NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Julian Gener, LB, University of Hawaii
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?
Julian Austin Gener
What is your Height/Weight?
5’11 228
What is your position?
Linebacker
Where do you play college football?
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?
Most recently, I moved out my apartment in Hawaii gave my neighbors pretty much everything that was in our apartment. They not doing well financially at all and this makes things easier for them.
What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?
College statistics freshmen year.
Where are you from?
West Covina, California
Who is your role model, and why?
My role model in life is my father Javier Gener. Inspires me to work as hard he has since I’ve been born. He has gotten through all my ups and downs in many different ways. He is the reason why I push so hard when I play and work.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Soccer and Baseball.
Did you play any other positions in football?
All special teams
At your position, what separates you from others?
I believe that my knowledge of the game. I have a good understanding of what is going on the field and why you need to be doing your job. Just a flat out determination to get to the ball.
When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?
It really depends on what the purpose of the film study is. Normally I start by looking at formations and see what the top three plays of run and pass. I look for the tendencies also in the down and distance.
Who was the toughest player you ever faced?
Donnel Pumphrey SDSU
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?
I would have to say Mychal Kendricks. I love the way he plays. He has an extreme motor that never quits. He is the leader of their defense and that’s how I see myself. He is a bit short for the position but he never lets them stop.
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
Tough question. Honestly I think the struggles of dealing with back to back injuries throughout my college career.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I always need to be calm before a game. I make sure to listen as many slow and love songs to keep me in a calm good mood.
As a small school football player what obstacles do you feel you have to overcome?
Well I think that my tape will speak for itself. I know my height will hold me back and some work on physical point of attack.
What is your biggest strength?
Intelligence on the football field, read blocking schemes quickly, nose for the football
What is your biggest weakness?
Height, fix some technique work during man coverage, more physical at the point of attack on blockers/
If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?
Just let him know the things that I have listed about my strength and weaknesses. The type of player that I believe I am. Just be honest with him because in the NFL there are no secrets, they will find everything out about you. Basically just give him a good impression of who I am and the player I can be.
Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?
Ray Lewis. Watching all of his videos on Youtube and seeing him dominate week in and out.
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
Tupac, Jesus, and Sean Taylor
What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?
A nice house that some of my family can live in.
Rapid Answers:
- Tupac or Biggie?
- NFL Network or ESPN?
- Coke or Pepsi?
- Pizza or Burgers?
- Dogs or Cats?
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