NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Troy Gahm, DE, Alma College

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?

Troy Gahm

What is your Height/Weight?

6’4″/240lbs

What is your position?

Defensive End

Where do you play college football?

Alma College (Alma, MI)

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

Delivered Thanksgiving dinners to families who would not have been able to put dinner on the table during the thanksgiving holiday.

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

Accounting. I am as far from an accountant as you could imagine.

Where are you from?

Gaylord, MI

Who is your role model, and why?

My Parents. From a young age, whether I’ve agreed with them or not, they’ve shown me how to carry myself and lead myself as a respectable individual in every aspect of life. As I get older, I see myself becoming my father everyday. Observing and learning how people treat others and react to certain situations, I’m so blessed to have been given such perfect role models to learn from.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Soccer, baseball and basketball

Did you play any other positions in football?

Tight End and Receiver in high school

At your position, what separates you from others?

With my size and height, I feel I have very good speed and quickness. I have very good hands and know how and when to use them against offensive tackles. Another aspect that separates me is being able to recognize how the tackle is set before the snap of the ball, knowing whether he is going to pass set, reach, down or base blocks me by where he is putting all of his weight.

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

Offensive tendencies based off packages, formations, personnel, down and distance how the tackles and o line are sitting, whether sitting more forwards, or backwards. Whether the quarterback sits on the pocket and checks down receivers, or if the QB does not find his first option, is he going to scramble out of the pocket and make a play on his own. Find out who the favorite receiver is are they a more quick game type of team (QS, Slants, Outs) = bull rush, her hands up to knock the ball down.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

In High School I played Jake Fisher, current OT for the Kansas City Chiefs.

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

Ezekiel Ansah, he is so good rushing the pass and always fights to get to the QB till the play is finished. Very good at keeping contain and shutting down the run when it comes to him.

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

The death of both of my grandmothers inside 2 weeks of each other while my father having serious surgery within those 2 weeks.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

First thing I do is tape my ankles, get my pants and cleats on and do my own warm up on the field for 20 minutes. My serious focusing time where I just play each play over in my head to prepare for what may happen in the game. Head phones in of course

What is your biggest strength?

My various different pass rush moves and speed for my size.

What is your biggest weakness?

My technique

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

There is nothing more important than the TEAM, so I will and can do anything that puts our success above mine. I take pride in bringing my 100% effort and focus to practice, film studies, lifting and games every single day. I love getting better and seeing my hard work reap its rewards. I like to compare myself to a sponge, any type of help or advice that I can get I absorb. I love to learn!! I WILL work harder than the guy next to, across and behind me.

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

2004 Philadelphia Eagles Defense

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

Abraham Lincoln, John Wooden, Jesus Christ.

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

I’m really not into material things, so I think I would do a little overseas traveling to several different countries with a couple of my best friends/family and do some donating to a couple of my favorite foundations.

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