2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jayner Gorospe, WR, King’s College

• • Name: Jayner Gorospe
• • Height: 5’11”
• • Weight: 185 lbs.
• • Position: WR/RS/ATH
• • College: King’s College
• • Twitter: @GorospeJayner 

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

• My hometown is Mount Olive, New Jersey. Honestly, it’s a pretty small town with not much going on besides our local businesses, school, and people doing their daily activities. It’s a hardworking community, and because it’s on the smaller side everyone knows each other. It’s a very tight knit community. I feel fortunate to have grown up in an environment where the expectations of the town are being a hard worker and supporting each other. 

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

• First, film study for me. Without it you wouldn’t be able to see what needs to be fixed during practices, and it’s needed to study the opposing teams and their players weaknesses. Second, I’d put strength and conditioning. This is because as an athlete your body is your foundation and temple. Being strong helps with injury prevention, and optimal performance on the field. As for conditioning, it’s extremely important and often times overlooked in my opinion. Football is a game of not only raw speed, but endurance and agility too. Fatigue can kick in as early as the first few minutes of a game, and if you’re not prepared or trained properly it’ll hinder you’re ability to perform at the highest potential. That’s why it’s important so important to condition especially for a game setting and situations. Lastly, I’ll put practice. Practice is essential for any teams success, but I put it third because without film study we wouldn’t know what to work on specifically in practice, and without strength and conditioning it’ll be difficult to last through a whole practice and focus on the game plan if you’re worried about not being conditioned enough.

What do you worry about, and why?

• Honestly, I try my best every day to not let any worries or stress in life consume my thoughts or get the best of me because the reality is it could always be worse. It’s how I was raised, and I know the Lord is there to guide me through any adversity in life whether it be big or small. I’m grateful to be able to live with this mindset because I know it can be a struggle for some people.

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

• I’ve failed so many times with things it’s hard to pick one, but that doesn’t mean I’m a failure of a person. It means I’m human. Everyone makes mistakes in life, but what really matters is what you do with yourself in response to that mistake. Whether it be in academics or sports I know when I make a mistake or fail in a certain aspect of something, but one thing I make sure is consistent every time is I never make the same mistake twice. I can proudly say that has held true throughout my life up to this point. I keep my faith strong and work to prove to myself I can do it.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• They’d definitely say my hard work behind the scenes of what’s seen in practices and game film. I understand the importance of laying down a foundation in order to springboard myself to success especially when it comes to strength and power in the weight room, and the minute details of the receiver position that can make or break a plays. Football is truly a game of inches and the smallest of errors and details can be the difference between a nice release or route and a great release or route. Also, they’d tell you about my leadership with my teammates behind the scenes too. I encourage and help all my teammates when it comes to various lifts or exercises in the weight room, and putting in the field work to reach their fullest potential. What’s the point of elevating myself if I can’t bring my teammates along with me. That does the team no good.

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

• The best player I ever faced in college was a defensive back from Stevenson University. His name is Austin Tennessee. I faced him in my earlier years of college, and when he graduated he went as an NFL undrafted free agent and signed with the Minnesota Vikings. I’m confident in how far I’ve come and the work I’ve put in to improve my skill set that I can compete with any player of that caliber.

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

• I would open my own training facility for athletes like me. I’d be a personal trainer for all athletes of any age and level. I know I can help the next generation of elite athletes maximize their potential and make their dreams come true just like I’m doing right now. 

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

• I would clean my room first. My room is where I start and end every day in. I wake up every morning and make my bed and make sure my room is organized. It’s a way of starting your day with structure and a purpose. My mom helped instill that in me from a young age. It’s a natural habit to me now.

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

• While everybody’s life matters I would absolutely save my family member. This is because my bond with my family is an unbreakable one. We’ve been through the roughest of times together, and we came out on the other side even stronger. Any family member I would save. They have my heart and love until the end of time. 

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

• I’m not much of a T.V. show or movie watcher, but if I had to pick any character I would have to go with either Martin Lawrence or Will Smith from the Bad Boys movies. First of all, they’re some of the dopest movies I’ve ever seen in terms of action, suspense, and plot. I chose them because of the unbreakable bond they have with each other. Similar to my family. They may fight and argue but at the end of the day they’ll always have each others back and that’s something to hold onto and cherish for sure. 

