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2021 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jack Crane, K, Wake Forest University

Jack Crane Wake Forest NFL Draft 2021 NFL Draft
Jack Crane the standout kicker from Wake Forest University recently joined NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot for this interview.
  • Name: Jack Crane
  • Position: Placekicker
  • College: Washington State University (2016-2020) / Wake Forest University (2020-2021)
  • Height: 6’2”
  • Weight: 200lbs
  • Twitter: @Jack_Crane2

Right now, people are not talking about you the way I feel they should. Do you feel you are an underdog?

  • I definitely feel like an underdog. As a placekicker, it is very important to have college film in order to play in the NFL. I, however, do not have college film for field goals. I have been a kickoff specialist for five years. I have sat behind some very good kickers which has not allowed me the chance to kick field goals in a game. This gives me a serious disadvantage when it comes to the NFL. However, I believe I have the talent to play with the best, and given the chance, I believe I will succeed at the next level.

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

  • The NFL should know about how much of a competitor and hard worker I am. I have strived to perfect my craft for 5 years and believe I demonstrated that on my Pro Day. When the moment comes, I will perform and that is what matters most.

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?

  • If I could donate to one cause, it would be for mental health disorder research. I had a friend at Washington State who committed suicide due to mental illness. I do not want others to feel so helpless that suicide is the answer.

Who was your childhood hero?

  • My childhood hero was my father. He was and has been my role model ever since I was a kid. I have always strived to be like him, and it is always a competition between us. He always pushes me to be my best self.

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school

  • The most underrated teammate that I have at Wake Forest would be Kenneth Dicks. He is a cornerback who could probably play any position on the field. He has been riddled with injuries which is part of the reason many people do not know about him. He is going to be a fantastic player and will continue to develop into his role on the team.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

  • My biggest pet peeve is when people complain about things that are under their control. If something annoys you enough to talk about it to other people, then why not do something to change it yourself. I am a caring guy who appreciates listening, but when someone shows complacency and complains over little things, it gets on my nerves because it shows a lack of motivation. 

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?

  • The hardest moment of my life was when my friend committed suicide sophomore year of college. As a teammate and friend, you would think that you would be able to see the signs. However, sometimes it is more complicated than that. Being blindsided with such shocking news was something unlike anything else I have ever experienced. While there is no getting over the morning of his passing, there is clarity in knowing that continuing my passion for football as was his that I am carrying on his legacy. This adversity has pushed me to work harder and develop a calloused mind which many people do not have. Handling difficult situations has become a strength of mine and defines a lot of my character.

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

  • Something that I love about Wake Forest is the coaching staff. They are extremely genuine and want to develop a personal relationship with you. What many student-athletes fail to realize is that college football is a business, and that is the way coaches view it. At Wake Forest, the coaches value you as a person and not just a player. In my opinion, this positive environment drives results and provides for a healthy locker room. 

What is your favorite snack food?

  • My favorite snack food would be Cheez-Its. At Washington State, going to the Cheez-It Bowl was awesome because we got a free box of Cheez-Its.

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say

  • I have one of the strongest legs in the draft class, being able to demonstrate this ability over the past 5 years as a kickoff specialist but more importantly, I can succeed as a field goal kicker due to my diligent hard work which I showed at my Wake Forest Pro Day.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be?

  • I would compare myself to Harrison Butker from the Chiefs. This is because he has a huge leg and I believe we have very similar form when it comes to kicking, both on field goals and kickoffs. 

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?

  1. Kobe Bryant: such a large outreach platform that would be an amazing experience to gain insight from and hear about his philanthropic life. 
  2. Warren Buffet: because of his array of knowledge on the stock market. Would be greatly appreciated if he could share his stock wits with me and fill me in on how he became the biggest stock market, wiz, to date.
  3. Elon Musk: seems like a very down-to-earth guy. Would love to hear about his upbringing and how he got started in electric vehicles. 

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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