NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Sean Marinan, DL, University of Connecticut

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?

Sean Marinan Jr

What is your Height/Weight?

6′ 292lbs

What is your position?

Defensive Line

Where do you play college football?

University of Connecticut

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

I have done several things in terms of giving back by using my status as a football player.  However, the one that I found the coolest would be the Husky Reach Program at UConn.  This is a program where student athletes would visit elementary schools in the greater Hartford area and read books with grades K-5.  The point of this is to promote good reading habits and create excitement for these children as they learn to read.  If the class meets the established school goals the students come to UConn and participate in several games with the student athletes at UConn.  It was the coolest service aspect for me because I was able to see how the kids looked up to me because I played a sport at UConn.  This opened my eyes to how the position I am in has a great responsibility and good be used to do good.

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

Financial Management

Where are you from?

Higganum, Connecticut

Who is your role model, and why?

My role model would be my parents.  My father is a football coach and has been my coach throughout my entire life.  I have been fortunate enough to watch him coach and be coached by him so I see his work ethic, mindset, and how much he cares for his players and coaches.  Additionally, my mother is a very successful business administrator and her work ethic is second to none.  She also cares very deeply for those around her and will always try to help out in any way possible.  Needless to say, if I can exhibit the same work ethic and care my parents do I will undoubtedly be successful.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

When I was younger, I played baseball and basketball.  Once I got to high school I wrestled and found much success as I was a New England Champion.

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played offensive line in high school.  I also played on the Punt Team at UConn where I was the Middle Shield and made all the in-game calls, checks, and adjustments on the field.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I believe my knowledge separates me from others at the position.  I like to pride myself on having a high Football IQ, which is not only knowing our plan, but the ways our opponent is going to try and attack us.  There are many times where I can tell the play just by seeing the formation, personnel grouping, and down and distance.

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

There are a number of things.  First I will look for tendencies with the opponents such as, personnel groups and frequency,  formations and frequency,  play type and frequency out of each formation and personnel groups.  Then I will look to see what the opponent is trying to do at certain field positions and game situations.  After I have done this, I will look to see if there are any cues to certain plays or actions by players such as snap count or if the offensive line give away pass or run.  Lastly, I look at my individual match-up as well as any other players that I will be going up against.  I look to see how they play, what I can do to beat them, as well as any cues or keys that they give away.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest player that I have ever faced would be Greg Ward of Houston.  His speed and quickness are second to none and he is able to change the game very quickly.  He is a very effective and explosive player.

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

If I could compare my play to a player in the NFL it would be either Will Sutton or Aaron Donald.  Both of these players are not the prototypical type of players in terms of height, like me, but are great players for their respective teams through their relentless and physical style of play.  I work to make my game as much like theirs as possible.

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

My biggest obstacle of my life that I had to overcome was my career at UConn.  With all the different coaches, being a preferred walk-on and not being recruited by UCONN out of high school, and having to fight for playing time and a scholarship.  I was able to overcome this through my work ethic.  No matter how bleak the situation looked or how bad it seemed, I never stopped working and always gave my best, which allowed me to accomplish what I set out to.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Yes I do, but it is nothing fancy.  I just make sure I wear the same clothing to the game and to warm-ups.

What is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength on the field is my ability to stop the run and always know and perform my assignment.  I know the defense very well, so I am always in my assignment and patient which allows me to be effective against the run game.  Additionally, I work hard in the weight room and as a result I am one of the strongest members of my team.  My strength is a great asset and increases my effectiveness as a player.

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness on the field is my ability to transition from run to pass on even down situations when there is a hard play action run fake.  I need to work on being able to disengage from the block and get on an edge faster and more effectively.  This was a challenging aspect of our defense because of how it was schemed to be stout against the run.  Nevertheless it is an area that I would like to improve on.   

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

I would say that I am a team player that not only can impact the game in a positive manner, but also elevate the play of those around me.  My ability to know the defense thoroughly and by being a constant student of the game allows me to not only know what  I am supposed to do but also help those around me.  I am able to help my teammates learn their assignments and techniques better and bring up the play of the team collectively.  Furthermore, I can instill a work ethic and passion towards the game through my own actions and behaviors.  Lastly, I have found success in the past in my high school being a captain of a team that had two undefeated seasons and was ranked the number one team in the state of Connecticut.  I know what it takes to be successful as well as the work ethic required.  I am eager to get back to winning and love competition and will do everything in my power to help bring the team to the same caliber as I found in high school.

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

My favorite player growing up was Troy Polamalu.  I love the passion and effort the played the game with along with how he was a leader of the Steelers defense.  He was also a member of my favorite NFL team, which was the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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

Miyamoto Musashi, Aaron Donald, and Jesus Christ

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

It would not necessarily be an item, but I would like to in a way repay my parents for all the support they have given me to allow me to follow my dreams and be successful.  So it would be whatever they want.