Free Agents

Draft Diamonds Free Agent Interview: Derek Parnell, Defensive Back

Derek Parnell
Derek Parnell the aggressive and playmaking Defensive Back free agent recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds writer Justin Berendzen.

Hello, I am @jrberendzen on Twitter and this is one of my free agent interviews where I ask very deserving free agents questions about the players themselves and about what a team would get in these players. All of these players should get picked up by NFL and CFL teams and get a shot at being a career football player. So I hope you all read this interview here and follow his journey on Twitter @Derek_jp

1.What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Winning the GNAC Championship last year for the first time in school history and winning my conference championship in HS.

2.What is your favorite stadium that you have played in?

Montana State, they have a great atmosphere there.

3.What is your mindset when you are on the football field?

To be a dog. I am not the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy out there but I make plays regardless. Doesn’t matter who I am covering or tackling. I’ve locked up 6’7 WRs and stood up 230lbs running backs. I like to model my game after Tyrann Mathieu and Bob Sanders and they were absolute dogs out there. I also like to be a leader to my teammates and act as a coach on the field so our defense runs smoothly and effectively.

Check out other Free Agent Interviews on Draft Diamonds

4.If your life was a tv show what would you call it and why?

Day in the Life of Derek Parnell

5.What do you do for fun?

Help train some local HS DB’s, workout, and play football. Football is my life.

6.Rank focus,footwork and skill in order of what is most important to you football wise and explain why?

1.) Focus
2.) Skill
3.) Footwork
You have to focus on anything you do if you want to do it right. Then comes skill cause I feel like if you are skilled you will have good footwork.

7.What has been your biggest challenge in life?

Seeing my dad get cancer. He has always been the rock in our family and that was very tough to get through. Especially because he got sick right before last season and I couldn’t go home to see him. But I play this game for my family and I ended up having my best season ever and one of the top seasons statistically in the nation. My dad was strong enough to come to watch my senior day game and that was huge. He demonstrates what a man should be and I hope to be as great as him one day.

8.What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

Watching Reggie Bush in college after I saw him play I knew football was the game for me.

9.What is your favorite workout?

Conditioning or squats. I love conditioning because I like to see how far I can push myself. I also like it because when players start to fade in games you can capitalize on that opportunity. I like squatting too, it’s my favorite lift.

10.What would a team get in a player like you?

Any team that gets me is getting the ultimate competitor. I love competition it drives me to be great. I am a player who makes plays and consistently does his job. I attribute my playmaking to being a film junkie and an instinctive player.

11.If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

Ed Reed definitely, I would want to pick his mind about everything football.

12.What do you hope to accomplish if you make it into the NFL?

Become an all-pro player and be recognized by my peers as a top-100 player.

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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