2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Malik Haynes, DT, Southern Illinois University

• Name: Malik Haynes
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 326
• Position: DT
• College: Southern Illinois University
• Twitter:  @90Leek

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

• I’m from Chicago, Illinois and what I love most about it is that we’re known for breeding top athletes 

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

• Film study, strength and conditioning, practice

What do you worry about, and why?

• Trying to be the best person I can be

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

• I was in the 2nd grade and I came in 2nd place at the science fair. I was upset and mad that I didn’t win first place. The following year at the 3rd-grade science fair I came in 1st place.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My aggressiveness and my run stop ability 

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

• Logan Busch OL  #74 SDSU

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

• Work in law enforcement 

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

• Room always

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

• I will save my daughter because she’s my little princess 

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

• I’ll be Denzel Washington because all the movies he has and awards he’s won.

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

• At the beginning of my Jr season, I was blessed with my beautiful daughter. I had to learn how to juggle being a student-athlete and Dad. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• My freshman year of high school I tripped walking the stage to receive an award 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• We were playing WIU and it was 4th & 1 on the goal line. We got the fourth down stop for a turnover on down.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Wiz Khalifa- Work hard play hard

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

• I’m a hard worker 

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

• It would be my great grandmother because I want her to see everything I accomplished 

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

• Leek’s Disco

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Chris Covington

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected because I’m not here to be liked. I’m coming to make plays.

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

• I honestly don’t know

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to Lose

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

• My Mom and Grandfather are my biggest influences because every since day one they were always in my corner and always supported everything I did.