2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jimmie Palmer III, S, Lenoir-Rhyne

• Name: Jimmie Palmer III
• Position: Safety
• Height: 5’10”
• Weight: 185 lbs
• School: Lenoir-Rhyne University
• Level: Division II – South Atlantic Conference (SAC)
• Twitter: justpicks24
• Instagram: __jp24__

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?

Major: Sport Management

Minor: Business 

Extracurriculars: Orientation leader – welcoming the freshman and guiding them through the campus experience 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

My teammates say I am a leader and I can put our team in a position to win. I also give a lot of constructive criticism, they do the same to me and we all learn. 

What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team? What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?

I see myself as someone who leads by example – I make sure guys are on their assignments along with myself 

I could see myself playing nickel – any 4-2 or 4-3 scheme would work for me pretty well. 

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

Braxton Westfield, WR, Carson-Newman 

Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?

C’Darius Kelley, CB – Showed a lot of improvement and has worked his way up the ranks. 

What makes you different from others at your position? 

Being on the field and being aware of the down, situation, separation, etc. I know that all the small things matter and if everything lines up you should be able to make a play. 

Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.

My freshman year of college being redshirted – I didn’t know if I was going to play at LR behind guys like Kyle Dugger. However, I pushed through and I became a starter by sophomore year.

My mom also had covid which was tough to see but we learned from that too. 

If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?

Basketball – I averaged 15ppg in high school and was first-team all-region. 

What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?

Being able to attend college, a lot of people where I’m from either don’t graduate or don’t go at all. As the fourth child in my family it means even more. 

Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.

Against Tusculum – I changed the play call when we were down by 7 – resulted in an interception which resulted in a touchdown drive and eventually the lead. 

Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?

Ed Reed is my favorite player – he always played freely and convinced the QB the defense was in a different coverage 

My favorite football team is the Georgia Bulldogs. 

What gets you “pumped up” before a game?

Listening to Freestyle by Lil Baby – he is my favorite artist and I have a whole playlist of his songs. 

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Any secret talents?

I like to go bowling in my free time. I also play the drums when I’m alone and go fishing. 

Why do you play football? Who or what motivates you the most?

I play football because it’s my getaway – it’s my happy place and takes my mind away from all of the off-field stuff. Something to focus on.

God and my parents are two major sources of motivation. I also cherish my community that lifted me up both on and off the field. 

What do you want NFL teams to know about you? 

You are going to get a player that knows how to move on and not hold on to things for long. I just want to contribute and give the team something to work with. 

Other notes: 

Freshman year of high school I didn’t know if I wanted to play football. Sophomore year it started to grow on me, and by junior year I took the team to the state championship. In my senior year I had a lot of Division I and Division II interest, Lenoir-Rhyne was a place I loved on my visit and I committed quickly after they offered. Was scout team as a redshirt freshman. Sophomore I was in a 2-deep rotation, and junior year was when I became the starting free safety. I led the team in tackles through a 4-game COVID season. Last season (junior) I led the team in interceptions.