2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jerome Kapp, WR, Kutztown University

• Name: Jerome Kapp ​
• Position: Wide Receiver 
• College: Kutztown University 
• Height: 6’3” 
• Weight: 200lbs 
• Twitter: JeromeKapp85
• Instagram: JeromeKapp85

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2023 NFL Draft?

I believe what makes me a top prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft is my ability to track the football while it is in the air and using all my physical attributes to go up and come down with the ball. I also believe my mindset of not being a finished product comes into play. I always strive to put new tools in my toolbelt and then after that know when to use the specific tools at the right times. 

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

I first was interested in the sport of football at the age of 4 years old. Although I did not start playing until I was 6. Before I started playing organized football, I would watch it on TV and throw the ball around in the backyard with my father.  

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

One thing NFL teams should know about me is I am my own biggest critic. I hold myself to a very high standard and I always want to find new ways to get better. Whether it be on the field, in the classroom, or in life itself. I am never satisfied because I know in this world there is always more to give, more inches to go, and more glass ceilings to break through.  

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

If I could donate to one cause in the world I would donate to the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation. Mental health is vital in this day in age. Without the ability to be stable mentally it is very hard to put forth your best effort in any aspects. Having good mental health is just as important, if not more important than being physically fit to be the best version of yourself you can be. 

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice I have ever been given is to Trust Gods Plan. No matter what happens in life you must control what you can. If you start to try and control what cannot be controlled is when you find yourself backed into a corner that is hard to get out of. By Trusting Gods Plan there is nothing that can surprise you in life. It is as much of a mindset as it is a piece of advice I have received. 

Who was your childhood hero?

My childhood heroes are my mother and father. They have given me everything I could ever want and more in life. They are the reason I am where I am today. The lessons they have both taught me throughout my life are priceless. No matter how hard times get I know I can always turn to one of them or both if I need help in any instance. The sacrifices they have made for me to do everything I have ever wanted, and more are a blessing in themselves. They have taught me to be selfless through their actions and their words. I hope one day I can have the same impact on someone’s life that they have had on mine. 

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

I would say the most underrated teammate in the locker room at my school is Jordan Davis. Jordan is someone that no matter what will bring the intensity to everything he does. He always has a swagger to him that is contagious and is always a guy that can pick people up whenever they are down. His mindset and the way he attack severy thing he does is rare and no matter what he will always put his best foot forward to accomplish what he needs or wants to do. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

I would say my biggest pet peeve is when my hands get dirty or sticky in anyway. I always try and take the best care of my hands as I can. 

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

The hardest moment in my life I had to overcome was breaking my thumb during camp of 2019. After breaking my thumb, I was upset because I knew I was going to miss games and it was the last thing I wanted to do. Three days after breaking it I went in for surgery and got 6 pins and a plate put into my hand. I missed the first game of the season, but I was determined to not miss any more than that. Monday after the first game I got my stitches taken out and I was cleared to practice but I had to wear a club on my hand. With the club I had access to about 2 inches on each finger and less than an inch of the top of my thumb. No one expected me to play but I knew I could do it and so did my coaches. After practicing with the club that whole week I was cleared to play in my first ever collegiate football game. We were playing California University of Pennsylvania. Less than 2 weeks out of surgery I caught my first ever college touchdown pass and at that moment I knew everyone believed I could do it and I proved everyone who doubted me wrong. 

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

Kutztown University is special to me because of how close to home it is. The location is amazing, and I have heard people describe it as a diamond in the rough. In the middle of fields and farmlands there is a beautiful university with everything someone could want or need. There is a sense of community that one cannot replicate because of it being a small town. The people at Kutztown are so accommodating and caring that it is hard to not love. I have met people that I am happy to call my friends for life, without Kutztown that would not be the case. 

What is your favorite snack food?

My favorite snack food is yogurt with granola. I think is the perfect snack because it is filling and good for the body itself. 

What is the best part of football?

The best part of football is the relationships that you can make. Throughout the duration of the season, you spend more time with your teammates and coaches then you do with anyone else. There is truth to saying that the guys in the locker room are your second family because when push comes to shove it is everyone in the locker room and on staff against everyone else. If the bond you form with the guys by your side is unbreakable then there is not anyone or anything that can stop you from where you want to go. 

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

I am someone who strives to be the best at everything I do and will do whatever it takes to break through the glass ceilings that come to get to where I want to go. 

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

If I could compare myself to one NFL player, I would say Mike Evans. The reason I say Mike Evans is because I believe he is one of the best receivers when it comes to tracking the ball in the air and making the 50/50 balls his every time. The way he uses his body to gain an advantage is something that cannot be taught or coached it is all based on feeling, instinct, and self-confidence. I believe his strengths are similar to mind on the football field and that is why I would compare myself to him.   

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

If I could have dinner with three people I would choose Jim Kelly, Larry Fitzgerald, and Michael Jordan. The reason I chose Jim Kelly is because he is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Being a Bills fan growing up I have heard stories about how great he truly was on the field and off. I believe I could gain insight as a receiver being able to talk to one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. I chose Larry Fitzgerald because he is one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game. Growing up watching him just expanded my love for the game of football and I always tried to replicate what he would do in games as a child. Lastly, I would choose Michael Jordan because of the mindset he had when he played the game of basketball. He is a winner in every aspect of his life, and I believe there would be a ton of value just sitting down and talking with him about that mindset, even though he did not play the same sport.