2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Emmanuel Aboagye-Gyan, LB, University of Ottawa
- Name: Emmanuel Aboagye-Gyan
- Position: Linebacker / DB
- College: University of Ottawa
- Height: 6’1
- Weight: 205
- Twitter: @Eman_AG
- Instagram: @eman.ag_
What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2023 NFL Draft?
– I am a true Swiss Army knife. I have experience playing at almost every position on defense and have shown that I can do it all effectively at a high level. My ability to play in space and be a box defender gives me an edge over other defenders that can only do one or the other. I have a combination of speed, strength, and a high football IQ that has allowed me to fit in anywhere quickly.
At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?
– I became interested in football around the age of 12 but my parents never let me play until I pushed hard enough in the 9th grade where i instantly fell in love with the sport.
What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?
– There is no one that will work or compete harder than me. Adversity motivates me.
If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?
– The UN World food program.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
– Your biggest competition is yourself, be a better version of yourself than you were yesterday.
Who was your childhood hero?
– P.K Subban
Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school?
– Free Safety, Harnoor Dhaliwal.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
– Complacency from people with great potential.
Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?
– Suffering a major injury that took away my ability to walk for months, & making it back in time for the season.
Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?
– uOttawa is a place where you feel like family not only with your coaches and teammates but with various other varsity teams as well. The way we all support each other is a very special thing to see.
What is your favorite snack food?
– Honey-roasted peanuts.
What is the best part of football?
– Having the opportunity to be free and let your true self come out for 4 quarters.
If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say?
– My ability to learn, adapt & immediately implement something is second to none.
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be?
– Tyrann Mathieu
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?
- Tyrann Mathieu – To truly understand how he overcame so much adversity and used it to drive his success.
- Kobe Bryant – To learn what it takes to be the very best at what you do, and what it takes to stay at the top.
- Edward Snowden – This is someone that sacrificed his life, safety, and freedom for the greater good. To have the chance to understand his decision-making process when so much was on the line would be a great learning opportunity.
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