2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Shaquille Edmond, WR, Delaware Valley University

• Name: Shaquille Edmond
• Height: 5’11 3/4
• Weight: 192
• Position: WR
• College: Delaware Valley University (DELVAL)
• Twitter: @KingEdmond3

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

•  My hometown is a small area. We call it the MEWS. Its everything to me. It gave me hopes, dreams, struggle and opportunities. Having a big field, park and basketball court I can workout every day for free. Its not the best grass, park or outdoor court but it’s good enough. What I love most about it is that me and a few of my closest friends I consider family lived here most of our lives. We have the same goal. To move our family out and prosper together in our near and distant future while giving the kids coming up after that a dream they can follow and look up too.

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

•  To be honest, I don’t want to be that guy to say this but I don’t see one more important than the other. They all correlate/correspond with one another. You’re as strong as your greatest weakness. If you’re strong with Strength & Conditioning as well as practice but weak in the film room. You can run a 4.2, jump out of the gym, be a practice All-American but you’re not going to know what to do when you get on that gridiron come game day. You’ll be a deer in headlights. I can make examples for the other scenarios as well but I truly feel you need all 3 equally as much to be successful. You cannot choose one over the other they all have equal importance.

What do you worry about, and why?

•  Only thing I worry about is being able to retire my parents and give them the life they deserve and worked so hard for. I truly feel it’s my responsibility to give them a carefree/stressfree life. Thats been my goal since I was 4 years old and it WILL NOT change until I succeed and make it happen. Also now that I have 2 nieces and a potential nephew on the way. I don’t EVER, want them to even know what the word struggle is. That is now my added purpose.

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

•  When I was younger my dad used to beat me in basketball all the time. Constantly destroyed me on the court. Im bringing this up because I miss those moments and it truly made me competive and hard working. After he beat me bad in basketball he always told me I’ll have to earn everything in life. He didn’t care if the score was 12-0 or 12-10. He was going to win and beat me in ball and then give me life lessons. And it truly drove me. I used to cry and be mad like why can’t I win. Then after I cried I was like na I will sit out here ever day and get better until I win. And when I win he will never win ever again. Then once I turned 16, I won for the first time ever. Till this day he still hasn’t won ever again.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•  To be honest, I feel like they’ll say my drive, competitiveness, I will continue to fight adversity, leadership and the fact that’ll I’ll do anything for them. Whether it is on the field or off the field. Whether I have $100 in my pockets or $1. I will give it to them. You’ll have to ask them but if you do, I would say they would probably say that. Hopefully. Because I love those qualities about myself so I pray I worked hard enough for my teamates to see that in my football career.

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

•  The best player I feel like I played against. He was on my team. His name is Jaleel Kyles. So much has happened to him in his life and it has been extremely unfair. He should be D1. But life hit him hard how it hit me. But still he rises and he is still fighting. And I believe he’ll be in the CFL or NFL one day. I pray it happens and I believe it will happen. Remember that name. JALEEL KYLES! Offense or defense. Kick return or punt return. Straight up dawg. Definitely the best player I lined up against.

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

•  I would be a motivational speaker, counselor, personal trainer or coach. All I want to do is reach people on a mental, physical and spiritual level. Not to go off topic but I want to help children that were in my position or worse and I want to do something for homeless people. I experienced that when I was EXTREMELY young with my mom. I remember her covering me up in the backseat while we slept in the car in front of this store that went out of business called Ames and Blockbuster YEARS AGO. So I want to be able to do things for people like that. That’s why I work so hard and I NEED to go pro so I can help people. My driving force for football is bigger than football. Its to help people in life. So having a bigger platform and money from football. I’ll be able to give back. That’s my goal.

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

•  Room, because Im in my room more than anything. Your room is where you have your peace. Where you recover at night. Where you can be by yourself and plan things out in your life. Well thats how it is for me personally. I can’t speak for everyone else.

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

•  If I could be real, if it was my moms, pops, niece, grandma, sister like someone in my immediate family. I’ll risk my life to save them even if it means I have to die in the process. My loyalty runs so deep for them its just what I’ll do because they’ll do the same for me. Now to seriously answer this question, if I was in the situation. I can’t truly truly answer truthfully because I haven’t been put in that situation. More than likely I would probably choose family regardless or someone I know regardless. And I only say that because in the past 3 years, I have lost 8 people to death. And it hurts so much because why are they leaving the earth so quickly. Why are they leaving me. I hate it. If I can help from losing someone I love and care about. I will do it. I would rather save my family and die than let them die when I could’ve saved them. I would hold so much regret in my heart and mind.

