2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: John Kight II, P, Chowan University
• Name: John Kight II
• Height: 5’11
• Weight:186
• Position: Punter/Holder
• College: Chowan University
Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?
• It’s a small home town with a lot of history and on the rise. They are on the rise due to the job opportunity and the great schools near by. Families are wanting to move there and out of
Raleigh. Some of the history of my hometown is that Wake Forest used to be there before they moved to Winston-Salem. That’s where Arnold Palmer attended where he played college golf in Wake Forest, NC. Along with the great history there is a lot to do.
List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?
• Practice, Strength & Conditioning, and Film is the order I will have of importance. Practice first so you can work on your craft and get better. It takes 10,000 hours to master your craft so everyday you are working on it you are getting better. Strength and Conditioning is where you work on your flexibility which is important for a punter. Work on getting your lower body and core strong. Film while you are in your down time and relaxing. See what they do on certain punt formation so you can prepare.
What do you worry about, and why?
• How I can make my team better and what I can do to stay positive to uplift my team. I always want to be a good teammate and do anything to help them.
Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?
• Looking at my future, I wanted to see what I wanted to do outside of football. I decided to follow my father’s footsteps and get my insurance license. It took many tries to be able to get it but I never gave up. I learned and kept growing from my mistakes and that is life’s best teacher.
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
• I believe they would describe me as an encourager and uplifter. Also, that I am a funny teammate and I make my team laugh.
Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
• Trenton Cannon at Virginia State University that plays for the New York Jets What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?
• I would do financial services with my parents. I have a care for wanting to help people and that’s the best way I know I can do it and be happy. It gives me a chance to be my own boss as well.
Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?
Room. My room first because that is my personal space where I spend most of my time. It is where I regroup, refocus, and rest. Whatever that condition that space is in, carries over into the rest of my world.
If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?
• I would save the three strangers. I know where my family members will end up and I can use their story to testify to the three strangers.
If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?
• Chandler Bing. He is a funny witty person. Who has great friends and ends up in the end with an amazing woman who is also his best friend.
Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?
• Having no offers coming out of high school but had the desire to play at the next level and had the talent and drive to do so. If it wasn’t for Cardale Jones playing in the National Championship game I never would’ve heard of Fork Union and had my opportunity to play college level.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
• Punting into a net at a game getting warm up and my foot got caught into the net and I fell onto the ground with the net falling on top of me.
What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career? • Punting a 62 yard punt in a division game.
What song best describes your work ethic?
• DJ Khaled Out Here Grindin
What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level?
• Mental Toughness. It’s a new level and better competition. If you had a bad day you can’t beat yourself because you are still adjusting.
If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?
• Leonids. I would love the opportunity to talk to him and talk about his work ethic and his leadership skills. I would listen all day and listen to what he had to say to use it in my own life to lead others.
If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? • Redneck Yacht Club
Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?
• Punters and Kickers
Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?
•Definitely to be respected. You have to earned respect from others and no matter what you do,
not everyone is going to like you.
What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?
• I have the upmost respect for anyone who makes it to the league. Who am I to judge on people who are going the struggles I know nothing about.
Do you love to win, or hate to lose?
• Hate to lose. You work hard all week and sometimes you don’t get the breaks you get in a game or just have an off day. But, you can learn and get better from a loss than a win.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?
• My father. He is a great leader, friend, coach, and mentor. I wouldn’t be the man or where I am today without his guidance.
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