NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Zach Paul, P, University of Akron
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?
Zach Paul
What is your Height/Weight?
6’3″ 225
What is your position?
Punter/Kickoff specialist
Where do you play college football?
University of Akron
Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field?
I spend a good amount of my off time as a Kicking/Punting instructor and mentor for grade school/high school athletes across the country. I take pride in developing younger athletes with the same goals and dreams as I possess.
What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?
Thermal System Components (Mechanical Engineering)
Where are you from?
Broadview Heights, Ohio.
Who is your role model, and why?
My role models are my parents. They have formed me into a man of great work ethic, morality, and perseverance through example.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Varsity Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Golf, and Tennis.
Did you play any other positions in football?
Defensive Tackle In grade school and wide receiver/cornerback in high school.
At your position, what separates you from others?
I have an extremely competitive and team-first mentality. I believe that I am a football player who happens to be the punter. This mentality drives me to be the best well-rounded athlete I can be and separates me from others at my position.
When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?
I am very detail oriented when breaking down film. I use my background in physics and body mechanics to help fine tune my technique.
Who was the toughest player you ever faced?
Jatavis Brown (Akron) is the toughest and most talented player I’ve ever shared a field with. Dri Archer was probably the best returner I kicked to in my college career.
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?
I would compare my style of punting to my friend Thomas Morestead. We have similar body types and technical backgrounds. I have generally tried to emulate his punting form since early on in my college career with some tweaks that work better for me individually.
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
Growing up, I was always considered too small and unimpressive athletically by my coaches and peers. With God’s help, I have gained 7 inches and about 100 lbs in the last 6-7 years.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I dedicate games to my family and friends who support me.
What is your biggest strength?
I have powerful leg strength that is comparable to most punters and kickers in the NFL.
What is your biggest weakness?
I constantly work on building and maintaining a consistent drop with my punts. A more consistent drop will make me the consistent and reliable NFL punter that I strive to be.
If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?
I am a reliable punter who produces in high pressure moments in big games. I will earn the respect of my coaches and teammates by the way I work day in and day out.
Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up?
Phil Dawson of the Cleveland Browns in 3rd grade. He inspired me to be a kicker. By halftime of the Browns game I would be outside kicking field goals with the dream that one day I would be like Phil Dawson.
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
Albert Einstein, Lebron James, Jordan Speith
What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?
I love to invest so I would invest my money in equities and local businesses.
Rapid Answers:
- Tupac or Biggie?
- NFL Network or ESPN?
- Coke or Pepsi?
- Pizza or Burgers?
- Dogs or Cats?
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