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2022 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Brandon Lane, OLB, Erksine College

Erksine College outside linebacker Brandon Lane recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot.
  • Name: Brandon Lane
  • Position: OLB
  • College: Erskine College
  • Height: 5’11
  • Weight: 210 lbs.
  • Twitter: @_B_LANE_
  • Instagram: @B_LANE_

What makes you a top prospect at your position  in the 2022 NFL Draft

What makes me a top prospect at my position in the 2022 NFL Draft is my athleticism, my high motor, and my enthusiasm. My athleticism allows me to make plays I am not supposed to make, my high motor allows me to run down plays from all over the field, and my enthusiasm just brings a whole different level of energy on to the field. My energy is the will to compete with anyone, anywhere, at any given time.

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?

Football has been my love for as long as I can remember. I remember when I wasn’t old enough to play, we would ride past my little league field and I would see all the older kids out there either playing or practicing and with my snag a tooth smile I’d say “I wanna play football.” I started playing football at 6 in pads, I didn’t start off in flag how most kids did. 

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

NFL teams should know they would be getting a player willing to do anything to help the team. They would be getting a player that has a passion for the game and just loves to be on the field, he’d play offense, defense, and special teams all at the same time if needed. 

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be? 

If I could donate to one cause in the world it would be jobs and a place of their own to live for homeless people, and also counselors to help with their everyday struggles, money managing, and time managing. 

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

The best advice I have ever received was about a year ago, someone told me that “Your future needs you, your past doesn’t.” I had never heard those words before and now I say them to myself every single day.

Who was your childhood hero? 

My childhood hero, I would say is my mom, but see I didn’t even realize it until late though. I never had like this famous person I looked up to because I’ve always seen them as just people. I say my mom because of the sacrifices she took to raise my brother and I. She would work multiple jobs or try to move us as far away from the bad sides of town as possible with the little money she had. She’d even try to keep us busy with after school activities and what not. I don’t think people actually think back on the sacrifices their mom has taken just to raise them right and bring them up in this cruel world we live in.

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school? 

At Erskine, the most underrated teammate of mine is all of them. I don’t say that just to say it either. I say that because, even though it’s no excuse, everyone around me were literally freshman or 18/19 and they still went out and competed with people 22 yrs and older, with years of experience over them. Kids with heart like that nowadays are hard to find. Our coaching staff played a huge role in keeping everyone grounded, motivated, and ready to compete every single day.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

My biggest pet peeve is when people do not answer the phone. What is the point of having a phone if you are not going to answer it? I don’t know why, but when people don’t answer it rubs me the wrong way because I always answer the phone.

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome? 

My freshman year in high school was the hardest moment in my life to overcome. It’s because before then, I had been in the church, like my family and support system kept me in church, but I still never understood faith until I endured my freshman year of high school, now my faith in God is unwavering! 

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

Erskine is special to me because how I ended up there was kind of one of those full circle deals. Out of high school, Coach Gage Hayes, our offensive coordinator, was recruiting me out of high school to come to his previous school which was Bryant University out in Rhode Island. He came to my high school my senior year and was going to offer me, but the head coach from Bryant had just got fired, so the athletic director at Bryant told all remaining coaches to hold off on offering kids or recruiting. After covid interrupted my attempt to walk on down at Florida Atlantic, I was still looking for a home and Coach Hayes and Coach Shap Boyd, my head coach, were starting up at Erskine College and welcomed me in. I can’t thank those guys enough. By far, this is the best coaching staff I have ever been apart of, those guys are special.

What is your favorite snack food? 

My favorite snack food is kind of unconventional, but I would have to say cereal. I can eat cereal all day at anytime of the day. I just don’t get tired of them. 

What is the best part of football? 

The best part about football to me is defense, and the thrill of getting stops or making big plays. It’s just that the energy when making a huge hit, or sack, or interception, or tackle for loss is through the roof. I go WILD when a teammate makes a play. The sideline and the crowd goes wild as well. It’s just a great feeling whether you’re making the play, or witnessing the play. 

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say? 

In one sentence I would say “I’m built Ford tough and built to last.”

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be? 

I would compare my play to either Jamal Adams, or my fellow Polk County, Florida native Derwin James. Those are the players I see my game being similar to. Those guys are work horses and all over the field. That’s one of my perks, being able to be all over the field.

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Before anyone else, I would have dinner with the late great Nipsey Hussle. Nipsey was just the most authentic person, never changed for anyone, was big on faith, and was also huge on following your dreams no matter what, just don’t give up. He was just the person that most resembled who I am. Then I would have to go Tupac, he was just different and full of knowledge, just like Nip. I would like to hear more about Tupac’s activist side from him during dinner. I would also like to have dinner with my granny, Pearlie Mae Lane. My granny was just so pure man, whatever I needed she was there. She didn’t even get to see me in college or graduate high school, but it’s ok. I’ll make her proud of me, mark my words. 

Damond Talbot

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

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