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2021 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jacob Fuqua, LS, University of Alabama-Birmingham

Jacob Fuqua UAB NFL Draft 2021 Interview
UAB longsnapper Jacob Fuqua recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot. Check out his interview.
  • Name: Jacob Fuqua
  • Position: Long Snapper
  • College: UAB
  • Height: 6’2 1/3
  • Weight: 238
  • Twitter: @FuquaJacob

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

–       I am a long snapper. Snappers don’t get recognition if were doing well so I would say long snappers are underdogs as a whole. But to me being an underdog isn’t a bad thing, it means I have more to prove and more to strive for. I see it as having a chip on my shoulder to keep working hard to be the best. 

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

–       I love to compete and love being a Football player. I’m not afraid to get down and dirty when I need to. I encourage tough football play and enjoy the physicality of the game. 

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

–       If I could donate to one cause, it would be Alzheimer’s and Dementia research. When my Grandad passed away, he had Dementia and it was extremely hard seeing him with it. I would donate to help find a cure or something that will help those with the diseases. I wouldn’t want anyone to see a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s. 

Who was your childhood hero? 

–       My Grandad was definitely my childhood hero. He was always there to teach me any and everything he knew. He was a very wise man who gave his all for my sister, brother and I. 

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

–       The most underrated player I would say is TD Marshall. He transferred in as a WR a few years back and has played all over the field for us. He moved to Corner and has dominated the position in my mind. He just a natural athlete who gives it his all and can play anywhere you want him to. 

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

–       My biggest pet peeve would have to be being messy. I can’t stand a mess. I’m a person who is very organized and pick up so me and messes don’t mix well. 

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

–       One of the hardest moments in my life in relation to football that I had to overcome was probably losing my starting role on punt right before the 2017 season. I had messed up in practice and there was no denying it. But I kept my head down and worked hard and earned it back the following spring. There are other sides to that story but losing my spot made me work hard to become a better snapper and it payed off in the long run. I wouldn’t change what happened because it helped me to work for it which made playing that much sweeter. 

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

–       UAB is a very special school to me for a few reasons. One being that not many College programs have come from the dead like UAB has. We came from nothing almost with facilities that were the worst in the nation and a grass field that had a ten-foot incline. The way the city of Birmingham rallied behind UAB to bring the program back was incredible. We have amazing facilities and a work ethic to constantly produce and give back to the city that gave us life again. 

–       Another thing I would say is special about UAB is the people. It really is a family from top to bottom. I have meet some lifelong friends who I will always be close with and I met my Fiancé there so it will always hold a special place in our hearts because it brought us together. 

What is your favorite snack food? 

–       My favorite snack food is Peanut M&M’s. They are very addicting, they’re the only candy I eat. 

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

–       If I could say one sentence to an NFL team I would say, I am a quick learner and a hard worker who loves to compete to earn an opportunity. 

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

–       That is a tough question. As a long snapper you want to perform and do your job well. Not many long snappers stick out because they do their job well, that’s basically the description of our position, to do our job well and be anonymous. 

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

–       If I could have dinner with three people, it would be 

  1. My Grandad- He was my hero and I remember us talking about my future and I would want to talk with him again and tell him how much I love and miss him and tell him how my life is going. 
  2. My Grandma (Moms Mom)- She passed away when my mom was a teenager and I have heard nothing but amazing things about her. I would like to meet her and get to know her a little bit. 
  3. Abraham Lincoln- I love history and he was the president who restored the Union. It would be intriguing to understand what his take on today’s America would be. 

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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