2022 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Gabriel Ballinas y Pérez, K, Albany State

- Name: Gabriel Ballinas y Pérez
- Position: Kicker / Punter
- College: Albany State University
- Height: 5’10’’
- Weight: 214 Lbs
- Twitter: @gaboballinas
- Instagram: gaboballinas
What makes you a top prospect at your position inthe 2022 NFL Draft?
The power of my leg and my consistency resulting in awards all through my college career, such as All Conference 1st team Kicker / Punter (Appointed last three years), HBCU All American and HBCU Special Teams Player of the Years, among others.
At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?
10 years. I started playing football in Monterrey, Mexico
What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?
That I came from Mexico to play football to United States on a College Football Scholarship. I came with one goal in mind, and it is to play football at the highest level and after a successful college football career I am ready for the NFL
If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?
School scholarships. That´s where I found the door to my dreams
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Never stop trying, just be congruent, be consistent and be constant
Who was your childhood hero?
My Dad
Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school?
We have a very solid locker room. The coaches work to motivate and strengthen the team spirit is fantastic and they know how to take advantage of anyone’s skills
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Lack of honesty and lack of team spirit
Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?
Leaving a country, a family and friends to arrive to a country to start over from zero to find new friends, learn a culture and look for opportunities
Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?
Albany Sate is a Black College (HBCU) and it is full of history and culture. Alumni ceres in a very special way for their alma mater
What is your favorite snack food?
Nachos
What is the best part of football?
The brotherhood. To me it is amazing how your team mates become your brothers for life
If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say?
For flipping the field and adding points to the score trust me. To win games on Sundays you need an athlete like me on the field, I can score for six too.
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be?
I cannot compare myself to any professional at this point, but somebody that I look up to is Justin Tucker
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?
There are no other two people in my but my grandfather. I would give anything for that to happen

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