Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Shaun Kitchens, WR, Shaw University

Every year, NFL Draft Diamonds brings our readers the best in depth interviews on the internet. We specialize in giving players an opportunity to showcase their talents on our website. We conducted interviews last year with over 300 plus players. We want you to enjoy our interviews, because when these young men are in the league, we will not be surprised, and neither should you. 

What is your name?

Shaun Kitchens

What is your Height/Weight?

6’3 217lbs

What is your position?

WR

Where do you play college football?

Auburn University/Shaw University

How many teams were recruiting you out of high school?

@20

How did you choose your school?

Everyone, except Auburn, told me I couldn’t play WR and insisted that I was better on defense, so that’s what made me choose Auburn.

Where are you from?

Atlanta, GA.

Who is your role model, and why?

Dez Bryant is my role model for how I play, because I love the way he plays the game in terms of intensity, skill and confidence.

Have any scouts met with you yet, and if so what are they saying?

There have been scouts around from the Giants, Seahawks, Raiders and Indianapolis, at last year’s Jr. Pro Day, as well as practices this year, but there have been no individual meetings.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Yes, baseball and basketball

Did you play any other positions in football?

Yes, quarterback, linebacker, safety 

At your position, what separates you from others?

My determination and passion for the game, good (big) hands and vertical jump. Get the ball anywhere near me and I will do whatever it takes to make the catch.

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

Primarily, ways to get open by looking at the type of defense being played, measuring the guy that may be covering me based on his height and speed and seeing what area of the field is open/weak most often on a majority of the defense’s plays.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Noel Johnson, a High School opponent.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why? Dez Bryant for his playing ability, because I want to be the “go to guy” in crucial situations. 

What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?

I had a serious off the field issue that led to my dismissal from Auburn and being placed on probation. I was crushed by how it felt to lose all the accolades and positive attention that came with being a member of the 2010 National Championship team and gain all of the negative attention. I had taken it for granted that I would automatically get an opportunity to play in the NFL coming from Auburn and I soon realized that it would be a much harder path now that I was having to play on a much, much smaller stage with a lot less attention. I decided that it didn’t matter how I got to the NFL, that what happened did not take away my talent or make me lose my passion for the game. So, I did what I had to do to continue my education, continue to play football and continue to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Yes, listen to my music and walk the field.

What is your biggest strength?

Toughness and God-given physicality (height, weight and hands).

What is your biggest weakness?

Overconfidence at times.

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

I want to win. I know that you are aware that I have had some off the field issues, but I want you to know that the consequences of poor decisionmaking that took me from being a highly recruited prep athlete that actually played as a Freshman on Auburn’s 2010 National Championship team to relative obscurity at a Division II school with far fewer opportunities to make it to the NFL, as well as my desire to ensure my daughter a bright future, motivate me to do whatever is asked of me by an organization and then some, so I can regain and take advantage of the opportunities that were once so much more available to me than they are now. No matter how I get there, my goal is to make it in the NFL and win and now I think I know what that takes, both on and off the field.

Who was your favorite player and NFL team growing up?

I didn’t have a favorite team or player, but my favorite athlete is LeBron James

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

LeBron James, Jay Z and Tupac.