2022 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Tyler Pritchett, OL, Faulkner University

• Name: Tyler Pritchett
• Position: OL
• College: Faulkner University 
• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 315 lbs
• Twitter: @tpera75

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

My dad was a D1 basketball player and I kind of always saw myself being able to play basketball since I was little but I remember watching the USC vs. Texas national Championship game and fell in love with the game and haven’t looked back since.

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

My mindset on the field is controlled aggression. What that means for me is not just win my rep but dominate him and make him feel me. But do it intelligently think and play the game within the game. I have a chip on my shoulder because I came from ACC ball to NAIA I have to win there is no other option.

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

If I had to chose just one I would say Ryan Jensen. I watch his highlights and full games from Tampa Bay and Baltimore over and over I love the way he plays. He plays so smart and with a by any means demeanor. I would love to see how he goes about his though process as a center because that may be what I end up playing at the next level. 

4.)What role do you hope to have if you make it into the NFL?

It’s been a dream of mine to play in the NFL since I was 7 I’d be blessed to have any role but I want to be a guy that the coaches, owners and my teammates can count on. Nothing is given in this world so I plan on going in working my behind off and proving to any of the 32 teams that your team is better with me on the field.

5.)What is your favorite workout?

My favorite workout is anything on the field working on my different pass sets, run game steps as a guard and center I just feel at home when I’m on the field doesn’t matter what I have going on off the field it’s like my safe haven I guess you could say.

6.)What sets you apart from other offensive linemen?

The things that sets me apart from other lineman are my work ethic. I’ve always felt like and underdog even with my time at Carolina and especially now. I love this game so much and the beautiful thing about it is you get in what you put in I’ve always tried to live by that. So I work my behind off to get to the goal I dreamed of. The other thing that I think sets me apart is I feel like a lot of guys are cocky when they get to this stage of getting ready to pursue their dreams and not willing to continue to learn. You never stop learning doesn’t matter who the knowledge is coming from you have to continue to learn new tricks of the trade, when you stop learning you stop growing as a person and a player. I feel like I know a lot from my experience playing, but I’m still hungry and eager to learn as well as being my biggest critic.

7.)How do you prepare for games?

You watch film all week of course, but I like to go through my blitz cut ups and situational cutups even more so the day before a game. I prioritize learning the other players skill set and moves in the earlier part of the week and then work toward the situational stuff towards the end of the week. The night before I sleep with a gallon of water by my bed and carry that with me the day of the game as well as drinking the water the whole week. And day of I have a little playlist on YouTube of NFL guys highlights I watch about an hour or two prior to the game as well as listen to music. Ten or fifteen minutes before we run out I say my prayers and thank God for letting me be able to do what I love and go ball. 

8.)What are your favorite things about playing football for Faulkner University?

My favorite thing about playing at Faulkner has got to be my relationships I have with my teammates and coaches. I try and be the best leader I can be for the guys and be the guy that my teammates come to when they are having problems whether it’s on or off the field and help mediate things between the coaches. We can only go as far as the TEAM takes us not INDIVIDUALS and I want us to be holding up that trophy when it’s all said and done. 

9.)What type of energy do you bring onto the football field?

Those closest to know I’m a positive person and the guy that if I see you having a bad day I’m gonna make you laugh. Every time I take the field I know it’s a blessing to still be here doing what I love how can I not be excited and attack everyday! I’ve lost  friends that are no longer with us, so I know it’s a blessing to be here and I still have all my dreams and goals right in front of me so yeah I’m gonna be excited whether it’s practice or a game. Ask any of my coaches or teammates here at Faulkner I yell positivity every day at practice no matter what kind of day I’m having I want my teammates to have that same excitement I do. I also feel like I’m a calming presence when things are not going right for us as an offense whether it’s practice or a game. I encourage my teammates because I know I can’t do it all by myself I need my teammates just like they need me to be successful.

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

When a team drafts me they will get a guy who genuinely loves the game. Because of that I’m going to attack everyday with the mentality of getting 1% better each day no matter how the day starts you will get someone that finishes stronger. They will get a physical lineman who tries to finish people on every play and they will get someone who can be physical but think the game from all 5 positions on the line.

11.) What has been your biggest challenge in life?

I have had a lot of challenges in my life, from coming from Fairfield, Alabama where a lot of people don’t make it out, to having 4 of my closest friends dying, to the struggles that we had as a family. I think losing my friends has to be one the biggest that hurt me deep and still effects me to this day and not a day goes by where I don’t think about them. But God brought me through all of this how can I not be happy and thank him on the daily. All of these things have made me who I am today. 

12.) What are you looking forward to in your upcoming season?

I’m looking forward to us winning the first conference title in 7 years at Faulkner and making a run at the national championship an always thinking about what my future holds in the NFL and I work everyday for that but right now I’m all in with my guys at Faulkner we are going through a coaching change and I know I need to continue to be a leader for this team especially but we have faith in coach Gray and what he’s going to do with this program this upcoming season so we have a couple goals to accomplish and I can’t wait for camp to get back started with the guys. Whatever happens after that is in God’s hands I’ll just control what I can control and put it on film.