NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: AJ Hampton, LB, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

NFL Draft Diamonds and our staff have been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 2 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. We have tons of NFL staff that read our interviews, and we actually received several of the questions from NFL scouts we speak too. This gives them a little bit more information regarding your character. We hope to bring you more than 300 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.

What is your name?

Albert Anthony Hampton Jr. (AJ)

What is your Height/Weight?

6′ 1″ 240 lbs

What is your position?

Inside/outside linebacker

Where do you play college football?

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

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

I feel like the coolest thing I have done is inspired my little brother and other youngsters under me to work hard in sports as well as off the field.

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

Organic Chemistry or Differential Equations

Where are you from?

Grew up in Kalamazoo, MI and then Nashville, TN

Who is your role model, and why?

My grandparents are my role models, they have been married 50+ years and are very selfless people who believe in my aspirations.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

First gymnastics..then soccer, baseball, basketball, wrestling.

Did you play any other positions in football?

I was a running back in high school

At your position, what separates you from others?

My speed, vision, and size

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

I look for key plays, pullers, standout players, route patterns, and trick plays

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest player I have faced would either be Dalvin Cook out of Florida State University or Eli Jenkins from Jacksonville State University

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

I would say Luke Kuechly because of his sideline to sideline speed and ability to get to the ball as well as being a good leader.

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

Not getting a D1 scholarship out of high school was a huge obstacle but I overcame it by walking on and earning a scholarship

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I like to find my mom and little brother in the stands and hydrate up 

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength would have to be my athletic abilities and work ethic 

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness would have to be jumping a wrong gap or reading a play wrong

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

I would say that I am very hardworking and goal oriented. I have overcame adversity on many occasions and have been patient enough at each level to wait for my opportunity to show my abilities.

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

My favorite player growing up was Barry Sanders

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

I would have dinner with Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis, and Luke Kuechly. ..great group of LBs

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

A new car

Rapid Answers:

• Tupac or Biggie?
• NFL Network or ESPN?
• Coke or Pepsi? Neither / water
• Pizza or Burgers?
• Dogs or Cats?