NFL DraftProspect Interviews

2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Quinlen Dean, LB, UNH/Marshall University

Quinlen Dean the hard hitting linebacker from Marshall and grad transfer from the University of New Hampshire recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot.
  • Name: Quinlen Dean
  • Height: 6’1
  • Weight: 227
  • Position: Linebacker
  • College: New Hampshire/Marshall 
  • Twitter: @ayeeeque

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

  • I’m from Prince George’s County, Maryland and I graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School. The people in my hometown are the reason why I continue to work so hard at my craft. PG County is full of grit and hard work and having been around people like this, I was forced to challenge myself daily and established the mentality of never settling or being complacent. What I love most about my hometown is that most of my family lives there and they have always been my biggest motivators throughout life. 

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

  • Film study, practice, strength & conditioning. To me, film study comes first because it helps you mentally prepare for what to expect before games. I believe all players and coaches have tendencies and film study helps you exploit them. Practice comes second because practice reps are the closest thing to live game reps. Lastly is strength & conditioning because it gets my body ready to compete and be the best version of myself that I can be every day.

What do you worry about, and why?

  • I worry the most about failing. Every day I feel as though I’m in constant competition with myself and hold myself to such a high standard that I refuse to allow myself to fail in anything that I do. I want to be able to provide for my family which is why I challenge myself daily.

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

  • In the first semester of my sophomore year of college, I failed my financial accounting class. I overcame this failure by continuing to sit in the first 3 rows of the class, spending more time with the professor in office hours and finding a tutor within the athletic department. I was extremely disappointed at the time but I retook the class the following semester and passed.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

  • My teammates will say my best quality is that I lead by example. I have never been the type of man to point fingers and tell people what to do but rather step up and do it. 

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

  • Nasir Adderly

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

  • If I couldn’t play football, I would pursue a career in Casino Management.

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

  • I would clean my room first because that’s where I spend the most time.
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If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

  • If there was a disaster, I would save one family member because my family is the most important thing to me. I trust them and they have always have my best interest. 

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

  • If I could pick anyone, I would be Martin Payne from the Martin TV show because he’s funny, loyal to his friends, and a hard worker. Also, our personalities are very similar because we are both always joking and smiling. 

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

  • My biggest adversity was having an off-field issue which resulted in losing eligibility. This really affected me because I felt like I failed my teammates and poorly represented my family.  Losing the game of football made me recognize the impact that sports have on my life. I have learned and grown from my mistakes.  

What is your most embarrassing moment?

  • My most embarrassing moment was in high school when I was unable to go to a team function because I had not completed my school work up to my mother’s standards prior to the start of the event. I was also going to give a speech along with receiving my Defensive MVP award and could not.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

  • The most memorable play of my collegiate career was the first game of the season against our rival on a Wednesday night. The stands were filled and we were up by 1 in the 4th quarter with seconds left on the clock. It was 3rd and long and the team came out and ran the exact play we practiced earlier in the week. I played underneath the route and caught the game-winning interception. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

  • Lil Baby Sum 2 Prove 

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

  • Faith is the most important trait to have in order to succeed at the next level. 

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

  • Without a doubt, I would bring my older brother Deante Dean back for many reasons. He always supported me in everything I did, kept me out of trouble and always kept a smile on my face. He was my partner in crime. 

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

  • Elevate

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

  • Kwon Alexander

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

  • I would rather be respected because respect has to be earned.

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

  • I feel for Michael Vick the most because he no question, had the potential to be one of the all-time greatest quarterbacks in the league. I have always admired his ability to be a playmaker and take over a game with his running ability but due to his off-field issues, his character was tarnished so heavily that he was unable to make a full comeback.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

  • I hate to lose. 

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

  • My grandfather, Papa, has been my biggest influence because I’ve always looked up to him not only as my grandfather but as a mentor too. I also value his opinion with football because he also played at a collegiate level, was inducted into his University’s Hall of Fame, and has helped fine-tune my game over the years.

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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