2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jonathan Zamora, OL, St. Francis Xavier University

• Name: Jonathan Zamora 
• Height: 6’3
• Weight: 300lbs
• Position: Centre/Guard
• College: St. Francis Xavier University 
• Twitter: @_ZuZu_51
• Instagram: @zuzu_silvera

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

• I’m from Toronto, Ontario. What I love most about my city is how much diversity and culture that runs through every street. Another aspect that I feel is important to mention is the amount of talent that comes from Toronto. I feel the people have a certain kind of competitiveness when trying to make something of themselves. 

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

• The order I would place these would be; 

1) Practice – When working towards perfecting your craft at whatever position you play; repetition is what gives the team and yourself the best opportunity to be successful. 

2) Strength and Conditioning – Football is an unforgiving sport and although talent can get you far, this is nowhere close to where you can be with the blood, sweat, and tears that come from strength and conditioning. To be better than your opponent, I feel this is necessary to be next on the list.  

3) Film Study – I chose this to be last because, with practice, strength and conditioning you are working on these two things for many months before the season even begins. Once you are in-season, your strength and conditioning and practice should be pretty good to take on film study of your opponent. Film study allows you to analyze and exploit any weakness you can find on a player or scheme. 

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry greatly about not making it to the league. I have been playing football from the age of six years old, and this game has formed the person I am today. I want the opportunity to prove myself to teams on why I deserve a shot. I always knew this is what I wanted to do for a career, and to work so hard at something and just fall short of your end goal, is a great fear of mine. 

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

• I had done very poorly on my midterms, and I was worried about how hard I was about to have to work in order to turn my grades around. My reaction was almost like a splash of cold water to the face, because I needed to wake up and get grinding. I then worked harder than I ever have before, and by the time the semester was coming to a close, I had bettered my grades greatly. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• I believe my teammates would say my best quality is not only my leadership ability but also being a friend. I believe that in a successful unit, there needs to be someone for others to believe in and to give structure to the culture. Being a friend to everyone on and off the field, is something I sincerely try hard at, because everyone deserves that feeling of someone caring about them.

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

• I would have to say Donovan Glave from Mount Allison University. In my first 2 years of playing university, he definitely made me better as a player.  

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

• If I was unable to play football anymore, I would continue my studies and obtain an MBA. Working either as a Banker or Financial Consultant.

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

• Room is the first thing I would clean. My room is my personal space away from the world, and when I enter my room, I need it to be comfortable. Also, everything starts in the room, if you have a clean room, everything tends to follow suit.  

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

• I would choose one family member. Family over everything. When your family, I expect loyalty at all times but especially when it matters the most. 

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

• Ironman, because of his ability to use his intelligence to make him the superhero he is. Ironman wasn’t born any different from any other human, but he made it to be a big-time successful superhero. 

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

• When I was fifteen, my mother passed away. The following year I went off to play NCAA, but before I could get my university career going, my dad left my brother and I, so I had to leave and work for a year to support us financially. The way I overcame this adversity was to keep on pushing and always know what the end goal is. I have a tattoo on my inner bicep that says “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18” 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• My most embarrassing moment would have to be when I got swam by a defender without even getting hands on him. I knew this was his “go-to” move and I fell for it once and I swore to never let it happen to me again.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• When we took a knee in our conference championship game to win it. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• I Don’t Get Tired – Kevin Gates 

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

• I believe the most important trait to have at the next level is to be coachable. 

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

• I would bring back Bruce Lee, because of how inspirational he was, and maybe I could learn a mentality that could make me a better person or athlete. 

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

• ZUZUs

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Chris Myers, Center for the Houston Texans.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected. Respect is earned and never given. Being liked is temporary but being respected is deeper than that. Anyone can do anything to be liked, but do you have what it takes to be respected by your peers? 

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

• Johnny Manziel has to be the main one that comes to mind. It’s sad to think that he had it all and threw it away to party. I understand that having fun in life is needed, but there is a limit to it when you want the career that you want. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Hate to lose. The pain is so much greater, than the joy of winning. 

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

• My younger brother, because he reminds me of where we came from and what we had to dig through together just to be where we are today. No bad days ahead because all of the bad days are behind us.