2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Kemari Averett, TE, Bethune-Cookman University

• Name: Kemari Averett
• Position: TE
• College: Bethune-Cookman University
• Height: 6’6″
• Weight: 253 lbs
• Twitter: @solid_mari
• Instagram: @_hardbody1k

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

I never thought I’d play football. I played basketball at first until one day, my uncle’s friend came over and asked if we wanted to play football. My uncle signed us up. We went to football practice the next day, and a couple of weeks later, we got our equipment. On my first day, I was running, and someone tripped me. I wanted to fight, but the coach had different plans, instead he made us tackle. I made the boy cry and ever since then I have fallen in love with football.

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

I bring a winning mentality. I’m the guy who gets everyone’s blood pumping, the motivator, the heart of the offense!

What are you looking forward to in your upcoming season?

With the pieces we added, I believe we can get a ring. That’s our team’s biggest goal! All this work this off-season I’ve put in will be the best I’ve ever been in my career. This is the hardest I’ve worked any off season of my college career.

What is your favorite route and why?

Option route is pretty much the best route because it’s a route to hook in/hook out or break-in/break out or even take in through the middle! That’s a pretty good route because that’s something you can control.

What sets you apart from other tight ends?

My ability to be able to run block/ pass block while also being able to flex out run routes and catch as if I am a receiver!

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

I would choose to hang out with Shannon Sharpe because he’s a tight end that was very successful in the league. He also played at an HBCU, so being able to hang out and chop it up with Shannon, I know he would give some good advice on what I could improve in my game and how to maintain it to get drafted!

How do you prepare for games?

I prepare early in the week by watching film with the QB and seeing what coverages we will get and what blitz packages are coming that week. After watching more film, I evaluate my opponents to see what type of guy I’m going against. I look at his strengths and weaknesses. By the time of the game, I’m already prepared and ready to go!

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

My faith in God is very strong. As you may know, I’ve been through a lot in life, but by having faith in God and doing right by him, I will always be successful on and off the field.

What do you think are the keys to success on the football field?

Knowing the game of football is the best key to success on the field! Knowing coverages, fronts, and your entire playbook, the game will come slow to you!

What would a team get in a player like you?

A team will get a young man that’s been through so much in his life he will do anything to become successful, a young man who has made sacrifices, a young man who was abandoned but was still able to come out on top! They will also get a strong, hard-working, talented young man ready to shock everybody who doubted him.

What teammates go up against you the hardest in practice?

Man, I can honestly say my entire defense. The defense always goes 100 percent against me, so we can all get better no matter what period it is. It will always be competition! Guys challenge me even in the weight room, but I love it because it gets us better as a unit!

What should we know about Kemari Averett the person?

People should know that I am a great person despite what they may have seen. I’m the guy who rebuilt my family tree and bounced back when times got hard. I’m the guy that graduated with a bachelor’s degree, which is the first out of my entire family. I have faced adversity many times and dealt with depression for years. I share my story with other young athletes to help prevent them from going through something similar. I like spending time giving back to the community by feeding and donating clothes to the homeless. I am a great father to my son and try to be the best teammate I can be to my team and coaches. People should know that I will achieve success no matter what it takes. I don’t do it for myself but for my son and younger brothers, who look up to me.