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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Austin Apodaca, QB, University of New Mexico

Austin Apodaca has a big arm and can make plays with his feet
Austin Apodaca has a big arm and can make plays with his feet

NFL Draft Diamonds has been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the 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 the prospect!!!!

What is your name?

Austin Apodaca

What is your Height/Weight?

6’3″ 210 lbs

What is your position?

QB

Where do you play college football?

University of New Mexico

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

I’ve had the honor to help with Special Olympics every year in college. I love helping other people and I always learn a lot from the awesome competitors in Special Olympics. It is amazing to see how much the athletes love their respective sport and the passion they have for competing!

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

The hardest college class I’ve had to take was a Kinesiology class. I had to memorize basically all of the human body parts and give their specific functions. 

Where are you from?

I’m from Longmont, Colorado. 

Who is your role model, and why?

My dad is my role model because his first priority is helping other people. He is a high school football and baseball coach and a teacher and he cares for his players and students more than anyone I know. He’s very passionate about what he does. 

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

I also played baseball and basketball growing up. 

Did you play any other positions in football?

I’ve only played QB. 

At your position, what separates you from others?

At the QB position as far as intangibles go, my leadership and knowledge of the game separates me from others. I know how to rally my teammates and I believe I always make the people around me better. I also know the game very well as I am a coach’s son and understand the game and have a high football IQ.  My anticipation separates me from others because I know how plays are going to develop. 

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

When I’m breaking down film, the two main things I look for are the defensive schemes we are going to see and also personnel tendencies. You can get a lot of information or the defense from watching a players tendencies. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest player I have ever faced was Trent Murphy at Stanford. 

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

One player in the NFL that I would compare myself to is Derek Carr. Physically we are of similar size, but I think my game most resembles his because he is an accurate passer, understands the game extremely well, is a great leader and can keep plays alive when he needs to. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I pray before every game and I like to play catch and run routes with some of the equipment managers. It gives me a chance to get to know them more and get the blood flowing a little more before a game.

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength is that I can make any throw on the field. I can throw it hard and I can also put touch on the ball, and I feel I can be accurate on any throw asked of me. 

aaaWhat is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness is being consistent on my footwork for every drop I take. 

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

I would say that I’m a guy that will always make everyone around me better and that I can make every throw on the field. 

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

My favorite player growing up was John Elway and my favorite team was the Broncos. 

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

The three people I would choose to have dinner with would be Jesus, Conor McGregor and Will Ferrell. 

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

The first big item I would buy would be a black on black Dodge Ram 2500. 

Rapid Answers

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Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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