2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Trey Watkins, LB, College of William & Mary

• Name: Trey Watkins
• Position: Inside Linebacker
• College: College of William & Mary
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 235
• Twitter: @t_rawww06
• Instagram: @t_rawww3

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

My strong work ethic, football IQ, passion, and leadership make me a top prospect for my position. By focusing on being the best linebacker, my work ethic has translated into my strong abilities to tackle, play pass coverage, beat blocks, and run sideline to sideline. My football IQ has made me able to play the game fast and make plays. My passion for football kept me focused and motivated during challenging times.  My leadership has driven me to be able to lead myteammates on and off the football field and be an example of hard work and strong work ethics do pay off.  

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

As I can remember, I started to become interested in football at a very young age, possibly around 5 years old.  My interest in football stemmed from my dad who always was watching football games.  He is a true fan of football and was a strong and skilled football player in high school.  As a result of watching football games and understanding the game of football at an early age, I fell in love with the game and knew it was something I wanted to do.

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

I go after what I want, which is reflected in my work ethic.  From an early age and watching my parents with high work ethics, it was always instilled in me that you have to sacrifice and put in the time to accomplish your goals in all aspects of life.  I developed a determined and resilient mindset to work harder than anybody else in order to put myself in situations to succeed.  This mindset includes being open and welcoming of all feedback, taking the initiative to gather needed information, and being confident while also being humble.

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

A cause that I would donate to is to educators of kids.  There are many educators who lack funding to adequately provide an effective learning environment and tools for many kids, especially in low income areas.  I would donate to several charities, such as Support a Classroom.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice I ever received was always to believe in yourself because at the end of the day only you can waver your confidence. This has been the best advice I have received because it has required me to believe in myself before anyone else believes in me. Believing in myself has given me the ability to remain focused and motivated to perform on and off the football field and to accomplish things that may have not looked achievable at first.

Who was your childhood hero?

My childhood hero was my dad.  My dad was a high-ranking Marine.  There were times I would go to work with my dad and observe him in action as a leader.  This began to spark my interest in being a leader and the impact an effective leader has on others.  My dad definitely was a leader at home as it relates to taking care of my mom and me.  He took it very seriously.  I look up to my dad and strive to be able to be the leader he is and take care of my own family the same way in the future.

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

The most underrated teammate in the locker room is Brayden Staib. He is an inside linebacker who gives everythinghe has no matter the situation. He plays the game like a traditional downhill run stopper. He is also great in zonecoverage and tends to always come up with an interception. Even though he is not on full scholarship, he has never complained or let that stop him from trying to outwork everyone around him.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is laziness. Unless it is a time for vacation or an intended time to relax, laziness is something that I cannot stand for.

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

The hardest moment in my life that I had to overcome was when one of my best friends died in 2019. I was asophomore in college at the time of his death.  It was extremely hard for me. I didn’t know how to process his death and the feelings I was experiencing to move on with life. I realized that was a turning point in my life. I learned somuch about myself and my emotions when it comes to dealing with adversity and life.

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

The students, faculty, and coaches who go to my school makes it extremely special.  Students are determined to succeed in whatever they choose to do.  They are caring in a way you would not expect from 17 to 23 year old students.  They are very competitive, which helps pushes me to be better every day and give it my all.  The students make the College of William and Mary special.

What is your favorite snack food?

My favorite snack food is popcorn with hot sauce on it. This has been my favorite snack food since I was young.

What is the best part of football?

The best part about football for me is the chance to form unbreakable bonds with my teammates while competing and pushing each other to be the best in achieving the same goal.

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

I am a passionate and determined person with a strong work ethic and a leadership mindset who enjoys being part of a team moving toward a common goal.

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

If I could compare my play to one NFL player, it would be Roquan Smith. I would compare my ability to side steponcoming blockers and deliver a strong tackle. Also, my quick ability to beat blockers to the sideline to make thetackle. Lastly, my strength in pass coverage comes from my knowledge to know where to drop in zone coverage and my speed and agility to play man coverage.

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

1. Ray Lewis: I would love to have dinner with him to talk about passion and leadership. I would want to understand what drives him in life on and off the field. I would also want to understand how he handled being a leader, how he inspired others, and how he dealt with people who were not accepting of his leadership.
2. Lebron James: I would want to have dinner with him to talk about his money management and investments. I would also want to discuss how he handles criticism.
3. Barack Obama: I would want to have dinner with him to be able to hear his knowledge and wisdom on life, and see how I could apply it to my life.