NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jaelin Ratliff, WR, Sacramento State
NFL Draft Diamonds has interviewed some of the best small schoolers to make it to the NFL. Last year our team interviewed over 750 players from NAIA to the FBS. This year we went to NFL teams scouts for every question on this interview. Ten NFL scouts who are avid readers of Draft Diamonds put this interview together for our readers pleasure. We hope you enjoy this interview, with another potential NFL draft prospect.
- Name: Jaelin Ratliff
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 175
- Position: WR
- College: Sacramento State
- Twitter: @Drjaeee
Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?
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My hometown is Tracy, CA. It’s a small town but is definitely growing compared to when my family first moved there. I love how close knit the community is. I’ve met some lifelong friends living in Tracy.
List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?
- Strength, Film, Practice. You’ve gotta be strong and in great condition to play this sport at a high level. Film study is huge, understanding your role in each play, reading coverages etc. Practice puts it all together.
What do you worry about, and why?
- I worry about not being my best at all times. I’m extremely hard on myself.
Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?
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I remember my first practice in college as a freshman. Everything seemed so fast and I was messing up here and there. From that point on I realized if I wanted to play and play well I needed to step my game up.
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
- My teammates would say my best quality is my work ethic and my leadership by action. I’m not a vocal leader but I lead by example.
Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
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Taron Johnso
What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?
- If I couldn’t play football I’d be a mentor or guidance counselor.
Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?
- Room
If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?
- Family member. Family is more important to me than anything
If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?
- Spiderman, the old spider man though. My favorite superhero growing up
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
- My biggest adversity in life was high school. High school was really tough for me when it came to academics. I went to St Mary’s high school in Stockton, Ca. I struggled but in the end I was able to buckle down and finish strong
What is your most embarrassing moment?
- My most embarrassing moment, I’m not sure if I can think of any. I don’t really like being the center of attention so any time that happens I don’t feel most comfortable
What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?
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My redshirt sophomore year against Montana State I scored two 4th quarter touchdowns, one being with 15 seconds left in the game to complete a comeback win. While spraining a joint in my shoulder that same drive.
What song best describes your work ethic?
- Love Yourz – J Cole. Loving your life, wherever you are in the moment. Loving it, embracing it. I think that’s how I live my life and my work ethic embodies that.
What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non Physical) to help you succeed at the next level?
- My heart and will to be perfect
If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?
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Michael Jackson, to have a concert and play all of his old hits.
If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it?
- My dance club would be named “The Spot”
Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?
- Andrew Luck
Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?
- I’d rather be respected. I could care less if someone doesn’t like me. But everyone should have the decency to have respect for others.
What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?
- Michael Vick. Growing up he was one of the most influential players to me and his off the field issue hurt his career. I believe he was on his way to be even greater than he was.
Do you love to win, or hate to lose?
- Hate to lose
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?
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My parents, they’ve shown me everything I know. How to work hard, how to stay humble. How to keep my head up through adversity and how to bounce back from tough times. Always keeping my family and my faith first. They’ve created endless opportunities for my siblings and I, and I know they had to work hard for every single one.
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