2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Eric Magwood, OL, Eastern Kentucky University

• Name:  Eric Magwood 
• Height: 6′ 4″
• Weight: 303 lbs
• Position:  OT, OG, C
• College:  Eastern Kentucky University
• Twitter:  @magwooody 

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

• I was born in Jacksonville, FL, both of my parents were active duty military, both serving in the United States Navy.  We were transferred to Buffalo, NY for recruiting duty when I was two years old where we lived until I was in the first grade.  We then transferred to my hometown of Virginia Beach, VA. I was lucky that my parents wanted me to have some normality and they did what they had to do to keep me in the area, sometimes taking whatever job the Navy had in the area to allow my brothers, sister, and I a community and friends.  I truly appreciate their sacrifice for us.  Virginia Beach is an amazing place!  The first thing that comes to my mind is diversity.  Virginia Beach is so diverse, a great representation of all society and growing up in this atmosphere was a gift I see now that I have traveled. It’s also a beautiful place.  We lived about four miles from Dam Neck Base, I have grown up on those beaches, we are about 15 miles from the back woods of North Carolina where we did a lot of camping.  Down town Norfolk is a small city but has so much to do.  Virginia Beach has it all.  The 757 has a ton of football talent and I feel blessed to be a part of that culture.  

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

• Conditioning and Practice – I feel you have to constantly prefect your craft and where does that happen? Practice.  Touches.  That goes hand and hand with staying conditioned and ready.  Next Strength and Conditioning, staying strong and putting the work in.  I believe the stronger you are the less chance you have for injury.  Strength mental and physical.  Film, I have last but I still feel is very important, you must study the other opponent and know what to expect so you can be prepared.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about being good enough and that I have done all I can as a student, player, son, citizen, and human sharing this earth.  I always want to make my family and friends proud of me. I work hard to make sure I am living each day of my life the best I can, we only get one life and I want to do the most I can with the days I have.  Each one is a blessing.  

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

• I had a hard time in the very beginning, when I first left home for college, adjusting to prioritizing my time.  As a young college student it was my first taste of true freedom but at the same time I had many obligations.  I am not sure I would use the word failed but I did struggle with my grades and getting everything I needed to get done completed.  These times were an opening experience, I was no longer the big guy at the high school I was the freshman working hard to prove myself everyday as well as trying to get ahead in the classroom.  Everything has made me stronger and more appreciative of the process and the culture.  I am now the guy who walks up and checks on the freshman and tell them it gets easier to be away from home and I am here if you need anything.   

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• I have been told my best quality is that I am tough, and I play aggressive.  After summer camp we had an opportunity to tell selected teammates what we thought of them in one word on a poster. Some of the words on my poster were tough, enthusiastic, positive, strong, hard worker, happy big dawg, aggressive, tuff, never quit, brother, and great teammate. 

It’s imperative to finish your block ???? pic.twitter.com/aUJgOirjQ8

— MAGS (@Magwooody) October 21, 2019

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

• The best player I have ever played against would have to be Ladarius Hamilton from the University of North Texas during my time at Old Dominion University.

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

• I want to work with children.  I think counseling is a calling for me.  I love talking to kids and maybe helping them see things they don’t think of yet, help them plan for the future, encourage them to be their best self and make a difference.  I really believe that you have to be the example.  I want to set the example for young men to see anything is possible if you work.  I also would like to help kids in need, maybe through social work or a volunteer community program, to ensure kids in need get the help and resources they need.  I can for sure see me coaching football in the future, sharing my love of the sport with young men is a true calling, helping someone else achieve their dreams.  Not sure if I would want to coach recreation or high school but I know I want to be a part of that.  

Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?

• I would clean my room first, that’s where I live and spend the most time.  You can focus and rest better in an organized clean environment.

Then my desk, that is where I study and do all of my work.  I can be more prepared and get more done in an organized work setting.

• Lastly my car, I do like a clean car, but I am not in there that much and only used to get from place to place, but I am lucky to have a car and really don’t want it messy either.

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

• I would always save my family, I love them and would do anything for them.  I would sacrifice myself for them.  My parents love me and would do anything for me and have made me who I am today I owe them everything.  I have two little brothers and a little sister who love me and look up to me and I will always do whatever I can to help them and be there for them.  Not that the strangers aren’t important, but nothing comes before my family.

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

• If I could be any character I would probably be Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty, only because it would be awesome to be the smartest man in the universe.

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

• My biggest adversity was being a walk-on at Old Dominion University.  I worked hard every day to prove myself and that I deserved to be a starter and deserved a scholarship. It was something that was always important to me, I wanted my hard work to be appricated.  My first year playing I started on special teams and on the last game of the season started as right guard.  The next season I started consistantly as right guard and felt my hard work had paid off, when entering into the transfer portal I was very humbled to see how many coaches wanted me, were wiling to offer me a full scholarship.  Hard work always pays off. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• Probably my junior year in high school, when my parents wanted to take my upcoming Ring Dance date to dinner after my basketball game.  During dinner my muscles locked up, my stomach then my legs and my halves.  I couldn’t move and I was in pain.  The poor girl didn’t know what to do.  My mom was trying to rub the cramps out and was giving me water.  We had to leave dinner I was in such pain and couldn’t move.  My mom loaded me in the back of the truck and took me home then took her home.  It was so embarrassing.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My most memorable play of my collegiate career was my sophomore year when I got my first start. This was awesome to me because although I was nervous it was good to get my feet wet.  After that I never turned back. To this day I get that same feeling walking out on the field. I love football and I have enjoyed every game and every play and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to this point in my football career. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Hustle Hard – Ace Hood

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

• I think the most important trait I can have to help me succeed at the next level is that I am coachable and I work hard.

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

• I would bring back my Uncle Andy because he was way too young and I would like for him to have a chance to say his good byes and get some last love in.

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

• Club Magnificent

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Aaron Jones the running back from Green Bay.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected.  Not saying it’s not important to be liked but sometimes people like what’s easy or not challenging they like the clown or the loud obnoxious guy.  I want to be the guy when they are asked about me they say, “He is a great guy who has his priorities straight, who works hard and makes the most of his life, I respect that.”  No one has to like me but if they respect how I live my life I am doing it right.  I do believe if you are a good person and respected people will like you.

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

• Pat Tillman because he set football aside to fight for our country and ended up dying in Afghanistan.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to lose, I wouldn’t say I am a sore loser but every time I lose it is like a heart break.  

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

• My mother because she has made a lot of sacrifices to give me the life I am living today. And I am so grateful.