2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Alex Aaron, DB, Northwestern Oklahoma State University

• Name: Alex Aaron
• Position: DB
• College: Northwestern Oklahoma State University
• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 190 lbs
• Twitter: @lastnameaaron
• Instagram: @fnf4orty2wo

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

I just have always loved the game football and growing up. I don’t ever remember not being a football player. Football isn’t my identity it is a life style that I’ve lived forever and I think that’s when it started. So I guess I decided I wanted to be a football player since the moment I started playing.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

This past year honestly has to be one of my favorites. From spring ball, to summer workouts, to the season and being able to participate in the Pro Day was a blessing. I just enjoyed this last year so much because of how much I grew on and off the field. My football life helped my personal life but also just being a sponge and absorbing information and learning as a man helped me do the exact same thing on the field and gave me the opportunity to grow not only as an athlete but as a man.

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

Being one of the top defensive players in the world is something I’ve always wanted. That is something that keeps me hungry but the ultimate goal is to change lives and impact as many lives as possible through the game of football. God has allowed me to do that with the platform I have now so as my platform grows I hope the number of lives I change and impact grows along with it.

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

Hands down Ed Reed. That joker was different. He was physically talented as an athlete no doubt but his mental game was just as strong and the way he studied film you could tell he lived in the film room and took away offenses right hand. I would have to be able to pick his brain and I like to think I play like him a little but with my own seasoning to it.

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

My older brother Patrick for sure is someone that inspires me. When we were younger he was always making sure I was good whatever it took. We have always been close and now he has two children and I just want to make sure he is all good and well taken care of along with the rest of the family.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

I enjoy playing a 4-3-4 and that’s what I have played for the majority of my life but when we switch into a 4-2-5 and we run cover 2. I enjoy being able to be that middle safety checking for run and also a robber in the pass game. That’s when I turn my brain off and play ball.

What should we know about Alex Aaron the person?

That I’m a genuine person. What you see is what you get. I’m me 100% of the time. I can’t be anything else but me. I’m not perfect and I get it, none of us are, we all fall short at times. I just like to see people enjoying their time on earth while we got it.

What stands out about your film the most?

I think that I have a little bit of everything on there. When you turn on my film you going to see me playing the ball, PBUs, INTs, playing zone, playing man, moving lateral, pulling my trigger, open field tackling. Anything you want a safety to do you going to see me doing that when you put on the film.

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

I have this saying I say. It’s FNF. It means “Failed Never Folded”. I’ve failed in life but I’ve never folded. I just think regardless of what God throws at you you just got to keep going forward. It might not always end how you want it to but if you keep going forward and keep getting up when you get knocked down then nothing can stop you.

What would a team get in a player like you?

You going to get a player that finds a way. A player that knows how to hustle and enjoys the grind. A player thats ready to make it happen. You are going to get a player thats passionate. Passionate about winning. Passionate about getting better. Passionate about helping those around me get better. Passionate about football and passionate about making the world a better place.

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

I love the camaraderie. I love the fact that teaches you about trust. You on the field with 10 other people and you trusting them to do there one eleventh. Then, you trusting the offense/defense to do their thing along with special teams and coaches. Trust is a key part of life as well and I enjoy football teaching you about life and vice versa.

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

Gavin Garner. This guy is something special. He went to a few rookie mini camps and didn’t end up making it and hopefully getting into the CFL soon but I’ve seen this guy out perform players on many levels, make catches that seem impossible possible. Truly talents and I’m not sure why or how he keeps slipping through the cracks. Torrence Stevens is another one. Solid ball player. Not a big guy but his playmaking ability is special.