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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jonathan Rijo, OL, Lincoln University of PA

Lincoln University offensive lineman Jonathan Rijo is a big boy with great feet
Lincoln University offensive lineman Jonathan Rijo is a big boy with great feet

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?

Jonathan Rijo

What is your Height/Weight?

6’2 308Ls

What is your position?

OL

Where do you play college football?

The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

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

On my last trip to the Dominican Republic, which is were my parents are from, I introduced the sport of football to some young kids that were watching me train.

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

Statistics hands down!

Where are you from?

I am from Queens New York

Who is your role model, and why?

My mother is my role model. I have never seen a person get through so much adversity in their life, and never quit.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yes, before football my 1st love and main focus was baseball. Started playing that when I was 3.

Did you play any other positions in football?

When I was younger I played Fullback. Most of my high school career I play Defensive line.

At your position, what separates you from others?

My heart, being that I’m undersized the dog in me has to always be bigger then the man in front of me.

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

I always look at the alignment of who ever is in the box. Defensive players tend to always have a bad habitat of tipping off their moves.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Jose Blanks from VA Union. Guy was very smart, and athletic. We went at it all game.  

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

Jason Peters from the Eagles. When I’m on the island at tackle I can dance pretty good.

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

The knee injury I sustained my Junior year. Coming off surgery and getting my mind and body right was one of the hardest things to overcome. It only made me stronger, and grow more love for the game.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I 1st Pray and thank the Lord for my blessings. After that I hear some music and zone out.

What is your biggest strength?

Putting my time 1st and making sacrifices for my team.

What is your biggest weakness?

Not being a good enough vocal leader

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

I am a team player, a positive vibe in the locker room. I play with a leave it all on the field mindset.

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

Ray Lewis, loved the way he played, and his energy on and off the field.

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

Malcolm X , Bob Marley, Gandhi

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

Massive land in the Dominican Republic, and build a home for my parents, and a American Football academy.

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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