NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Henrique Ribeiro, K, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

NFL Draft Diamonds has been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the player. We hope to bring you more than 350 interviews of NFL Draft Prospects this season. You will be able to track them all on the front page of our website in the banner to the right.  Now let’s meet the prospect!!!!

What is your name?

Henrique Ribeiro

What is your Height/Weight?

6’1 240

What is your position?

Kicker

Where do you play college football?

University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work for the Special Olympics in Chattanooga. It was so good to give back and play with kids that looked up to us. Specially because despite their disabilities, they tackled life at its fullest and were always so happy and thankful. That is something I will never forget. 

What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?

Business Law 

Where are you from?

São Paulo, Brazil 

Who is your role model, and why?

My Father. I grew up watching him work as hard as possible, and get rewarded for that. He taught me many lessons, but I believe the biggest one is that nothing in life is given, the easy way out always had a consequence. 

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played soccer since I learned how to walk. Then began to also play football my Jr year of High School. 

Did you play any other positions in football?

Punter 

At your position, what separates you from others?

I enjoy the pressure that being a kicker brings. You’re either the hero or the villain, and that requires a strong mind. 

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

I look for my form, what am I doing right on the kicks I make, and what did i do differently on those that I didn’t. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Corn Elder in high school. He was a KO returner. 

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

I would compare myself to Janikowski. First because of the looks, being a bigger kicker I get told I look like him. But also because of my strong leg. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I always take a minute before walking on to the field to visualize what I want to accomplish that game. 

As a small school football player what obstacles do you feel you have to overcome?

Visibility and recognition

What is your biggest strength?

My leg strength on fg’s 

What is your biggest weakness?

Kickoffs

If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?

For a kicker your job balances on wheter you can make kicks or not. If you sign me, I have full belief that I will make the kicks, and I will win the close games for you team. 

Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?

Cairo Santos, being the first Brazilian in the NFL. 

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

Cairo Santos, Ronaldo (not Cristiano, the Brazilian one), and my Grandfather. 

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

I would give a watch to my father, for all the support he has given me. 

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