NFL DraftProspect Interviews

2021 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Devin Senerius, WR, Avila University

Devin Senerius Avila
Devin Senerius the athletic wide receiver from Avila University recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot

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

  • I grew up in Clarkston, Michigan. It is a small town that thrives on sports. What I love most about my hometown was the location. 15 minutes from the palace of Auburn Hills, 45 minutes from Detroit, and 30 minutes from Flint. 

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

  1. Practice. If you don’t practice to perfect your craft, strength and film study doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t good enough to even be on the field. 
  2. Strength and conditioning. You have to be in great shape to overcome adversity in games. You have to be just as good in the 4th quarter as you were in the 1st quarter. Strength is big in football, it’s a physical game and the stronger you are the better you can be. 
  3. Film. Knowing your opponent is the icing on the cake after practicing and lifting in preparation for a game. When you know you’re outworking your opponents and then study and pick up on their tendencies, you’ll put yourself in a great place to succeed. 

What do you worry about, and why?

  • I worry about my future. Every day is a blessing and anything can happen. I want to be successful and live a great life. 

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

  • When I was in high school, I had a goal to become a Division 1 football player. I never ended up receiving that offer so I knew to go somewhere that I felt would be a good fit and a place I would excel at, so I chose to come to Avila University. It ended up being the greatest decision of my life. I was disappointed in myself for a while until I realized you don’t have to be D1 to be considered a great football player. In my first year I was one of only a few freshmen to play and the only one to score a touchdown. Not being at a division 1 school made me work extra hard to show people that I’m one of the best football players around.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

  • My teammates say my best quality is the ability to see the good in every situation no matter what’s going on. If we get scored on, I’m always up and keeping the energy up letting everyone know we’re about to drive down and score too. I see things as challenges and thrive on competition. They also say I’m a great leader. I was voted a team captain by my teammates at the beginning of last season. 

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

  • I think the best player I played against in college would have to be Shaq Bradford from Kansas Wesleyan or Takota Anderson.

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

  • If I couldn’t play football, I would be a coach. This is my goal when my football career is over. I want to keep learning more about football while coaching and teach others the knowledge that I have and my experiences to help them be successful and become better people. 

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

  • Room first. That’s where you live and a representation of how you carry yourself. It’s always a good feeling coming home from a long day to a clean room. 

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

  • One family member. Family is everything to me. I love my family more than anything and losing one of them would be the hardest thing to overcome. Especially if I had the chance to save them. 

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

  • Michael Jordan in space jam! That movie is a classic! That was my favorite movie growing up.

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

  • The biggest adversity I’ve faced in life was when I had to miss my whole sophomore season after having surgery. Going through the rehab process is just as tough mentally as it is physically. It was the toughest thing I’ve faced. I’m blessed it wasn’t an ACL or anything else serious and I’m healthy. Just having to miss a season was the toughest thing, especially after coming in and earning the starting WR spot in camp and starting the first game. 

Draft Diamonds Small School Rankings

What is your most embarrassing moment?

  • My most embarrassing moment was when I was in middle school and peed my pants on a class field trip from laughing too hard

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

  • My most memorable play of my collegiate career was a 76 yard touchdown on the firsts plays of the drive against Kansas Wesleyan the #2 team in the country. This touchdown tied up the game in the 4th quarter after we were down by more than two touchdowns. The possession before I scored on a 30 yard touchdown so I scored on back to back plays to help put my team in a place to win.

What song best describes your work ethic?

  • The song that describes my work ethic is champion by Dababy. I’m an extremely hard worker and I take pride in that. 

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

  • The one trait I think is most important is 

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

  • I would bring back my grandfather who passed away a few years ago. He was extremely passionate about his family and it would be amazing to see him again. Him and my father were best friends and to spend one more day with him would mean the world!

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

  • Club LIT because it would be the most lit place! 

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

  • Marvin Jones Jr. on the Detroit Lions. He’s a great receiver that doesn’t get too much recognition for his play. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

  • Respected. Respect is earned and not given.

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

  • Josh Gordon. He was a great receiver and fun to watch. If he never messed up, he could’ve been one of the best. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

  • I hate to lose. I’m extremely competitive and I hate to lose in anything it doesn’t matter what it is.

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

  • My parents. They work extremely hard to support my brother and sisters. They have taught me how to work hard and set goals for myself. They have supported me in whatever I do and I know they love me more than anything. I have the best parents in the world. 

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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