NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jake Bull, OL, Hillsdale College

What is your name?

Jake Bull

What is your Height/Weight?

6’6″ 301 lbs.

What is your position?

Offensive Line (C, OG, or OT)

Where do you play college football?

Hillsdale College (D2)

Where are you from?

Hudsonville, MI

Who is your role model, and why?

One of my biggest role models is my college head coach, Keith Otterbein.  He runs a first-class program that holds guys to high standards in terms of attitude, effort and doing the right thing both on and off the field.

Who was your favorite teacher?

Dr. Daniel Sundahl; he was my English professor at Hillsdale.  He taught me how to ask good questions, formulate thoughtful opinions, and he has a great sense of humor.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played basketball and baseball from elementary school through high school.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Matt Judon in 2015.  He was a defensive end for Grand Valley State and now plays OLB for the Baltimore Ravens.  Matt was incredibly good, but I didn’t allow a sack against him.

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

Matthew Hall.  He was one of our senior defensive tackles in 2017.  He had unbelievable strength at the line of scrimmage and set up our second and third levels for countless tackles.  He also has the best work ethic I’ve seen, and he made me better every day.  He was a crucial component of our defense is one of the best in the conference this past season.

What is the one song that would fire you up before the biggest game of your life?

Right Back at it Again by A Day to Remember

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

Taylor Decker of the Detroit Lions.  When you watch him play, you can tell based off his footwork and technique that he prepared well for his opponent each week.  He has natural athleticism and refined movement skills, but he is also not afraid to be violent and nasty.  I believe I possess all of these same skills.

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

My senior year of high school I suffered a torn labrum in my shoulder during the third game of the season.  I was worried because I didn’t get a chance to showcase my skills my senior year, and I thought no college teams would want me after that.  I got the labrum fully repaired, worked hard through physical therapy, and ended up receiving a scholarship from Hillsdale.  I also had to adjust to the position change from TE to OL after my true freshman year as a Charger, and I was able to become a four-year starter at a position I had never played before.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I listen to music, roll out and get stretched, and visualize myself dominating my opponent.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

My last offensive play of my last home game in November I got to score on a tackle-throwback pass.  We had worked on the play several weeks beforehand, and the stars just aligned to run it on my last play at our stadium.  I’ll never forget how excited all my teammates were and how I got to get my name in the stat book!

What is the coolest thing you ever did off the field for someone else?

I got to lead a Bible study for a group of kids at a local high school in Hillsdale my sophomore and junior year.  It was an awesome experience getting to know all of them helping them grow in their knowledge of God and His goodness.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up?

The Packers because Brett Favre was my favorite player as a kid.

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

Abraham Lincoln, CS Lewis, and LeCharles Bentley.