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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jamal Merritt, DB, University of Albany

Albany safety Jamal Merritt is a good player
Albany safety Jamal Merritt is a good player

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? 

I’m Jamal Merritt

What is your Height/Weight? 

I’m 6’0, 205

What is your position? 

I Play Safety.

Where do you play college football? 

University at Albany

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

I went to the YMCA to talk to elementary school students to share some words of wisdom with a couple of my teammates. We also played dodge ball and had a water balloon fight with the Kids to inspire them to be like us one day. Seeing that smile on their faces might have been the coolest thing I ever done.

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

Calculus by far.

Where are you from? 

Silver Spring , MD

Who is your role model, and why? 

My Parents because they work hard to get me where I’m at.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Growing up I played Basketball.

Did you play any other positions in football? 

In high School I played just about every position but line. In college while I attended the University of New Mexico I was able to play WR, CB and SS. 

At your position, what separates you from others?

 I have high instincts on the field I read formation and alignments pre snap. This gives me an idea of what to expect on the play.

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

When I look at film I look for the QB, personnel tendencies, hand signal gestures, etc. I also look for the go to WR. Then I start to look for key plays they like to call on certain down and distances.

jamal meWho was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Joe Adams

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

Ed Reed, I always find myself around the ball.

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

I tore my ACL my second year in college. Staying positive and hard work helped me to overcome a minor setback.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I listen to “R.I.P” by Fat Trel and “Get up on my level” by Kevin Gates on repeat. And when I take the field I say a prayer in the Endzone before the game.

What is your biggest strength? 

Attacking the ball (Ball Hawk)

What is your biggest weakness? 

Locking in on QB eyes

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

I wanted this ever since I was six years old. You can count on me, I’ll do anything in my will to get the job done. I never make the same mistake twice I’m a student of the game. I will also help other around me by bring positive vibes. I like to think of myself as an emotional leader and teammates feed off of my energy.

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

Sean Taylor #21 Redskins.

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

Jay- Z, Oprah Winfrey, Martin Lawrence

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

The first big item I’ll buy once I’m in the NFL will be for my mother she get whatever she wants.

Rapid Answers:

  • Tupac or Biggie?
  • NFL Network or ESPN?
  • Coke or Pepsi?
  • Pizza or Burgers?
  • Dogs or Cats?

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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