2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Micah Vanterpool, OL, University of Hawai’i

• Name: Micah Vanterpool
• Position: OL
• College: University of Hawai’i
• Height: 6’6′
• Weight: 310 lbs.
• Twitter: @im_micah55
• Instagram: @im_micah71

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

I always watched football growing up and dreamed of playing football. Then the first time I stepped on the field and got to hit someone as hard as I could it felt good. It made me feel at home when I stepped inside those white lines.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

My favorite football memory is probably beating BYU in 2019. That was the last game I ever played in Aloha stadium with fans inside the stadium. I just remember that place being so loud you could not even think. Plus it was on Christmas eve. That bowl ring was a good Christmas present.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

I am looking forward to winning as many games as possible for my team and to winning the ultimate prize of any sporting event, a Super Bowl. I also want to be voted on to the top 100 of NFL players. Being voted by my peers and other coaches means more than media members.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

If I could hang out with any football player it would be Big Trent Williams. I just would want to pick his brain about how he has been so consistent in his career and plus he has been my favorite player since highschool when he was the first lineman with that on field swag. And he makes the position of LT look so easy when we all know that is not the case.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

My mother inspires me the most because of all the sacrifices she had to go through raising me and my sister by herself. She used to wake up early and stay late. I now hard work because of my mother.

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

My favorite offensive scheme is the run and shoot. We ran this in my time at University of Hawai’i . I personally loved this offensive scheme because most of the routes the wide receiver runs are all choice routes which means depending on the coverage they have the ability to change their route mid play. But this requires great football IQ from WR and QB. And also great relationship between QBs and WR, and this system is also very lineman friendly as well. We have roll protections where we have a slide side and an aggressive side. The aggressive side is man side but they jump setting all times on the man side. And a lot of the passing plays the ball is getting out in an average of 2.4 seconds. With this fast release time plus choice routes its hard for defenses to get to the passer and hard for defenses to cover in the secondary.

What should we know about Micah Vanterpool the person?

Micah Vanterpool is one of the most fun loving guy people will ever meet. Micah makes every room he walks into better. I will always have a positive attitude even in negative situations. I’m never afraid to be myself around people because I don’t know how to be anyone else but myself. I am a very hard worker and I’m a hands-on learner but I can learn in a multitude of ways as well.

What stands out about your film the most?

What stands out the most about me is my feet and my hands. My hands are always inside the defender and if not I always finish with the inside hand position. My feet really separate me from any other OL in this draft. Because I am always in control of my body in space.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

I look my challenges right in the eye and face them head on. I have always been a problem solver ever since I was a little kid. For instance if I keep getting beat inside I would slow down my set. Because the problem is I’m over setting the DL . You have to identify the problem then attack it with everything you have.

What would a team get in a player like you?

A team would be getting a smart, dependable, persistent football player. Who is a tough and hard working and humble man who places God above all things.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love that I am just one individual to a team that can’t function without it’s individual members doing their job to the best of their ability. If one person of the 11 does not do their job we all fail. And if all 11 do their job then we all win. Football is the ultimate team sport so many people from different backgrounds and places coming together for one common goal. It might sound corny but teamwork makes the dream work. And it shows people no matter where you come from and what you look like. That people can come together for one common goal.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

Doug Russell. He was the guy that didn’t need to be the center of attention, he would come to work and just put his head down and grind. Every single day even when things didn’t go the way he planned. All he did was work harder and he taught me if you want something you have to go make it happen. It won’t just appear because you want it. You have to drop your nuts and focus.