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2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Dakota Mclendon, LG, Winston Salem State

Dakota Mclendon the versatile left guard from Winston Salem State recently sat down with NFL Draft DIamonds owner Damond Talbot
Dakota Mclendon the versatile left guard from Winston Salem State recently sat down with NFL Draft DIamonds owner Damond Talbot

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2024 NFL Draft?   

I will be entering the draft at the age of 24, so I have seen and played a lot of football. 

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

When I was 7, watching my older brother play high school football and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I knew then that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

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

The love that I have for the game. I don’t care if I am on the practice squad or active roster I just want to help my team get a win.

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

 Wounded Warriors project, because without our military to keep us safe I wouldn’t be able to play this game that I love so much.

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

Respect all, fear none. Because in the game of football, you can lose to any opponent, so you have to respect all of them, but you fear no one because no one is better than you when you work hard every day. 

Who was your childhood hero? 

My Dad, because he showed me how to be a man. Also by his actions and lessons of how you have to put the work in to get anywhere in life. He was also my biggest critic when it came to football. He would be very honest with me on if I had a good game or a bad game, I wouldn’t be this far in my career if it wasn’t for him.

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

Our special teams people don’t give them enough credit but special teams win or lose you the game.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

People not being kind to others.

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

Trying to get into college. The school system miss placed me in school, I was put into special education classes all through elementary and most of middle school. Once my stepmom, who is a teacher reviewed my IEP and had me removed from those classes. This made high school very challenging for me because I missed so much being out of general education for so long, But I had a great teacher that would tutor me before and after school, helping me get my GPA up. And now I have a college degree, in mass communications. 

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

The community feel of the school as a whole. They are great when it comes to backing up all athletes at WSSU and making sure we have what we need to succeed. It is truly is a great place to be. 

What is your favorite snack food? 

Fruit roll-ups, man I can go through a box of those in a day

What is the best part of football? 

My teammates, you literally have 100 brothers that have your back at all times. 

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

I am very self-motivated, and do whatever it takes to become better at the game. 

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

Quinn Meinerz, both of us are small school guys, but he’s very dominant in the game. 

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

Tom Brady, Aaron, Rodgers, and Quinn Meinerz. All three of these guys were underdogs and had to play with a chip on their shoulders. I was always told that I am not big enough and that I am just an average player. When you look at Tom, Aaron, and Quinn they got told the same thing and if they would have listened we might not have been able to see the two of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. Quinn is still a young player but I think he is going to go down as one of the best offensive linemen to play the game.  I would also love to talk to the guys about how they dissect the defense and mostly talk with Quinn about how he reads the D-line to determine what kind of technique to use. 

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