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

• The biggest adversity in my life was probably when my grandmother passed away my freshman year of college. Things were still new with the transition to a new way of life as a collegiate student-athlete, and I was just vulnerable. I felt shocked, exposed, weak, and angry. I could’ve let it take me into a dark downward spiral, but I didn’t let it. I leaned on my friends, family, and most of all my faith in our Lord and Savior. I trusted Him to get my family and I though this sad dark time for all of us. It was especially tough because I wasn’t able to be with my family because I was at school too. My grandma would’ve wanted me to keep it pushing because there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• Wow, probably when I had to give an oral presentation in one of my classes at King’s and I ended up accidentally passing gas in the middle of it. I have to be honest it was pretty loud too. I handled it pretty well though. I hit them with the classic Brett Favre line, “You think God never farted?” and kept my presentation moving. Smooth operator.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My senior year when we were playing Albright College I leaped over a defender to catch the ball. Then I gave the safety a stutter, broke him down, and ran into the end zone for the touchdown. It sticks with me because it was a play that involved every aspect of my game that I had been working to improve the past four years. I used my acceleration to get a jump start on the defensive back, my speed to be fast enough to position myself in front of him, my strength along with power to be able to jump high enough to come down with the ball, my body control to land on my feet and continue moving, and my agility to stop on a dime and shake the safety to allow myself to finish in the endzone. It was a cool moment for me personally.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• “My Moment” by DJ Drama ft. 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, and Jeremih. The song talks about waiting for an opportunity you’ve been working for and taking advantage of it because you know you can. That’s exactly what I’m doing.

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

• I take pride in my physical abilities because I’ve worked so hard to get them and I’m no where close to done, but probably my non-physical trait of being able to handle pressure and respond to adversity with confidence and determination. I’ve always been proud of being someone who does that better than most. I know at the next level and in my journey to get there I’m going to face all different kinds of adversity, but I’m prepared to not flinch and keep on trucking along. I’m confident in myself, my mental strength/toughness, and the fact that I know the Lord wouldn’t put me in a situation I can’t handle.

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

• This one is fairly recent and tragic, but I’d bring back Kobe Bryant, He has always been a hero to me and I know millions of others around the world. He had so much more knowledge to give and lives to impact. I’ve always love his competitiveness, drive, focus, and approach toward sport and life. He settled for nothing but perfection and to be the best. The Mamba Mentality isn’t just a motivational phrase. It’s a lifestyle, and I try to live it every day.

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

• If I were to open up a dance club I’d name it “The Hip Hop Shop”. I’m an avid hip hop fan and can get down with it all from The Sugar Hill Gang to Drake today. It’d definitely be centered around hip hop music, but it would be a place where music appreciators and dancers alike can come to get away from the stresses of life and appreciate the artform that is music and dancing. 

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• I think Davante Adams WR on the Green Bay Packers is the most underrated. I don’t think his ability to create separation through his releases and routes gets enough credit. He runs his routes and releases with personality on them. Also, his ability to go up and get the ball is underrated as well. He doesn’t get enough credit for being a physical receiver who has no problem with asserting his will on a defensive back either. I know he has Aaron Rogers throwing to him, but even when Rogers was hurt and Kizer or whoever their back up is was in there he was still making plays.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected than liked. Respected is earned. Anybody can like anyone. Not everyone liked Kobe or MJ but because of their greatness and will to win they had the respect of everyone. There’s no time to make sure everyone likes you, but if people respect you they’ll follow and continue in the direction you set.

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

• I feel like Josh Gordon really had his career ruined. He still gets opportunities with teams like the Patriots and Seahawks, but always ends up finding himself back in the rehab facility. He was an absolute dog, and I believe could’ve been an all-time great. His short time with Cleveland was so special to watch, and he’s still the only receiver in NFL history to have back to back game with two-hundred plus receiving yards I think.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to lose because the memory of a loss will stick with you forever. We all work to win, and the joy of victory is a special feeling because it’s not easy, but the feeling of a loss will eat you up inside. It can also drive you to make sure it never happens again which is what I utilize losses for besides learning from my own mistakes. The worst feeling in the game is looking back and thinking about what you could’ve done more to get the win.

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

• The biggest influences in my life are my parents and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My parents are my rocks. They’ve never given up on me even through the growing pains and adversities life has thrown our way. I could write a book about my parents and what they mean to me, but to keep it short and sweet they’ve helped mold me into the man I’m proud to be today and will continue to play a part in me growing in all aspects of life. I love them and am forever grateful. The Lord has blessed me with my incredible parents and I’m so thankful for that. He has also given me this incredible opportunity to have a chance to play at the next level, and I’m doing everything I can to give His name the praise and high recognition it deserves by making my dreams become a reality. I will be a story of strength, over coming the odds, and a walking testimony that through God’s will and faith in Christ anything is possible.