2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Winston DeLattiboudere III, DE, University of Minnesota

• • Name: Winston Scott DeLattiboudere III
• • Height: 6’2 1/2
• • Weight: 260
• • Position: DE
• • College: University of Minnesota 
• • Twitter: w_d_iii

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

• I feel like the best part about Baltimore and the immediate surrounding areas is the unique nature of culture that it has that sets it apart from the rest of the U.S. 

Food, Art, Music, Sports. Everybody is built differently. 

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

• Strength and conditioning, Practice, Film Study. Although all 3 are essential to being successful in football, without strength and conditioning a player lacks the physical attributes in order to complete their assigned mission, hence why performance testing is done. Practice is the opportunity to build muscle memory and prepare for the actual battle, and then film study gives you the opportunity to prep for what your opponent could throw at you. 

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about failure, but I believe it’s more of a driving force rather than a worry. I’m able to add more fuel to the fire grinding worrying about failure than many other people are while they are relaxing waiting for success. 

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

• I didn’t make varsity my sophomore year like some of my other teammates who moved up from JV and that crushed me. I had to make a conscious decision as a young man to pick myself back up and work as hard as possible to completely dominate whenever I got my opportunity. That’s when I found a saying that I still reference today 

“Doubt Breeds Darkness, So Shine So Bright You Refuse To Be Ignored”. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates would probably say Leadership is my best quality along with my persistence. 

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

• Dwayne Haskins 

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

• My career would entail a large element of public speaking, maybe motivational speaking or doing speeches surrounding the building of successful teams with new and upcoming businesses. 

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

• I would clean my car first because that is the item out of the 3 that the public would have the most interaction with. My room would come next and then my desk would follow because those are more intimate spaces. 

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

• I would choose my family member because I know who they are and what they bring to the table in the event of an emergency. If I saved people I didn’t know, they could turn their back on me down the road, they could believe they owe me no loyalty. 

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

• If I could be any television or movie character I think I would be Batman. Since he has no powers many may think he’s weak, but he uses that to his advantage crippling everyone else’s powers with his technology. Also, He always does what he thinks is right no matter if it makes him look like a hero or a villain. 

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

• My biggest adversity in my life came in recruiting with getting a chance to play college football, Since I played my senior season at 16 many schools either didn’t know I was a senior, or didn’t want to take a chance on an undersized young player. At a certain point I had 16 sacks and no offers my senior year, I had to lean on my faith and wait for someone to give me an opportunity when nobody else wanted to, once I got it I ran with it. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• I think my most embarrassing moment came my RS-Soph year when we were in a team meeting and all of the DLinmen said we were going to yell out a chant to start a new tradition during meetings…When the time came, I was the only one who yelled it out. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• The most memorable play from my collegiate career came in my first start against Iowa, when were battling to come back from a deficit and I fought for a fumble in the pile and ended up coming up with it. It was one of the craziest feelings I ever had playing, Rivalry game, First start, First fumble recovery. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Out The Mud By Kevin Gates 

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

• My grit is the most important trait I believe will help me succeed at the next level. I am willing to do what nobody else wants to do, and take pride in it. I understand that the margin for error is extremely miniscule and my work ethic has to be top tier in every facet of my life. Mental toughness is everything… There is no such thing as physical toughness. 

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

• I believe I would bring back Malcolm X from the dead because of his “By any means necessary” mentality that he brought to the civil rights movement. The way that he attacked situations was sophisticated  just as much as it was revolutionary. I think he would be an elite person to sit down and have a conversation with. 

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

• Winners Circle

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Minkah Fitzpatrick Jr. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected than liked simply because being liked is circumstantial and being respected holds longevity. If someone likes you that could change overnight, but if someone respects you the only person that can affect the perception of respect is you. 

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

• I feel the most for Kendrick Norton, the Dolphins DT who had his arm amputated because of a car accident. Mentally that had to be something very hard to come to terms with, that just puts into perspective how blessed all of us truly are to be able to play this game.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to lose more than I love to win, I feel like refusing to lose brings more of a burning passion than loving to win. You could love to win but you’ll always quit 1 second before someone who hates to lose. 

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

• My parents have had the biggest influence on my life because of the perseverance I have watched them have over the years in order to provide my brothers and I with opportunities. I want to be able to repay them by maximizing my potential in every endeavor I pursue.