NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Deon Yelder, TE, Western Kentucky University

What is your name?

Deon Yelder

What is your Height/Weight?

6’4 / 255

What is your position?

Tight End

Where do you play college football?

Western Kentucky University

Where are you from?

Louisville, Kentucky

Who is your role model, and why?

Tyler Higbee because he has taught me a lot and he’s a hard worker with a dog mentality. As well Timothy Gorski, Devin Scott and the rest of Western Kentucky Tight End University and the M.O.B. They each have helped me along the way with different aspects of the game.

Who was your favorite teacher?

Ms. Rebecca Cull, my high school English teacher, because she had an impact on my life by helping when I was in high school coming from a similar background. She opened up to me and pushed me to grow as a person.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Basketball

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Oshane Ximines Defensive End from Old Dominion University. He is physical, wide defensive end that knows how to come off the ball hard with elusive abilities to get to the quarterback.

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

Mik’Quan Deane

He is a rising player that is a very gifted tight end that should cause some chaos in the CUSA.

What is the one song that would fire you up before the biggest game of your life?

Won’t Stop – Meek Mill

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

Jason Witten, He knows how to find the open zones and make tough catches.

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

The passing of a close friend Dewayne Snead and God has him now, and he is safe. He was a close friend of mine who passed away with diabetes. It was hard for me because he was somebody I talked to a lot and played a role in my life as I was growing up. This taught me don’t ever take life or anything for granted it can be taken away before you know it.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Listen to music and watch Ray Lewis motivational speeches

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

Block XP against MTSU in 2016- 17 season after practicing all week with coach Levine preparing to get one. This was an important game because we needed the win to stay in the race for the conference championship and we won 44-43.

What is the coolest thing you ever did off the field for someone else?

The coolest thing I did off the field was going to volunteer at the bowling green special Olympics and just help cheer them on playing basketball and running track.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up?

Dallas Cowboys I grew up playing for a little league team called the West End Cowboys.

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

Kevin Durant, Muhammad Ali, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr