2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Billy Greer, OLB, Central Washington University

• Name: Billy Greer
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 235
• Position: OLB/DE
• College: Central Washington University

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

• Being from Tacoma, you will find a lot of things to enjoy. But honestly the best thing about Tacoma is that it is a true melting pot for all types of people. The amount of diversity in Tacoma is incredible. From people to shops, it is the most unique place in the world. 

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

• For me personally you simply can’t have one without the others. Film study is of course incredibly important. Picking up on offensive tendencies and keys is important for overall success. Film study also gives you an opportunity to self correct. This is something I get very excited about as a player, sometimes staying up until 2am just to watch a previous game and correct myself and see what I need to do better. But, if you are not conditioned or have the strength to compete, you wont be able to make any plays in the first place. And more than that, if you don’t spend the time to practice your techniques, how will you be able to accomplish your assignments? So at the end of the day, I would say that they are all equally important. You cant have one without the other if you are truly trying to become the best you can be. 

What do you worry about, and why?

• One thing that I worry about is getting noticed from a small school. During my career, I have had to play multiple positions, from defensive tackle, to middle linebacker. While versatility can often times be seen as a good things, this alone makes it very difficult to establish myself as dominant in any given area. However, throughout my whole career I have competed at the highest level, and I am prepared to play anything. I wouldn’t say I worry about it. I have faith in my abilities, and what I have done through my career can speak for itself. But it does create a little uncertainty and excitement as too where I will end up in the future. 

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

• Something I failed at was receiving 2nd team all conference in 2017. This was my breakout year and my stats spoke for themselves. This award meant a lot to me and I felt like I had been snubbed out of a 1st team selection and that hurt. It made me question my work ethic and whether I was doing enough even though I felt I had a great season. But I never want my event to determine my outcome. I went back to work. Following this year we got a new defensive coordinator. I had to learn a new playbook, battle through some lingering injuries and play a completely new position in a new defense. I worked as hard as I could and junior year I earned 1st Team All Conference.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• Honestly I would say my teammates would say my best quality is my leadership. During my time at central we have had very good leadership. Kevin Haynes, James Moore, Bo banner and many others have taught me lore about leadership than anything. Ive learned to truly be real with myself regarding emotions, played and lead for the ones who came before me, held my teammates above all else, and I always finish with bang and back down from nobody. Since learning from them, I have been voted as a captain for the last two years and awarded the #44 from my own team. I couldn’t be more humbled and honored to receive such accolades from my teammates throughout the years. 

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

• The best player I have ever played against in college is Alex Cappa. Cappa and I competed against each other for two straight years. Going onto the field and seeing him would always be exciting. It’s not everyday you get to play against a future NFL guy but nonetheless, it was very fun to go against him and battle so many times. 

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

• I would go into real estate and become a sales agent. Ultimately the goal is to make money work for you. 

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

• Room. This is where I live, sleep, eat, do homework, watch film etc. This is where I spend most of my time so its only natural to want to keep it clean above all else. 

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

•  I’m obviously choosing my family. In the end it might make more sense to somebody else to save more people, I am not going to be the person in my family to leave another family member behind. It’s always family first. 

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

• If I could be any TV or movie character I would be Iron Man. I can realistically do anything I want and I would be a billionaire. Not much more you could ask for. 

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

• The biggest adversity in my life hands down was losing one of my best friends early in college. At the time, things in my life were simply not going well. There was a lot of death, a lot of struggle, and a lot of change going on at the time and it was a lot to handle. This was the friend who lived on the same block, who I would walk over to their house before and after school, played football with, worked out together, ate together won and lost together. This was truly one of my brothers. Being hours away from family or anybody who knew what I was going through was incredibly difficult as well. But honestly what got me through it was football and my team. My teammates are more of an extended family to me. My head coach at the time (Coach Shoemaker) was really good at helping my through it as well as my teammates who knew what was going on. This is why I chose to wear the number 5 my senior year as a tribute to my brother in my final year of college football. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• Way to many to keep track of here. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• My first pick playing defensive end against Texas AM Commerce in 2017. I called that moment out the week before it happened. It was a  tight end screen where the tight end would almost run a slant route out of the slot. so it was a pretty cool moment to see manifest the way it did. 

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? 

• I think mentality. Physical traits are something I have seen become obsolete to myself as time has gone on. While of course being physically adequate is massively important,  I have always been undersized when I am playing defensive linemen, yet my speed, explosiveness and attitude have made up for it. Before every snap, no matter what position I am playing I need to have that beast mentality. That is when I truly play my best.

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

• I would bring back the friend I mentioned earlier. One of the hardest things about my friends passing was how it happened. He was suffering from leukemia at home in tacoma and I was in college at the time coming back for winter break. I was going to see him the next morning for the first time in a few weeks and on that morning is when I received a call saying that he passed away. That is when my heart truly broke. Not only is my brother gone but I couldn’t even say goodbye.

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

• Steckers

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Frank Clark. We watch that guy in film and he is a complete beast. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected. Respect is something that you earn. Something that means a lot about YOU. Often times when someone doesn’t like you, it’s not YOU’RE fault. For the journey I am on, if people respect me, I’m doing my job. If they don’t like me it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m not doing my job. It could just be someone who doesn’t like to see success or maybe they have issues of their own. I don’t play football so people can like me. I do it because it’s what I do, and that should be respected if I’m doing what I know I can do. 

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

• Honestly, being from Tacoma this is something I see a lot. I cant answer this with one person. But for the sake of the question, Antonio Brown. I don’t exactly “feel for” him because everything that has happened to him is his fault. But it really is a shame he did this to himself because he is really good. I would have liked to keep watching him. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I. HATE. LOSING. Am I a sore loser? no. But I hate loses way more than I enjoy wins with an acceptation of a few championships here and there. We work to hard to lose. Winning should be expected. 

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

The biggest influence on my life has got to be my Father. While we definitely have had our fair share of struggles, when I think of my number one fan and supporter, it’s my dad. He’s always been there for my practices, games, events, etc. Even when he was working graveyard shifts I cant remember anything he missed up until the end of my college career. I don’t know what I would have done without him.