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

•  Ironman or Batman. Simply because I’ll have so much money. I would change a lot. I would feed people. My family will be retired. I can help the children in the communities with lack of opportunities and resources and the homeless people would see me faithfully every weekend for the rest of my life. I would not let them down.

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

•  I can’t say my biggest adversity right now. It will stay between God, me and the people who knows. When my time comes and I make it one way or another, I will tell my full story. For right now, just know I never wanted to end my life. But I didn’t want to live anymore. Life was just so rough on me man. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I was taking 5 steps forward and 10 steps back. But one day I said no more. I cut out all distractions. I got closer to God. I stopped being around certain people that didn’t help me grow in life. And I just got to work and started grindin’!!! That’s all I did every single day every single night. I found new purpose in my life. Now Im so mentally tough, because my driving force is the children and homeless. My conviction, strength, mind, spirit and soul are so strong. I made a promise to God. I promised him and said : “God, if I make it. When I make it. I promise I will wash the feet of the homeless. And if I don’t take EVERYTHING in my life from me that I worked hard for.” I made that promise because he brought me out of a dark place. And I want him to take me back if I dont fulfill my promises. That’s what my biggest adversity did to me.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  I don’t know if I have one. I laugh at myself a lot. Im extremely goofy and outgoing. That’s what I love about myself. Growing up in my family you laugh at yourself or your bad moments. Its what we do. What others find embarrassing I might just shrug it off or laugh at it to be honest. I don’t know why that is.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

•  My most memorable play is when I was at JUCO at Hudson Valley and we were playing against Navy Prep. I told the QB to tell the coach throw me a jump ball pass against the corner and I scored. It was memorable because you have to know the full backstory to it. The adversity I overcame, tears I shed, the prayer before the game that my pops said when he and my mom attended the game. After I scored I cried because so many things happen to tear me down, break me and tried to get me to quick. But, GOD is stronger than any obstacle I faced and will ever face. Simple.

What song best describes your work ethic?

•  Ace Hood – My Bible
T.I. – Remember Me
Kygo – Stole The Show
Marvin Sapp – Never Would’ve Made It
Hezekiah Walker – Grateful

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

•  The MOST important trait(s) I believe I have. Are simply my GODfidence & me using others pains as my motivation to help them out. Now I know it said one but I had to say two. GODfidence means – The Lord gives me more confidence than I already have. He told me I’ll be successful regardless. I know he chose me to help the family out of everyone in the family. I know that he blessed me ABUNDANTLY. All of that gives me more than confidence because I have GOD. That’s why I call it GODfidence. The second trait is I use others pain as motivation. It drives me crazy seeing others cry, suffer, homeless, hungry, ect… especially when it isn’t their fault!! It makes me want to make a POSITIVE difference in their life.

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

•  It would be my grandpa Victor. Man, that man was everything. He’s the reason why I am so strong. Why I keep going. When I was young. He told my mom, I would be the one. He prophesied so many things in my life and so far, its all working out. I have to keep going to do the rest. But it would be him because. I miss him. Every day. Seeing his pictures makes me want to cry. If he was alive, a lot of things I went through in life would’ve been avoided and I would’ve made better decisions. I know I still rise because he has his hands in heaven on my shoulders and back covering me and pushing me forward.

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

•  Lets Get Right!

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

•  This might sound weird coming from a WR. But I love football and watch a lot of players and positions. So, I’ll go with Jason Kelce. C from the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a dawg and a straight baller! I love how he plays, work ethic, minimizes his mistakes on the field. That guy really is amazing. I would want him to block for my team and be the leader on the oline for my team for every single day of the year. Every single hour of the day.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•  I rather be respected. Fake people are liked. People that glorify money, drugs, alcohol, sex, ect… are liked. I don’t care about that. Respect me. Respect my name. Respect my grind. Respect what I overcame. Wanting to be liked to me in my opinion is for the weak. Now, if I’m liked and respected for the right reasons. For doing things correctly and doing what I needed to do for others. I’ll take that.

