NFL DraftProspect Interviews

2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Thomas Newberg, LS, Tennessee State University

Thomas Newberg the amazing LS from Tennessee State University recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot.
  • Name: Thomas Newberg
  • Height: 6’4”
  • Weight: 240lbs
  • Position: LS
  • College: Tennessee State University
  • Twitter: @TNewberg

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

• Franklin, TN is a relatively small, cozy town about 20 miles south of Nashville. I love the pace of life there; people go about their day more leisurely compared to those living in the city. Franklin is safe and just large enough to provide enough entertainment without feeling too crowded.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

• Conditioning and Practice, Film Study, Strength. For a long snapper the most important thing is consistency. Nothing is better for consistency than getting good reps in practice. Film study is important in correcting bad habits. Sometimes you have to take a look at your form in slow motion to break down or identify a correction. Strength is important to a snapper, especially at the NFL level, but if you can’t snap the ball straight it doesn’t matter how strong you are.

What do you worry about, and why?

• Not doing enough to achieve my goals. I’ve realized that life is full of opportunities, but to seize those opportunities you often have to compete with yourself and others. As a perfectionist, I always want to be the best at everything, but the truth is sometimes that isn’t always possible. My fear is failing to achieve a goal or seize an opportunity because I did not give it my all or exhaust every avenue. If I don’t succeed I have to be able walk away knowing I gave every bit of what I had or I won’t be satisfied.

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

• I failed my first college conditioning test. I had never done anything that difficult in my life and knowing I had to do it all again the next morning made me want to quit. I decided to bite down and leave everything I had out on the field. I passed the next day and from then on always came to camp ready for the test.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• Reliability. Call on me and I’m ready to get the job done.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

• Aaron Patrick

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?

• Lawyer/Politician

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?

• One family member. Family is everything; I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for the amazing support I get from back home.

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

• Jack Ryan. I’ve always wanted to serve my country and I couldn’t think of a better way.

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

• Gaining weight was a struggle for me in high school. I graduated high school at 175lbs. Being a long snapper, I needed to gain weight FAST if I wanted to compete in college, but could not seem to find a regimen that produced results. When I got to TSU, I spent hundreds of hours on YouTube researching strength and nutrition. Using the information I gathered I was able to develop my own nutrition program and finished my final season at 245lbs.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• Unknowingly talking on a hot mic during the high school morning announcement broadcast

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• I caught a touchdown pass my sophomore year in our homecoming game. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Dreams and Nightmares – Meek Mill

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

• Mental fortitude. I will never stop grinding.

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

• Martin Luther King. He is my favorite political figure and I think his opinion could be valuable to society today.

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

• Bada Bing!

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

• Derrick Henry

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected. You can’t be liked by everyone but you can always be respected by people regardless of whether or not they like you as a person.

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

• Antonio Brown. For somebody with so much talent it is sad to see him struggle when he could be doing so well. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Both. Nothing is as satisfying as a big win or as devastating as a tough loss. But above all I want to be perfect at my job.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

• I’ve been blessed with the best parents in the history of the world. You may think yours are great but I promise you it’s not a close comparison. They have been there to teach me every single step of the way and provided the foundation to do anything I want with my life and I could not be more thankful.

Damond Talbot

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

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button