2022 NFL Prospect Interview: Colton Lamson, OT, UC Davis

• Name: Colton Lamson
• Height: 6’6
• Weight: 295
• Position: OT
• College: UC Davis
• Twitter: @Colton30lamson
• Instagram: @colton30lamson

Talk about your experience as a student. What is your major/minor? Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?
I have had a great college experience as a student. I started my collegiate career at Sacramento City College as a Criminal Justice major, and when I transferred to Davis, I changed my major to Sociology with an emphasis in Law and Society. I also will graduate from Davis with a minor in Education and as well as a minor in US History. Outside of football the only activities I really participated in was intramural softball with a ton of the guys on the team.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?
I would hope that my teammates would say my work ethic is my best quality. Every day I try to never be outworked, and I believe that my work ethic is the reason why I’m even playing at the Division 1 level. I just hope I can set a good example every day on the practice field and in the weight room. Our expectation here at UC Davis is that we work hard each and every day.

What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team? What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?
I see myself in a veteran leadership role here at Davis. I’m one of the oldest guys on the team and have been here for almost as long as anybody. I believe it’s my job to help set the standard for our younger guys. In our offensive line room, my role is to set the tone of the physicality of our position. I think I am best suited in an offense that runs the ball and lets their offensive line be physical and nasty controlling the run game. That’s what we have here at Davis, one that likes to establish the run then let our skill players get loose and take the top off defenses.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
The best guy I have ever played against was Derek Tuszka from North Dakota State. He was a super effective run defender and as diverse of a pass rusher as I’ve faced. 

Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?
Our QB Hunter Rodrigues impresses me a ton. Dude just has a killer mindset and just wants to win at all costs. If that means airing it out or running the heck out of the ball it doesn’t matter to him, he just wants to win

Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.
I would say my biggest struggle I’ve overcome was making the transition from Junior College defensive end to offensive tackle here at Davis. The closest I’ve ever come to playing O-line before coming here was tight-end in high school. The first year at Davis was tough. I’m not sure I won a 1on1 rep the entire season because the position was new to me. Yet, the coaches were really good with me and just kept throwing me in their kind of baptism by fire, and I think that really really helped me.

If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?
I think I’d play baseball. Out of high school I had a couple opportunities to play baseball. I am left-handed, and I pitched. So that got me a little bit of attention. Yet, I’m definitely a football player at heart and committed to the game.

What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?
I think my biggest achievement and what I’m most proud of is just playing division 1 football and getting to go to a top 10 public school in the world. I think that the fact that my brother and I are playing college football at the same time, even though on different teams, is amazing. Just playing college football is something that we both have dreamed of and talked about since we were little kids.

Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.
I think the most memorable plays of my career happened this past spring vs Idaho State. We had to make a 2-minute touchdown drive to win the game and ended up running power to win the game as time expired. Just being able to put away that game as an offensive line was awesome to me.

Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?
I’m a huge Rams fan so that is for sure my favorite NFL team. Although I’m also a big Taylor Lewan fan. I love the way he plays the game from an offensive line perspective. He is known as a nasty finisher and that’s really what I try to model my game after, having the right attitude on the field.

Who is your favorite music artist? What gets you pumped before a game?
My favorite artist is Luke Combs. Before the game I like to listen to country music and a little bit of rap. That kind of stuff gets me going.

What is your favorite comfort food?
Wings. I love spicy food

Do you have a favorite movie, TV show or actor?
My favorite movie is American Sniper. I’m a huge fan of Chris Kyle and his story. 

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Any secret talents?
I like to hunt outside of football. We have a couple guys on the team who I like to go hunting with when we have time. Other than that, I really like watching football, I’m kind of a football junkie

Why do you play football? Who or what motivates you the most?
Football is the ultimate team sport, and I don’t think there is really anything like going out there with 11 guys all working together trying to accomplish a common goal. Just being the best motivates me. I want to dominate every play so in the offseason that’s really my fire and what pushes me. I know there’s dudes all over the country working hard to beat me, and I have to do everything in my power not to let that happen.