NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Austin Barnard, P/K, Samford University

What is your name? 

Austin Barnard

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’4″ 210 lbs

What is your position? 

Punter/kicker

Where do you play college football? 

Samford university

Where are you from? 

Fayetteville, GA

Who is your role model, and why? 

My dad because he is the man I hope to be like when I am older.

Who was your favorite teacher?

Emily hynds, she was my calculus 2 and linear algebra professor

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Yes, I grew up playing soccer and basketball as well

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Mike Hilton used to return punts and kicks in high school for sandy creek and is now a defensive back for the Steelers

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

One of our linebackers Aaron Harris, he is a back up behind our best defensive player but when he’s in the game, he makes plays.

What is the one song that would fire you up before the biggest game of your life? 

Dreams and nightmares by meek mill

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

Matt Bosher, I feel like we have similar form and similar past experiences

What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it? 

My biggest obstacle would have been the period of time that I was at the university of Miami. I say that was my biggest obstacle because during that time I learned a lot and matured a lot. I overcame it by adapting to the new environment, staying grounded in my faith and myself, and fighting through every day.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I try to have the same warm up jog, leg swings, and drop drills but it is not 100% certain. I’m not a very ritualistic guy.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

I would say my junior year (redshirt sophomore year) we were playing western Carolina and I had 3 punts I believe inside the 5 which helped the team keep them deep in their end zone and win the game.

What is the coolest thing you ever did off the field for someone else?

My dad and I went to a battered women’s shelter and helped patch some of their wall

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up? 

Atlanta Falcons because I live just South of Atlanta

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose? 

Jesus, Marcus Luttrell, and Ellen Degeneres