NFL DraftProspect Interviews

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Grant Kraemer, QB, Drake University

Grant Kraemer from Drake University is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the 2019 NFL Draft. He recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds staff for this amazing prospect interview.

• Name: Grant Kraemer
        •       Height: 6’3
        •       Weight: 225
        •       Position: QB
        •       College: Drake University
        •       Twitter: @grantkraemer15

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?
        •        Northridge, CA. What I love most about living in Northridge is all the different kinds of food there are! You can have any kind of food you want and not have to go far for it. Every kind of culture and diversity of food is around Northridge and there are too many places to go not to love it!

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?
        •        1) Film Study – This is one of the most important aspects if you want to be successful. Especially with the limitations in the number of hours you can practice, watching and comprehending film is the most important traits especially for a QB.                  

2) Practice – Practice is also very important because you need to get the timing down with the offense and understand each play better. Practice is an opportunity to get better and get a feel for the game plan for each week.                  

3) Strength and Conditioning – As a QB being the strongest or fastest guy isn’t the most important thing. The most important thing is that you are pushing yourself in every drill and lift to get yourself to be in the best shape as possible. 

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?
        •        I threw 3 interceptions in the first 16 minutes against Jacksonville in 2016 season. This was the most interceptions I threw in my entire career and we were losing big. I had to tell myself it’s all about the next play. Make the next play a positive play. This was a huge learning experience for me because I would have wanted to make a big play instead of a positive play. I threw a touchdown to end the half and put us back in the game. With 6 minutes left in the game we were down 10 and the coaches gave me the ability to call the plays and we scored twice and converted two 4th down conversions and ended up winning the game on a TD pass with 17 seconds left. There was never a doubt in my mind that we would win that game. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?
        •        My teammates would say that I am leader and someone they can trust. As a QB your team has to be able to trust you and know that you are going to perform in those clutch situations. My teammates would say that I am the first person they come to with questions because they know I am going to give them the best answer and hold them accountable. 

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
        •        Mike Rose – Iowa State

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 
        •        If I couldn’t play football I would definitely be coaching football because of how much I love football and being around the guys that football attracts. I am a huge film junkie and love learning so coaching would be an easy transition for me!

Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?
        •        Desk, room then car. 

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?
        •        I would try to save everyone, but I would have to choose my family member. Family is family and there is nothing that can break that bond.

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?
        •        Tony Stark from Marvel movies. He owns his own company and he is a superhero. He is able to make the world around him better and run his billion dollar company. 

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?
        •        I think my biggest adversity was deciding to leave Tufts University and to Glendale Community College. It was tough to leave a great academic school and pursue my dream to play football more at the Division 1 level. It was by far the toughest decision I made and I believe that making that decision is the reason I am where I am today. This helped me grow up and mature and prepared me for the tough road ahead. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?
        •        My most embarrassing moment was when I was in elementary school and I was only wearing those button-down warm-up pants out at the yard. I was playing basketball and someone unclipped a bunch and as I started running my pants fell down and I was in my t-shirt and underwear in the middle of the yard.  

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?
        •        Throwing my 3rd touchdown pass to take the lead in the 3rd quarter against Iowa State. I fit a ball in between three defenders and found Devin Cates in the end zone for a 20 yard TD pass. 

What song best describes your work ethic?
        •        Stronger – Kanye West 

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 
        •        High Football IQ because of how complex both NFL offense and defense are. 

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?
        •        I would bring back my great grandpa Joe. Everyone always said how alike we are and he passed away when I was really young. I would love to hear all the stories he had to tell and learn more about him and what my family was like. 

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 
        •        Club G

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 
        •        Baker Mayfield. His antics have made him not very liked and people don’t think he is as good as he is. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?
        •        Respected. It has to be earned and because 

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?
        •        Johnny Manziel. He was such a joy to watch in college and to see him go down so fast was really a shame. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?
        •        Hate to lose

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?
        •       My parents by far. They have given up so much for me and have turned me into the man I am today. I can’t thank them enough for what they have done for me. They have been by my side throughout every accomplishment and triumph that I have had throughout my life. They are the reason I am where I am today. 

Damond Talbot

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

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button