I could either decide to put football off and focus on the ranch and make sure the chores get done and still maintain a 3.0 in high school. Or I had the choice to go for broke and train as hard as I could and take on my fathers ranch duties. I ended up going for broke and I made it. That six month window of waking up at 6am, drive an hour to school, workout with the football team, then go train again at Off The Field in Meridian till about 7, get home to the ranch about 830, feed the elk, break the frozen water up and be in the house doing homework at 10 pushed me to my breaking point several times, but it also taught me that you can literally achieve any goal if you truly want to. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• I would say my first collegiate start against Oregon State. I had just turned 18 a month before the start and I was playing against a few senior defensive lineman that had played 4-5 years already and I couldn’t stop their rush or make a hole in the run game. That is probably my most embarrassing game of my career.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• The most memorable game of my college career was when the Idaho State Bengals beat the Nevada wolf pack 30-28. That was the first time in 10 years we had beaten a D1-A opponent. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Till I collapse-Eminem

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

• Unstoppable drive and want to. 

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

• Mark Tuinei, the former Dallas cowboys Offensive lineman. I consider him one of the best to ever play the game, It would be pretty cool to interview him and do some drills with him.

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

• Thor’s Lounge

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

• Matt Paradis

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected, being liked is kinda here or there, but in life if you dont stand for what you believe in then you’ll never figure out who you are.

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

• Jonny Manziel, he had a fantasic career in college but just couldn’t put partying on the back burner and establish himself in the NFL.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Everyone loves to win and hates to lose, I think it’s more of how you respond to winning and losing. 

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

• So far I would say my mother has influenced my life the most. She is consistently pushing me to be a better football player, a better man, and a better student. She has always had my best interests in mind even if it meant making her the bad guy.