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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Justin Traxinger, OT, Colorado School of Mines

 

Justin Traxinger is a monster, he is HUGE

NFL Draft Diamonds has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible 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 our next prospect!!!!

What is your name? 

Justin Traxinger

What is your Height/Weight?

6’7″ – 320 lb

What is your position?

Offensive Tackle

Where do you play college football?

Colorado School of Mines

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

I did volunteer work with my high school football team, which included: moving a Habitat for Humanity facility to a new location, and we helped restore the landscape and exterior of a foster care home in Longmont. 

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

Mechanics of Materials

Where are you from?

Longmont, CO

Who is your role model, and why? 

My father is my biggest role model. He has shown me how to work hard to be successful and taught me to enjoy the little things in life. 

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played baseball, basketball, and participated in track and field. 

Did you play any other positions in football?

I have played all positions across the O Line, and also played tight end, defensive end, and defensive tackle. 

At your position, what separates you from others?

My work ethic and my ability to overcome adversity separates me from others. The tough academics combined with being an athlete really showed me what hard work is and how much is needed to be successful. It also gave me the opportunities to face adversity head on, keep a positive attitude, and overcome. 

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

I look for tendencies that my opponent has that gives away what they are going to do. Little things like hand placement, or how their weight is distributed in their stance. Also to see how the defense aligns to give away how they are going to pressure. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Zach Sieler (All-American Defensive End, Ferris St)

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

Nate Solder is a player that I like to watch film on, and try to mimic his game. He is also a Colorado native, and he is very successful at the Tackle position. 

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

One big obstacle was going from academically being a little bit of a slacker in high school to trying to get an engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines. I wanted to quit many times, but I just kept grinding, never gave up, and I had a lot of great teammates who helped me along the way. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I always play MARIO Kart 64 with my teammates the night before a game. Doing stuff like that helps me clear my mind and stay relaxed. 

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength is my length and my ability to play smart (avoid dumb penalties, read the defense, read my opponent)

What is your biggest weakness?

Playing in division 2, my competition level is less than players at larger schools. 

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

I will be one of the hardest workers on the team. I demand perfection from myself, and I am always very coachable to help myself improve. It might not always be perfect, but I will always find a way to win my battles on the field. 

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

Being a Colorado Native I was a Broncos fan growing up. 

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
  1. Peyton Manning – he is a genius when it comes to football knowledge, just to learn a little bit about the game from him would be an honor. 
  2. Thomas Edison – it would be interesting to talk to him about how far electricity and technology have come. 
  3. Chris Farley – In my opinion, the greatest comedian of all time. It would be a fun dinner with lots of laughs.

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

I traded my truck for a hybrid car to save money on gas. I would love to have a truck again. 

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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