2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Alex Cohen, QB, Anna Maria College

• Name: Alex Cohen
• Position: Quarterback 
• College: Anna Maria College
• Height: 6’3
• Weight: 220
• Twitter: @alex_cohen12
• Instagram: @_cohen12

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

I believe that my consistency not only on the field but in the film room separates me from other players at my position. I am always trying to find different ways to better not only my self but my team and the players around me. As a quarterback you have to know what everyone is doing at all times and I believe my experience has shown to separate me from other players in my class. 

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

Ever since I could walk. I come from a huge football family so as soon as I turned 5 years old I was playing football.

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

A team should know they are getting players that is determined to never be out worked. Coming from a small school I’ve always had that chip on my shoulder that you’ll never work harder than me. A team should also know that I am a student of the game. I’m constantly 24/7 thinking about how I can better my craft at the Quarterback position.

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

Mental health Illness. I feel strongly about this in our country. We see it now more than ever, I know there are solutions out there and we must work together to find them. Coming from two parents that were both in the army, I was always surrounded by members in the military and I believe we should have more recourses for our veterans that have fought for our country.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Simply, never let anyone tell me I cannot do anything I put my mind too. As cliché as it sounds, I’ve always been the underdog in my football career. Coming into a program that has never won more than two games the odds were stacked against us. People always doubted us, but we stayed the course and listened and learned. Eventually winning the first ever school championship last year and smashing records left and right. Nobody can take that away from us. 

Who was your childhood hero?

An easy answer would be Tom Brady as he is the reason I play the quarterback position. But the more I think of it my real answer is my Father. My dad was a green beret in the US Army for 25 years. Although he was away overseas for much of me and my brothers childhood, we always understood his job. When he was home he and my mother never missed a game or practice. They are my biggest supporters in everything I do. Looking back I could tell it would break my fathers heart every time he had to leave, but he had to do what he had to do for our country. 

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

I have 150 amazing teammates but one teammate/friend comes to mind. Doug Jackson. Doug is a second string Quarterback at my school. He’s not only one of my best friends but one of my biggest supporters. Of course the competitors we are we always want to play and I know he does, but Doug is so selfless and helpful when it comes to Gameday. Doug helps me during games telling me things I didn’t see during games and is a guru in the film room. Every team needs a teammate like Doug but I’m happy we do. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Biggest pet peeve is when you are benching heavy and you are almost going to PR and someone grabs the bar mid rep. Don’t touch the bar! 

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

The hardest moment I have had to overcome was probably moving to Massachusetts in 8th grade. I had been in Fayetteville, NC for most of my life and one day we just moved to mass when my father retired. This was tough at first as I had to leave my life long friends and come to a different part of the country and start all over again. Thank god my new teammates welcomed me with open arms as they made my transition much easier.

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

Anna Maria College is a tiny school just outside of Worcester, Ma. We have just over 1000 students which makes this school so family oriented. You walk around and see the same people everyday and we wouldn’t want it any other way. The athletic program is second to none. Even though our school is so small we seem to always have the best attendance at our games. Our student body is so bought into the athletic programs here and it really makes playing for them so special. 

What is your favorite snack food?

Can’t go wrong with cheese-it’s.

What is the best part of football?

The family aspect of it. There’s nothing like a brotherhood in your locker room. Guys that I’m going to call my brothers for life. We do everything together, we lean on each other, and we help each other. There is truly nothing like it. 

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

Hi, my name is Alex Cohen and I’m the hardest worker you know. 

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

Josh Allen, I believe I have one of the strongest arms in the country and can put the ball anywhere on the field. As I am a bigger QB then most in my division I can still run the ball well and put my head down and get the yards I need too. 

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

Tom Brady just to have a small piece of his knowledge of the game would take me places I cannot imagine, I would be a sponge to whatever he says. Muhammad Ali just to hear how he stayed motivated even through all the criticism he went through as a professional. And lastly, my grandfather. I was never able to meet him but I hear of all these stories about him and how he fought in the Vietnam. I would love to meet him and listen to all of his amazing stories.