NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Jake Powell, TE, Monmouth University

            •           Name: Jake Powell

            •           Height: 6’5”

            •           Weight:240

            •           Position:TE

            •           College:Monmouth University

            •           Twitter: j_powell17

Tell usabout your hometown, and what you love most about it?

            •      Iam from Marlton, NJ which is about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia.  What I love most about my town is the passionthat people have for all types of sports and it really shows at the high schoollevel.  Also, living 20 minutes from thecity and an hour from the beach you cant really get much better.

List thesethree in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning andPractice?

            •      Practice,strength and conditioning, and Film study would be the order that I feel ismost important.  Perfecting your craftand working to make your blocking and routes perfect is the most beneficial tome.  Actually seeing the plays being ranhelps me be a better player and understand the game plan more efficiently.  As for strength and conditioning this iswhere you really beat your opponent and get your body into the best shape sothat you can perform in the late 4^th quarters.  As for film study, this is really importantand is something that needs to be done as much as you practice.  Studying your opponent and seeing theirtendencies is something that I have really benefited from over the past few years.

What doyou worry about, and why?

           •    Sometimes I tend to worry about not being as successful as I imagine myself and strive to be.  I know everything does not revolve around money but I want to make a lot of it and set myself and family up for a great future.  I’m glad that I don’t have to worry about math tests and papers anymore though, now that’s stressful.        

What doyour teammates say is your best quality?

            •    On thefootball field, my teammates would say that my best quality is my hands andcatching ability.  I pride myself on myhand-eye coordination and being able to catch any ball that’s thrown near me nomatter how challenging it may be.  Beinga multi-sport athlete my whole life having natural athletic ability really goesa long way for me on the football field.

Who is thebest player you have ever played against in college?

            •      RickyNeal Jr. he was a defensive end from Northern Iowa that we played in the FCSplayoffs in 2017.  He was very powerfuland quick playing the defensive end/outside linebacker position.  It was a challenge for me but also beneficialbecause it made me raise my level of competition.      

What wouldyour career be if you couldn’t play football? 

            •  I would love to work for asports organization doing sales and marketing because that really interests meand its what I enjoy.            

Room,desk, and car – which do you clean first?

           •  Room.  I can’t stand living in a messy room and always keep it clean.  I would gladly say I am this way because of my mom.         

If therewas a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member,which would you choose and why?

            •    Onefamily member for sure.  My family iseverything to me and I would do anything for every single member of my familybecause I know they would do the same for me.

If youcould be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

            •       DominickCobb (Leonardo Dicaprio) in the movie Inception.  Being able to go into your dreams and controlwhat happens is something that I can’t even imagine being able to do.  He’s a cool dude.

Tell meabout your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

            •   My biggest adversitycame this past year where I missed the last half of my senior season with aninjury.  This had never happened to mebefore where I had to sit out of games and watch my brothers compete withoutme.  It took a toll on me but the onlything I could do was attack rehab like I would a game and get back to being100% as soon as possible.  And that isexactly what I did, fought my way back while being as positive as I could andto now being stronger than ever.         

What isyour most embarrassing moment?

            •     When myaunts hair clippers came off in the middle of my haircut leaving me with a hugebald spot on the back of my head.  Havinga basketball game the next day and being the tallest guy on the court wasn’tthe most ideal situation and it got a lot of laughs.  I still love her though!       

What wasthe most memorable play of your collegiate career?

            •      Themost memorable play of my college career came in the first game I ever playedin.  It was the first game of the seasonagainst Lehigh in 2016.  My very firstreception I caught a ball in the flat and turned up field taking it 60 yards infor a touchdown.  Even though thetouchdown got called back for a bad holding call it was still the mostmemorable play for me.  The excitement oftaking my first college catch in for a touchdown is something that I will neverforget.    

What songbest describes your work ethic?

            •     BeastMode       

What isthe most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help yousucceed at the next level? 

            •      Mybest physical trait that I have is my size and my catching radius.  Being a long tight end that can run vertical upfield creates mismatches for the defense that I can really take advantage of.      

If youcould bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

            •   My grandfatherTJ.  He passed away before he could seeme play high school and college sports and I would have loved to experiencethat with him.  He was an amazing personwhose support for my brothers and I was unmatched. I miss him so much.          

If youwere to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

            •    Fyre        

Who is themost underrated player in the NFL? 

            •  Cooper Kupp          

Would yourather be liked or respected, and why?

           •  Both.  I feel as if someone likes you, then they will respect you and your views accordingly.  To be a leader I have to have people like me so that they will respect the decisions and directions that I entail.

Whatplayer who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the mostand why?

            •     Aaron Hernandez.  He was one of the best tight ends in theleague that I loved watching play.  Offthe field he got involved with a gang that ruined him.  Hernandez singed a 40 million dollar dealwith the Patriots and was in his prime when he went to prison for murder.  If only he could have stayed off the streetsand focused on football a little more he would have had a tremendouscareer.  I feel bad for the route that hehad taken.

Do youlove to win, or hate to lose?

            •     Love towin.  There’s just something aboutwinning that feels so satisfying and I will do anything it takes to have thatfeeling over and over again.  When youlose it is a learning experience and you fix it for next time.  When you win you know you did everythingpossible and accomplished your goal.