NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Tyler Adrian, OL, Jacksonville University

What is your name? 

Tyler Adrian

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’6” 285 pounds

What is your position?

Offensive Tackle/ Guard

Where do you play college football? 

Jacksonville University

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

I was able to coach the local pop warner youth football team in high school. It didn’t seem like a big deal until I watched kids that I had formally coached grow up and follow in my foot steps as a college athlete. It really hit me when they would come to me and ask for advice. That is an unexplainable feeling that you can only know if you’ve felt it before

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

Motor Behavior. It was the study of the brain’s control over body’s the central and peripheral nervous systems

Where are you from? 

Venice, Florida

Who is your role model, and why? 

My dad. He built a very successful company that I am envious of, with nothing but hard work and determination. He was up every morning at 6 am and instilled an attitude in me that nothing will be handed to me and I will have to work hard if I want to be successful in my life.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Baseball was my first love. I played it from 4 years old up until junior year of high school

Did you play any other positions in football? 

I actually didn’t play offensive line until fall camp of my senior season of high school. Up until that point I had played tight end, defensive line, and outside linebacker

At your position, what separates you from others? 

My explosiveness and knowledge of the game

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

I look for any tips that the defender will give me to hint at either an inside move, blitz, or stunt. Most defenders change their body position or alignment in some way, shape, or form before a blitz or stunt without even realizing it

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Terence Fede. Defensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins

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

Taylor Lewan. Both physical size and athleticism, as well as an anything to win mentality

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

The biggest obstacle I have faced is being 207 pounds as a senior in high school and being told I wasn’t big enough nor good enough to play football at the next level. In order to overcome that I spent hours and hours every day in the gym and started eating like a mad man. I kept faith in myself and worked diligently to become the best offensive lineman I could

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

Me and my best friends on the team play a game that we invented called “Walk Ball” after the team walk through on Friday night. It’s a form of fat man football where you can only walk and there is no jumping allowed. It was a weekly reminder of how much I truly love football and that in the end, the game is supposed to be fun

What is your biggest strength? 

My ability to bring a team together. I made it my goal to become friends both on and off the field with every player and coach on my team and in my mind I succeeded in that aspect. I also took over as the pre-game motivational speaker for the team and the last thing we, as a team, said before every game was, “Dolphins For Life!”

What is your biggest weakness? 

My biggest weakness when I watch myself on film is on occasion losing my base and getting high in my pad level

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

I would say that the last thing you want as a GM is another individual. Bring me on to your team and not only will you get a fantastic talent, but you will get a team player that will instantly bring the team chemistry through the roof

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

Growing up as a kid I was a huge Michael Vick fan

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

My grandpa, Don Shula, and Will Ferrell

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

A California King bed. I love my sleep but I have just about had it with my feet hanging off the end