NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jake Wieneke, WR, South Dakota State

What is your name? 

Jake Wieneke

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’4″

What is your position? 

Wide Receiver

Where do you play college football? 

South Dakota State University

Where are you from? 

Maple Grove, MN

Who is your role model, and why? 

My dad, he showed me what is means to be selfless. Everything he does is done out of love for other people. He has a special way of building up the people around him to make them feel important. Whether I fail or succeed, he is the first one I look to. He has impacted so many people’s lives and I want to be just like him.

Who was your favorite teacher?

Mr. Carlson. He was my high school physical education teacher. I couldn’t wait to get to his class everyday. He was always telling jokes and smiling and making everyone feel comfortable to be themselves. Every student knew he cared about them and that he wanted them to be the best they could be.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Growing up I played every sport I could. I played football, basketball, soccer, baseball, track, even a little bit of hockey. I have always loved playing sports, whether it be a pickup game in the backyard or an organized sport, I was constantly playing sports.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Probably CJ Smith from NDSU and Davontae Harris from Illinois State. They were both very smart and were always a tough matchup. CJ Smith was fast and could play physical as well. Davontae Harris was a physical corner who could tackle in space and can run with anybody. It was always fun to line up against those guys. Also Dylan Cole from Missouri State. Even though he was a linebacker and never guarded me, his presence was known on the defense and it seemed like he was everywhere on the field.

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

Jake Menage. I have so much respect for him because of who he is as a man. He is a light for our team. He does more for our team than most people realize. One thing that sets Jake Menage apart from the rest of this world is his attitude. He wakes up everyday and thinks about how he is going to make a difference in this world. He has impacted not only our football team, but our whole community. He is teaching at a local school, he has volunteered in many youth camps, and he is a role model to every kid and person in Brookings. For the people that know Jake Menage, they know that when he does something, he is doing it for a greater purpose than just himself. He is the perfect teammate, friend, and mentor.

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

Blessings by Lecrae

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

AJ Green. I feel like we have similar bodies and styles of play. I love the way he plays and little things he does to get open and make catches. He is a complete receiver and I have learned a lot from watching him play.

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

Not being heavily recruited out of school made me doubt if I could really play college football. I was blessed to get the opportunity to play at South Dakota State and be a part of a great program.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

The only pre-game ritual I have is that I pray before every game.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

When we played Western Illinois this year Marquise Lewis took a bubble screen 50 yards for a TD. All week during practice he kept telling me that if they threw the bubble he was going to house it. When we finally threw it, he did what he said.

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

Leading a youth group at a local church for the past couple years has been one of the coolest experiences I could ever ask for. It has been so much fun to watch these young men grow up into men of God. Seeing the joy in their hearts is truly a blessing and I am so grateful to be a part of their lives.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up? 

Minnesota Vikings. I am from Minnesota and I loved watching Randy Moss growing up.

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

My Mom, my Dad, and Jesus. There is a certain peace that I have whenever I am with my mom and dad so I love any chance I get to be with them. And to have a meal with Jesus is the best thing I could ever imagine.