2020 NFL Draft Prosepct Interview: Devin Gentry, WR/RB, Georgia State

• Name: Devin Gentry
• Height: 5’10
• Weight:190
• Position: WR/RB
• College: Georgia State
• Twitter: @justthatman3

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

•My hometown is Louisville, Kentucky. My favorite part about Louisville is Churchill Downs. I love horse racing and whenever I’m in town I like to go up there and see some races. My grandfather used to work there so it’s always been a big part of my life.

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

•I would place practice at the top of the list followed by film study, and strength and conditioning. I place practice at the top of the list because that is when you go do what you’re going to do in the game. You can watch all the film and lift all the weight that you want to but if you can’t go out there on the field and do what you need to its null and void. Film study comes second because Film helped you know what you need to work on the next practice or game. If you pick up tendencies and things like that in the film room it makes game prep a lot easier. By time you get to the game you know what you’re getting so at that point it’s just time to play ball.

What do you worry about, and why?

•I’m a man of strong faith so I don’t really worry about much … IF I had to choose something right now, I would say football alone. I never realized how stressful the pre-draft process could be up until this point .As a guy coming from a mid-major like myself where you don’t know who’s going to give you a look you can easily start to worry a little about how things are going to go. I’ve been playing this game since I was five years old always knowing where I was going to play my next season and to go from that to this was a big change. Now with having pro-day behind me this process is a lot less stressful now that I’ve shown what I’m capable of and start to prepare to capitalize on opportunities that are placed in front of me.

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

• when I first arrived at Georgia State, I failed at being a good teammate because I didn’t fully commit to learning the WR position. I had played RB/DB my whole life and that is what I was anticipated playing in college so when I first got to state and they put me at WR due to position needs  i was frustrated with having to not only adjust to a new level of football but having to learn a whole new position. I was ready to play physically but I didn’t fully commit to learning the position. I really could’ve helped the team a lot more my freshman year if I would have done so. I overcame that by vowing to myself to never be a selfish teammate again and fully commit to learning whatever position was asked of me. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•My teammates have told me that I’m a team player that just shows up and does what’s needed to be successful. They appreciate my humor because football seasons are long and sometimes you need a little humor to get you through those mid-season practices when everybody is trying to forget about how their body truly feels.

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

•SAQUON BARKLEY Point blank period.

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

•I’ve always been interested in maritime security so if I couldn’t play football, I would be making that happen. I also wouldn’t mind streaming video games I’ve already started getting my streaming setup actually. I can say with 100% confidence I am the best Madden Ultimate Team player in this class…. I don’t play around about my video games ???.

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

•If it’s a desk at work then Desk, Room, Car. At home desk then Room, Car, Desk.

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

•Family Member and because they are my family.

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

• I would be Hancock, but I wouldn’t want the whole live forever thing. I feel i would get tired of people trying to get me to save the world. Let me go see Jesus eventually and have somebody else takeover. 

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

•The most adversity I have faced would have to Be the death of my grandfather. It was unexpected and he was my biggest fan. He made it to every event he possibly could. I’ve dealt with it by pursuing what is going to make me happy. He always preached to me about doing something that I enjoy with my life. If I were to settle for anything less than that I would be failing him.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• I remember I got caught one time in little league and that was quite embarrassing it was one of those plays where after I did what I did to make the play I needed to finish it off with a touchdown. That was a feeling I never wanted to experience again in my life. Or another time in little league I got JACKED UP on the field ….  like it was bad I got made fun of the whole way home by my dad and brother for that one. It was terrible timing for me to allow that to happen with the “jacked Up” show being at its peak. You can only imagine hearing “Devin Gentry you got JACKED UP” for a 30-minute car ride. Those two are tied for 1st in my book

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My first collegiate touchdown. It came from a drag route I turned up field and saw some open grass and ended up taking it for a 70 yd TD.

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

•The most important trait that I have is my ability to stay levelheaded throughout games. Sometimes it takes people some getting used to, but I’ve always been a guy that doesn’t really get into the highs and lows during a game I show up and prepare to do what needs to be done to win. I feel like everyone needs someone on their team whose mood will not change throughout the game. Not to get it confused with having fun because when we get into that end zone we lit, but after that it’s time to lock back in.

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

•I would bring back prime Wilt Chamberlain because I hear all this stuff about how athletic he was, and I need to see it for myself. Also, I’m not completely sold on the idea he scored 100 points in a game to be honest. You all are telling me that somebody went out there and scored 100 points in a basketball game and all we give him is a piece of paper with 100 written on it. At the same time nobody brings him up for greatest player ever …. Sorry I can’t go for it. I’ve never seen a box score or anything so yea Wilt and I got some stuff to iron out …….I need to see that 4.4, 500-pound bench, 45-inch vert all of it. I basically want to put wilt through pro-day.

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

• The Ashy lobster have me a little Krusty Krab spinoff joint.

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

•Penny Hart

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•I would much rather be respected than liked. I feel if everyone likes you there’s no way you are being true to yourself. If there is ever a person on this earth that everyone likes I fear them. I like the person that everyone had respect for. There are too many different personalities walking this earth for everyone to like each other. I just want people to respect me for who I am agree with it or not. I am Devin Gentry and that’s the only person I will ever be.

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

I would say that I feel for Vince Young the most. I feel like at the time he came into the league people were clueless to the impact mental health has on people. Not to mention this young phenom quarterback that had just given the world one of the most unforgettable football games. People were not ready to have the much need conversation about mental health at that time. I feel like if that same Vince Young was to enter the league today it would be a whole new story.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

I love to win and my hate for losing drives that love. No one really knows how good winning feels until they know what it feels like put your all into something and lose. That feeling sucks and when I win knowing how losing feels makes the taste of victory that much sweeter

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

•Since I have to choose one I’ll go with my mother…… sorry pops but I got to rock with dukes on this one. My mom has been successful in everything she’s done, and she’s done it by being herself 100% of the time. She’s the one that helped me realize it’s better to be respected than liked. I’m sure there’s some people out there that can’t stand my mom but there’s not an honest soul out there in the world that could say they don’t have respect for her. And my mom is where I get my speed from so if it weren’t for her I may not even be doing this interview right now ??.