NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Madison Mangum, WR, Idaho State University

NFL Draft Diamonds and our staff have been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 2 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. We have tons of NFL staff that read our interviews, and we actually received several of the questions from NFL scouts we speak too. This gives them a little bit more information regarding your character. We hope to bring you more than 300 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.

What is your name?

Madison Mangum

What is your Height/Weight?

6’2 216 lbs.

What is your position?

WR

Where do you play college football?

Idaho State University

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

Once dressed up as Cat in the Hat and read Dr. Suess books to elementary school kids.

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

Spanish Literature/Poetry; poetry in English is hard enough, but poetry in Spanish is near impossible.

Where are you from?

Boise, ID (born and raised)

Who is your role model, and why?

In life, my parents: cliche I know, but I honestly don’t know how I got so lucky.  In football, Calvin Johnson: the best receiver in the NFL.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Almost everything.  Basketball, baseball, soccer, track, swimming, skiing, golf, tennis. My parents were very busy people carpooling and cheering me and my siblings on.  And they still do!!

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played cornerback in high school.

At your position, what separates you from others?

Definitely my hands, but also my body control in the air which translates to winning jump balls.

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

Firstly, my own mistakes, then how corners play press technique, safety coverage, and how other wide receivers have had success against particular corners.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Marcus Peters, CB for the Washington Huskies.  He was the Kansas City Chiefs’ first round pick.

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

I think the most realistic comparison would be Eric Decker.  We have very similar size, hands, speed, and yes we’re both white.

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

I’ve been fortunate enough to not have had any life-threatening or many serious obstacles, but one thing I’m extremely proud to have accomplished was serving a two-year mission for the LDS church in San Antonio, Texas.  It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was my relationship with God that helped me through it all.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I have to put on my left sock/cleat before my right one,  but that’s it.

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

I think the greatest obstacle is not getting many opportunities to go against NFL touted players/defenses, which means that every game I need to be dominating my competition.

What is your biggest strength?

My work ethic.  When I’m passionate about something, I’ll do anything and everything to become the best I can be.

What is your biggest weakness?

I can be pretty one-sided, meaning I can be so focused and passionate about one thing that I tend to neglect other aspects of my life i.e. social relationships, academics, etc.

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

I am willing and able to do whatever is necessary to become the best player I can be and to contribute to the team in any way I can.  I arrived at ISU at 180 lbs and it was my sheer determination and work ethic that turned me into what I am today.

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

Hard to say. Growing up, it was fun to watch Steve Young hook up with Jerry Rice.  But I also had an Emmitt Smith jersey that I loved to wear.  And we’ve also been pretty big Tom Brady/Patriots fans in my family for awhile now.

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

I’m gonna go the pop-culture route: Calvin Johnson, Jimmy Fallon, and Emma Watson.

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

Honestly, probably not much.  I’d really like to save as much money as I could from each paycheck.