NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Giuliano Cattaneo, OL, Texas State University

NFL Draft Diamonds has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible player. We hope to bring you more than 350 interviews of NFL Draft Prospects this season. You will be able to track them all on the front page of our website in the banner to the right.  Now let’s meet our next prospect!!!!

What is your name?

Giuliano Cattaneo

What is your Height/Weight?

6’2.5 295

What is your position?

Center

Where do you play college football?

Texas State University.

Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?

Over the summer we did a good amount of community service, and my favorite was helping out the community by planting plants and helping repair the areas that had been damaged by the flooding.

What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?

My hardest class would have to be International Economics

Where are you from?

I’m from Santa Rosa, California

Who is your role model, and why?

My role models would have to be both of my parents, everything they have sacrificed and done for my brother and I, and watching them build up our restaurant from scratch to a successful one, and just watching all the hard work they put in has helped me grow up faster and really learn to work hard

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yes, I played soccer and basketball growing up, and wrestled in high school

Did you play any other positions in football?

I have played everywhere on the O-Line

At your position, what separates you from others?

What separates me is my thought process and ability to breakdown a defense before the play and get everyone on the same page for each play

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

 When I’m breaking down film I look for defenses base schemes and blitz’s they run, and from there I break down individual players on how they like to play run/pass, and then I look for safety rotations on blitz, and linebacker/D-Line give a way on blitz

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Toughest player I played against had to be Ed Oliver from Houston, he was a very tough opponent and we had quite the battle the whole game

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

 I’d have to compare myself to Joey Hunt, we are similar size and I believe we play similar in the way as a more technical player

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

My biggest obstacle had to be my red-shirt freshman year when I ruptured my PCL 2 weeks before the first game. It was a tough injury to come back from and really reminded me how much I loved the game of football. I overcame it by just grinding through rehab and I believe it ended up helping me in the long-run

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Not really, I would just listen to music and go out and get some snaps with our Quarterback Tyler Jones before the game

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength would have to be my football knowledge and ability to make pre-snap reads and adjustments, and my pass protection, having longer arms really helps with creating separation in the pass game

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness would probably be blocking 2nd and 3rd level defenders, and finishing on them.

If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?

I would say I’m a player who not only brings football knowledge and can help you on the field, but you would be bringing in a player with a great head on his shoulders and a person with great characteristics

Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?

My favorite player had to be Brett Favre I just loved to watch him play, and my favorite team is the 49ers

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

My Nonno, My Nonna and Steph Curry

What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?

My first big item I would buy is a house for my parents, just to give back to them for everything they have done for my brother and I