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2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Tay Berry, DL, Samford University

Tay Berry the standout defensive lineman from Samford University recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot.
Tay Berry the standout defensive lineman from Samford University recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot.
  • Name: Tay Berry
  • Position: DL
  • College: Samford University 
  • Height: 6’2”
  • Weight: 285
  • Twitter: @TayBerry9
  • Instagram: @tayberry44

What makes you a top prospect at your position  in the 2023 NFL Draft

  • The thing that makes me a top prospect in the draft is how versatile I am as a defensive lineman. I have been apart of multiple defensive schemes that’s given me the opportunity to increase my knowledge of football. Not only do I know what my position is doing during a certain play but I also know what the other 10 positions are doing as well. This gives me the opportunity to play faster and make more plays. Even if i do not make the tackle I make sure my job is well done so that it gives other guys the opportunity to make the play. When it’s my time to make the design play I will.

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?

  • I started playing football around the age of 6-7 years old. Since playing little league football I became more invested in the game and decided at a young age this is what I want to do and that I am going to do whatever it takes to get to that spot.

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

  • They should definitely know that I am a leader, I was apart of the leadership team at my school for football. They also should know that I am willing to do whatever it takes to win and that I am also a team player overall. I am not selfish because the team success equals my success. I also want them to know that yeah I am from a smaller division 1 school, I still come to work everyday and will put my best foot forward and give it my all!

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be? 

  • I would donate to anything dealing with mental health and poverty. Those two is something that could cause children to not succeed in life. Mental health is very important and it is something that’s become major in the world today. When it comes to poverty I would just want to help in any for I can because I have seen it with my own eyes. Coming from a small town in Mississippi you will see a lot of things that cause kids to go in the wrong direction. I would just love to be a mentor for those kids.

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

  • The best advice I have received was the 5 P’s of life which is proper preparation prevents poor performance and that was something my dad instilled into me at a young age. I also received this from my head coach and it was if you are satisfied then you are ready to die, so never be satisfied.

Who was your childhood hero? 

  • I would say my parents, simply because they had me at a very young age and raised me to be the man I am today. They also helped me become a first generation graduate and just showed me that there is always a way no matter how you start or where you start.

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school? 

  • I would say this guy Kobe Stewart, because he is an awesome pass rusher and just has this highly motor that you wouldn’t always see in a player.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

  • Probably being around someone that constantly complains about something.

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome? 

  • The biggest form of adversity was probably the death of my older cousin who I would consider as my mentor and an older brother. He was a 9 year NFL vet that played for the 49ers and the Saints. His name was Parys Haralson. This was probably the biggest surprise that ever happened. It was a surprise that I thought would never happen. This happened during my junior year of college football. He was someone that I would also go to for advice, help on the football field and just help for life.

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

  • The thing that special about my school is that being on the football team there gives you the opportunity to grow in life and then grow in your faith. You also has the chance to get a great education that’s going to set you up for life.

What is your favorite snack food? 

  • My favorite snack is probably gummy bears or life savers.

What is the best part of football? 

  • The best part of football is that it just allows you to be free, it also helps you get prepared for all of the challenges in life. Football is not for the weak, you have to be prepared mentally and physically to play the game of football.

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say? 

  • I would say that I am a great leader, i am a hard worker and that whatever i do i am going to give it my all.

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

  • I would compare myself to Grady Jarret, simply because his play style is one way i would describe my style and we are almost the same size.

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why? 

  • My mentor Parys Haralson, simply because the day before he died I was about to call him and I got side tracked. I would just want to sit down and talk to him about ways to proceed in the draft process the best!
  • My cousin Constance who died, i would want to have dinner with her because we would always go to dinner together and she was like the big sister i didn’t have and was one of my biggest supporters before she died at a young age.
  • I would probably want to sit down and have dinner with any NFL owner or GM to just introduce myself and explain who I am and just let them know that i wouldn’t be a mistake.

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

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