2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Griffin McDowell, OT, Tennessee-Chattanooga

- Name: Griffin McDowell
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 290 lbs
- School: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Level: Division I FCS – Southern Conference
- Twitter: griffin_mcdow62
- Instagram: griffinmcdowell_
Talk about your experience as a student. What is your major/minor? Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?
As a student-athlete at the University of Florida, it took a year for me to decide on what I wanted to major in. After graduating with a degree in Sociology, I decided I wanted to become a strength coach and with my remaining year at UF I received a Strength and Conditioning certificate.
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
Dependability. My teammates have always known me to be dependable. On the field, in the weight room, on time to meetings. I set a standard and I work to bring others with me.
What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team?
A leader and someone to look up to.
What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?
Offensive tackle suits my skill set because I would rather be in the trenches blocking for someone than be out in the spotlight. It takes a special person to play the offensive line.
Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
The best player I’ve ever played against is my own teammate, Zachary Carter who is know a defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?
Ailym Ford is our starting running back here at Chattanooga. He impresses me with his work ethic and his own standard he sets for himself.
What makes you different from others at your position?
What makes me different from others at my position is the versatility that I have. I’ve played tackle, guard, and center on the offensive line both at UF and here at Chattanooga. I also played a year of defensive line at UF. So I understand how defensive linemen think and also the personal experience of each position in an offensive line.
Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.
A struggle that I overcame was when I was in a bad Moped/vehicle accident at UF. After my redshirt freshman year right before spring ball, I was driving home on my moped when a car cut me off and slammed on breaks. I was going 30 MPH and couldn’t stop and I went right through their back windshield. I can honestly say I totaled a whole vehicle with my body and didn’t even have a helmet on. The Lord was with me because I ended up only tearing a few ligaments in one knee. I had to work to get back in time for fall camp and build back the confidence I had as a player.
If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?
I would Wrestle. I wrestled for 5 years starting in middle school through high school. It absolutely carried over to the field and helped me become a better football player
What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement as an athlete was being on a great football team and winning our first state championship in school history my senior year.
What gets you “pumped up” before a game?
What gets me pumped up is reflecting back on where I started and how far I have come. Also thinking about my family and how much they have sacrificed for me.
What do you do in your spare time?
I recently got married earlier this year, I no longer have spare time outside of football and school.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love to work out and be around friends and family. Anytime I can be with my brothers fishing on a lake or something like that is what I love to do.
Any secret talents?
I can read music and play piano. I consider that a pretty secret talent.
Why do you play football?
It’s all I’ve ever known. Football has gotten me to places I never thought I’d get to. I hope to keep playing this great sport after college.
Who or what motivates you the most?
My father. He came from nothing and has one of the hardest work ethics and determination that I’ve ever seen. It motivates me to work hard and to one day retire him.
What do you want NFL teams to know about you?
I want NFL teams to know that I’m a dependable player. That every day I’ll show up ready to improve from the day before. I’m a player that is always on time, and comes to work every day, and the standard that is set from previous great players is something I will uphold during the time that I am with them. If one team gives me a shot, I will give them my all.

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