2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Leon Middleton, OL, Washington and Jefferson College

• Name: Leon Middleton
• Position: OL
• College: Washington and Jefferson College
• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 280 lbs
• Twitter: @LMiddleton53

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

What made me decide I wanted to be a football player started at a young age. When I’m on the field it brings me peace, joy, & happiness. That is a feeling I wouldn’t trade for nothing. Football is something I enjoy a lot. Football is something I gave my all too. I knew at a young age football was something I wanted to do as my profession.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

My favorite moments from my football life are really the memories, bonds, & winning games with teams & organizations I have played for. I been playing football since the age of five years old. I have hundreds of favorite moments from my football life & it will be impossible to pick out my favorite because each moment means something different to me.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

Going forward as a football player I am looking to achieve to be the best player I can be in the NFL. I want to make a name for myself & prove to myself that I can play & compete in the NFL.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

If I can hang with any football player for a day past or present, I will most definitely hang out with Ray Lewis. Growing up playing football Ray Lewis was that guy. On the field he played with so much passion & aggression. He talked his talked & backed it up as well. Ray Lewis is so inspirational to me & every time he talks it is very motivational for me. I learned a lot from listening & watching Ray Lewis.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

My mom inspires me the most. As a single mother I witnessed my mom earn her bachelor & master degree from the University of Maryland. I watched my mother work hard to achieve her goals & make sure I had everything I needed growing up & now. My mother has showed me that no matter what you do in life you have to work hard for it regardless. It will not just be given to you. I Love My Mom!

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

My favorite offensive scheme is Smashmouth football. Being able to run the ball consistently & effectively on the offense is fun, especially playing offensive line. Knowing you are moving another man from point A to point B against his will is something I will always enjoy to do.

What should we know about Leon Middleton the person?

What you should know about Leon Middleton the person is that he is a well-rounded respectful man. Very chill & laidback. Confident, brave, and very passionate in anything he does. Leon Middleton is one of a kind & sees the world differently from most.

What stands out about your film the most?

What stands out about me the most on film is my footwork, my strength, & my power. Also being able to understand where the play is designed to go & creating good running holes for the running backs & doing my job by delivering solid blocks.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

How I handle challenges in life is by not trying to get overwhelmed by things. I learned that in life things will become challenging & as humans we tend to think too much about what we need to do or things that we need to have done all at once. So I focus on one thing at a time and by doing this it helped me be able to overcome any challenges I come across. This has also helped me on the field as well by focusing on one play at a time & executing that play to help out my team.

What would a team get in a player like you?

What a team will receive in a player like me is a hard worker. A player who will always give it everything he has. A player who is coachable & will get the job done no matter what. A player that is dedicated in perfecting his craft.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

What I love most about the game of football is the competitive nature of the sport, the physical aspects of the game & having fun while winning games with my team.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

Throughout my football life I played with a lot of underrated players. Since I have to choose one, I will like to say the most underrated player I played with is EJ Thompson. I played with EJ in high school at Thomas Stone High School & in college at Washington & Jefferson College. He is a running back who I have seen put in that work on & off the field. EJ pushes his teammates to be better & is a beast on the field. EJ is difficult to tackle when he has the ball in his hands & is a powerful blocker. Shoutout to my good friend EJ Thompson.