2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jay Person, EDGE, UT-Chattanooga

• Name: Jay Person
• Position: Edge/OLB
• College: UTC Chattanooga 
• Height: 6’3
• Weight: 234
• Instagram: obey_5_

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

My intense high speed of play, being a every down guy, and simply making big time plays in big time moments.

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

My first year playing football was at 5 but I started to actually develop the love for the game at 9.

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

I will come to work everyday and give it 110% on the field and in the film room.

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

St. Jude children’s hospital for cancer.

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

Be patient and “the journey is the destination” meaning what you learn through your journey in life will shape you for your destination. 

Who was your childhood hero? 

My Dad.

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

Ben Brewton.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

Liars because I am a guy who you never have to lie to and I will never judge a person’s situation.

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

Seeing my Mom having to bust her tail everyday as a single mother doing all she could for me and my sisters growing up. (She always came through and we never went without)

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

It is a very family bonded place and everyone wants to see you succeed coming out of that university… It is special to me because it is a school who invested so much into me on and off the field and I have all the respect in the world for them. 

What is your favorite snack food? 

Hot fries.

What is the best part of football? 

Going through the grind with your teammates and that adrenaline feeling you get before and during every game.

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

I am a laid back well mannered guy who loves football and doing a ton of fishing and hunting on the free time.

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

I compare myself a lot to Micah Parsons, because he is a force off the edge but he is also very mobile and can play off the ball in space and in any linebacker position. (Every down guy)

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

Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Lawrence Taylor. Denzel and Jamie are two guys who have a ton of wisdom and have always been my favorite all around actors… LT is my all time favorite NFL player and he played my position so I would love to sit down with him and talk football and learn some things from him.