NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Aaron Taylor, DB, Ball State University

 

NFL Diamonds has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible 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 our next prospect!!!!

What is your name? 

Aaron Taylor

What is your Height/Weight? 

5’11 210

What is your position? 

Safety

Where do you play college football? 

Ball State University

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

I’ve been doing community service since I was young but the most recent thing I’ve done is donate food and cleaning supplies to the Muncie Mission in Muncie Indiana.

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

The hardest college course I took was digital media design online.

Where are you from? 

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Who is your role model, and why? 

My father, he was the one who pushed me to pursue my passion in sports.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

I played basketball and ran track.

Did you play any other positions in football? 

I played Running back and Linebacker when I was younger.

At your position, what separates you from others? 

My physicality and versatility being able to play in the slot is what sets me apart from the rest. 

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

I look at formations and tendencies as far as play calling in certain situations.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Marcus Lattimore my sophomore year of high school he was the most dominate player I have ever seen. 

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

They’re not in the league anymore but Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu and Brian Dawkins are guys I model my game after.

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

The biggest obstacle for me had to be when my family first moved to Georgia. I’m originally from Illinois and growing up I was the best athlete around. Once I moved to Georgia I had to step my game up or ride the bench. I rode the bench for a while until I acclimated to the speed of the game.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I almost always listen to slow motion by Juvenile it’s my favorite song. 

What is your biggest strength? 

My decisiveness on the field and the speed at which I play the game are my strengths.

What is your biggest weakness? 

I don’t have a lot of film playing safety after my sophomore year. There isn’t a lot of film of me in coverage at the safety position.

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

I am a sideline-to-sideline guy my effort getting to the ball is unmatched. I destroy blocks at the point of attack and make plays in the open field. I will be a physically imposing force in the middle of the field. Teams will be scared to run and throw the ball my way. I am an effective blitzer and can get to the quarterback. More and more teams are looking to the screen to get cheap yardage I can eliminate that from the nickel position as well as make plays on special teams.

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

Growing up so close to Atlanta the Falcons were my favorite team. My favorite player is Troy Polamalu he was the first of his kind to be so versatile from the safety position.

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

Barrack Obama, Richard Pryor and the Pope

What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?

An apartment