USports Spotlight of the Week: Zachary Aboud, OL, McGill

Zachary Aboud the standout offensive lineman from McGill recently sat down with Naol Denko of NFL Draft Diamonds.

Name: Zachary Aboud
Position: OL
College: McGill (Canada)
Height: 6’1
Weight: 303lbs

Hello Zach! Thanks for taking the time to speak with me. How are you doing? What are you up to these days? Please introduce yourself to our readers!

Hello, I am doing very well thank you. Currently, I am busy with a university athlete’s exciting life. Constantly find myself doing something, which is awesome. With the off-season starting to reach its full form, my life has been very eventful. My off-season consists of going crazy in the gym with the boys at McGill and being able to take some time for myself to catch up with some free time to be able to work, spend more quality time with friends and family, and be able to put more focus on school making sure I am on top of the schedule.

What got you into football? & Why do you enjoy playing football?

I fell in love with football at a very young age. Having been given the opportunity to come from a family that excelled in the sport during their era was a major influence on my love of the game. Growing up my father had a huge influence on my upbringing. He is my role model. I was lucky enough to have found the position that best suited me at a younger age. I loved playing Center because it was what my father had played. Growing up hearing stories of when my dad and uncle played football and just hearing how their peers spoke about them and their memories of my family in football was special to me. As I started to get older and develop my game and myself, football became a major outlet for me to be myself. I feel that my passion for the game is best displayed when I’m playing it. There is no better feeling in the world than when you’re lined up in the trenches and you’re with your brothers on the field knowing you’re about to go to “war” with them all game long with the collective goal of dominating the people in front of you. There’s no feeling like it. Being able to line up against someone in front of you and look them in the eyes and not having a second thought that you’re going to dominate this player all game long and all the other players you will face during that game. I enjoy football for many reasons: the love of the game, the love I have for the people I play with, and the love I have to want to be the best player possible when I am out there to make sure I do my part to help the team have the best chance of succeeding.

What are your goals as a football player and as an overall person?

Growing up my goal was to always make it professional. As I am sure many people had the same dreams and ambitions, but to see myself progressively get closer and closer to accomplishing that has been an amazing journey. I loved every minute of it, and although it has not always been easy, it has allowed me to shape myself into the person I am today. Before having the opportunity at McGill, education was never a major priority for me but now that I am here a goal of mine is to leave McGill with a degree in Physical education and be at the top of my class. My personal goals are ultimately overshadowed by my most prominent goal which is to be able to bring a Vanier cup back to McGill. To be able to build this team and be part of a team that has to face the adversity of being the underdog day in and day out just makes it so much more special.

How do you feel going into your 3rd year at McGill?

Going into this year, I expect to bring the same type of swagger and intensity I bring every year but with a chip on my shoulder. Although I was able to succeed on a personal level the years prior meant nothing to me until we can win as a team. This year is a special year with a major change in the off-season and a very young and eager team willing to leave it all on the field. I expect to bring another type of level of intensity, the work we have put in as a collective group and continue to put in will make this year so much more special. On a personal level going into this year, I want to make a mark. I want to be the best offensive lineman in the league. I hold myself to a very high standard and set many personal goals for myself at the end of every season. Last year, I had the opportunity of achieving a lot of the goals I set out for myself. This year, my goals have changed and so has my mindset and I am ready for another awesome journey with my brothers.

What was your best game last season? How did you feel after the game?

One game that stands out the most for me is against our crosstown rival, Concordia. Last year, our second game against them at home for the Shaughnessy Cup was one of the most memorable games I have played in. I felt that this was one of my best games of the season because it was a game of high stakes. It was a game every player wants to be able to play. A game where you need to leave everything on the field. This game was the game that decided our team’s playoff shot. Everything was rolling, the offense was hot. Our quarterback was balling out and putting everything on the line, the offensive line was balling out, receivers were dominating and running backs were running downhill like trucks. The defense was battling like dogs, getting us big stops. It was a back-and-forth battle all game long. This game holds a special place in my heart because for one it is against my father and uncle’s alumni, it’s for the Shaughnessy cup, and it was a game that showed true character every time. It was a game where we fell short but as a collective, it was a major eye-opener for us as a team moving forward to the next year. As a team, we played great and learned a lot from that game. That feeling a player gets after the game is done is like no other. Body is always beaten up!

What’s your typical fitness routine?

My typical fitness routine is best described in one word “Meathead”. I say this because I try to connect my gym training to my type of football style. All about going crazy in the gym. That’s where I feel the best athletes are made. I have recently taken a different approach to my training this year for many reasons. One being that I really wanted to put some emphasis on getting bigger. Knowing that I want to get bigger I try to apply as much mobility I can into my routine. Started getting into doing yoga for a year now. I do it twice a week. Great way to do some active recovery and bust a sweat. Since including this in my routine, I noticed a major shift in my flexibility and balance. The weight room is the easy part. I am in the gym 4-5 times a week. Thanks to the help of the training team at McGill and Gordo Performance, this off-season will be a big one. One thing I’ve done to bring my fitness routine to a higher level is I follow a strict diet plan in season and out of season. Would like to give a huge shoutout to Gordo Performance for that as well. I have been following it strictly for one year and I love it. Plus, the results are positive and incredibly aligned with my objectives.

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

My favourite offensive scheme is hard nose down hill football. This is my favourite scheme because there’s nothing like wearing down a défense and going straight at them. Just absolutely dominate the front 7 all game long. Hard nose downhill football with tight ends on the line. If I could, I would run DIVE all game long. However, given that league rules state that we play three-down football, a DIVE play all the time is not ideal. What can I say, there’s nothing better than a “war in the football trenches”.

What would you tell a team during a draft interview?

I’m a great asset, I am a great team player. I will apply myself into doing whatever it takes to improve a team. I’m here to make an impact right away. I will lead both on and off the field and make an impact with the community by helping to give back to the community and the fans that help support the team. To help build a bridge between the community and the team.

What would you tell aspiring football athletes?

Keep on working, I was never the best player and I’m still not but I have come a long way. Everyday, come in with the mentality that you’re going to get 1% better. If you’re able to carry that with you everyday, you’ll be so much more ahead of everyone else. Think about it, if you get 1% better everyday, by the end of the year you will be 365% better than you were at the beginning. Set yourself obtainable goals that you can revisit in 6 months and see your progress. Write down how you are going to achieve the goals, then in 6 months write down how you achieved those goals or why you didn’t and what you could have done differently. This type of mentality can be applied to your everyday life not just from an athlete’s perspective. I can promise you, if you stay consistent and don’t give up that desire to be great and be the best at whatever you want, you will succeed.

Do you have any highlights you want to show?

What’s your Twitter/Instagram? So, any potential fans/scouts can check you out!

My Instagram is @Aboudie_53 and my Twitter is @Meathead50