2021 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Efrain Segoviano Jr., OL, Southwest Minnesota State University

• Name: Efrain Segoviano Jr
• Height: 6’3
• Weight: 323
• Position: LG,C,RG
• College: Southwest Minnesota State University
• Twitter: @efraincito_

What is the best restaurant in your hometown city?

-I think the best local restaurant in Tucson is Eagles! It’s an AZ sandwich shop chain that serves these ice slushie drinks and outstanding tuna sandwiches. Great for 100-degree weather. Raspados are cool too.

When breaking down your film what will stick out? 

-Definitely the intent that I demonstrate. I have a passion for embarrassing D-lineman and find it quite fun. I understand leverage really well and tend to find ways to use it to my advantage in almost every play type.

If you won the lotto, what is the first thing you would do with the money? 

-Before buying myself a sweet blacked-out Mustang, I’d have to give back to the people of my communities. I’d love to start a scholarship for young broke athletes from impoverished neighborhoods, then branch off into helping all kinds of unfortunate people, starting with the families in southern Arizona and Mexico. 

What has been your biggest failure?

-I wish I started this journey sooner. I remember my pops asking me if I had any interest in joining sports, instead of wasting my days in front of the Xbox and eating Cheetos all day. Being the lazy dork I was, I told him no. I later came to realize that football changed my life for the best, and I regret not starting my grind earlier in life. Who knows the number of people I could have influenced or where I’d be today. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

-My teammates say that my best quality is my competitor mindset. I have a purpose and a personal reason why I move the way I do each day. I don’t waste my own time and I try to make my opponent regret stepping up to me. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and I’m willing to execute every play like it’s my last. 

Who is the hardest working teammate on your team?

-Although we have many dogs that work extremely hard, Bradley Gould stands out to me the most. He’s my right tackle and the kid is massive in size, nasty, strong, technical and only getting better every day. This dude has what it takes and is more than willing to prove it.  

Have you ever had a nickname? What is it?

-Throughout my life, I’ve had two real nicknames. “EJ” is the shorter, abbreviated version of Efrain junior, and is much easier to say for others that aren’t as familiar with the correct cultural pronunciation. My mother, and her only, gets to call me “Tator” because I guess I resembled a potato when I was little. 

What is your degree in, if you did not make it as a football player, what is your dream job?

-Currently I’m a justice major who was studying to go into law enforcement to hopefully, one day set a great example of what an ideal cop is supposed to look like. Recent circumstances has cause me to look more towards my other backup career choice. Coincidentally, I’m also a good artist and may want to pursue being a full time tattoo artist. It’s an ancient skill that is in high demand on every corner of the earth, I don’t have to break a sweat doing hard physical labor, and I can make hundreds of dollars an hour doing so. It’s also a much safer alternative than being a cop right now. 

What is your coolest life moment?

-When I was in high school, I was super fortunate to be able to raise enough money to travel to Australia and play football over there for a week. On our trip to Brisbane, we stopped at a zoo where I got to hold a baby koala. Although zoos are controversial, holding a koala is the coolest. They feel like cats made out of the carpet!

What song would you sing at Karaoke night?

-Dilemma by Nelly, Armed and Dangerous by Juice WRLD, or Chasin’ that Neon Rainbow by Alan Jackson.

If you could pick any actor to play you in a movie, who are you picking?

-Probably Channing Tatum since we are perfect look-alikes anyways. Seth Rogen has more of my personality though. 

Check out NFL Draft Diamonds 2021 Small School Rankings

Who is your favorite football team?

-The Baltimore Ravens!!!! BIG TRUSS!

If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

-Warning: If you aren’t his mom, girl, or coach, he doesn’t value your opinion, so don’t give it!

What is your biggest fear?

-My biggest fear is leaving this world knowing that I wasted my life. I want to make a difference while I’m here, one that lasts and influences as many people as possible, in only positive ways. We only have one life and I can’t waste it worrying about myself. 

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

-In my opinion, it’s Calais Campbell. The man is obviously a monster, I just think he needed the right culture to turn him up. He’s already done well with sorry teams, and I think he’s about to maul offensive players with the new change of brotherhood. He definitely has more valuable years ahead of him but people sleep on him because he’s a vet. 

Take us through game day, How do you prepare?

-It depends on what time the game is. Ideally, it’s a night one. I get my eight hours of sleep the night before and wake up at about 8:00 am. Immediately, I have to get in the shower, bless up and start getting hyped. I need a relatively big breakfast to hold me over until after the game, So while I’m making my heavy, but healthy breakfast, I’m going over plays and taking the time to go over any misunderstandings with my teammates. Throughout the day I hydrate like crazy and do a ton of stretching. From this point until we get ready, I listen to my “THINKS” playlist. These are songs that aren’t necessarily bangers, but get you into killer mode steadily throughout the day. These are songs that remind me of my purpose and commitment. I listen to those all the way up until it’s time to report, then I get ready while eating some light fruit to satisfy any hunger I may have. I’ll then switch up to my “I.D.G.T” playlist and get into my ideal mindset to go d-line hunting. 

Do you have any hobbies?

-I have many. In my free time I like to play video games, workout, paint, draw and I’m also currently an apprentice for my desired profession.  

If you had to compare yourself to someone in the NFL, who would that be?

-It would have to be the best, OG Marshall Yanda or Richie Incognito. We are close to the same size and almost perfect remakes if we’re discussing attitude and aggression, but of course, I have much to work on. A slightly shorter Brandon Scherff is a good one too. 

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

-The biggest influence on my life has to be my little sister, Ginny Marie. By the time she was 18, she already had 18 surgeries performed on her for many different underlying medical conditions. The girl is a fighter for sure and she inspires me to overcome any amount of pain for my overall happiness. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make her life easier. 

What motivates you to work hard?

-Losers do. I was never a popular kid and I struggled to make friends for a long while. I was extremely overweight and didn’t have the financial means to enjoy the same thing that others got to. I got called names like that because I wasn’t what others wanted me to be. People treated me differently because of things that weren’t in my control, so I set out to be a winning loser. I wanted to create an outstanding life for myself and my people by doing what I wanted to, regardless of how little the cool kids believed in me. I work hard because I am the face of every “loser” that ever was. I represent the winning heart that we supposedly don’t have and one day, this loser will win.