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

•  Josh Gordon. Josh Gordon. JOSH GORDON! The MOMENT I seen him play at Baylor. I thought he would be a hall of famer. When he came into the NFL. I thought he would soon be better than Calvin Johnson and other WRs in the league at that time. He literally had everything. No flaws or weaknesses in his game. Besides…. off the field issues. He should be the highest paid NFL WR ever. He should be chasing JERRY! He should be a top dawg still! But.. we know why. We know what could’ve been. Football aside, I hope he’s doing ok in his regular life in his mind. Spiritually and mentally. That’s more important.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

•  Both. But I love to win more. I’ll do anything to win. Im the type to push someone out of the way if it means risking my life. Which means I am prepared to lose for a bigger win. Im prepared to pay the ultimate price and loss of myself. For a bigger win of saving someone else. Sports related though. I love winning more than losing. I love being better or the best. I love when all my hard work comes to fruition. I love being the top dawg fighting to keep the top spot. That’s why MJ & Tom Brady are the greatest. He wins. And won the most. Forget stats. What that win column look like?

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

• This is going to be long. But they mean this much to me. My parents. My dad is my bestfriend & hero. My mom is my heart & soul. They’re both my guardian angels. The best father and man I know. The man that said “if you’re still chasing your dreams don’t get a job I dont want you to have any regrets in life.” The man that woke up 3-4 am in the morning to walk to work when the car broke down just to provide for the family. The man that’s extremely funny and can make any dark room shine bright. The man that showed me how to be a man, accept responsibility and take accountability. The man that stays quiet even when people lie on his name because he doesn’t care what they think. But speaks when it is absolutely necessary and needed. The man that let multiple people stay in our house when they were struggling and when we were struggling as well. The man that disciplined me even he didn’t want to but needed to and then would play basketball/football with me afterward! Never once have my pops ever did something wrong to me to hurt me in any way. He never put me in a position to fail. He always made sure that I would be good and that things would be ok. The criticism from outsiders he gets makes me mad because its all HATE. They want him to slip up and be a bad father. They want him to fail. They want to throw dirt on his name. He and I have a father-son and best friend relationship. I wish all my friends had their father in their life. I wish all my friends could experience what I do on a daily basis for at least 1 day in their life. This man is truly my best friend besides my mom and he is the greatest gift a son could have. I’ll never be the father he is. Ever. But I’ll strive to be like him and gain knowledge and advice when it’s my turn to be a father. I’m going to adopt kids one day because of him. Because of the fact, some of my friends don’t have fathers so I’ll adopt so kids in the future can have one in me!!! Without him, I’m nothing. I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be who I am. This family wouldn’t be the way it is or as close as it is. So many things in life I’ve done and achieved has been because of your help and belief in me!!!!! It makes me cry tears of joy knowing, he’ll always have my back and there to teach me and help me grow. I just want to say THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, OUTSTANDING, STRONG, INTELLIGENT, GOD LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, HARD WORKING MOM IN THE WORLD! My mom is my world, my everything, my heart, my soul and MY QUEEN!!! I’m so blessed to have a mother like her in my life! GOD didn’t have to do it for me but I’m glad he did. My mom and I been through so much in our lives and we made it through EVERYTHING! She always told me to keep the Lord first and work hard. Keep my faith and everything will be alright and she was right. IT WAS TIMES SHE WENT TO SLEEP HUNGRY AND COLD BUT STILL MADE SURE I WENT TO SLEEP WITH A FULL STOMACH AND WARM BED TO LAY IN! This woman along with my dad taught me the best lessons in my life. Everything I needed they gave me! Do you want to know why I’m so confident? It’s because of my mom! She always made sure that I knew I could be anything I want to be and do anything I want to do. SHE MADE ME REALIZE THAT NO HUMAN CAN STOP ME FROM ANYTHING! I CAN’T BE STOPPED AT ALL! Because she said GOD holds the key to my future. And with him, I can do ALL THINGS! I promised her at 4 I was gonna buy her a house with a garden in the back. I never forgot that mommy. Because one day I will. It’ll be a big house. With a brand new car in the driveway. And I can’t wait for that day. I love my mom & dad! Thank them for being the best mom & dad ever. I thank my mom for never giving up. Thank her for being a STRONG BLACK WOMAN! Thank her for giving me and everyone else her last when she didn’t have to. I thank her for never giving me up, giving up or abandoning me. She will be repaid!