2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Malik Scates, OL, University of Dubuque

• Name: Malik Scates
• Position: OL
• College: University of Dubuque
• Height: 6’4”
• Weight: 338 lbs
• X (Twitter): @scatesscates
• Instagram: @bigleeak

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

Doctor told me during the summer before my freshman year of high school that I was borderline diabetic and I needed to become active asap or potentially I could die and I was panicking and really I always watched sports basketball, baseball and football and for some reason I pictured myself as a football player and I told myself that I was going to go out there and try it out my freshman year and stick with it regardless if I’m good or not. I also didn’t know a single position name besides QB and didn’t know the fundamentals behind anything.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Off the top of my head probably my most favorite memory has to be the crosstown rival hail mary win I had my junior year. My team was down by 7 with 25 seconds left in regulation and we’re just directly on the logo of the field on a 4th and a mile QB got chased out of the pocket and chucked it up to to our tallest WR and our back up slot who didn’t play at all, all season (this was the 2nd to last game of season ) gave 1000% effort and saw the ball get thrown under a little and he just dove and tipped the ball up and our tall WR grabbed it we score and tie the game up and go to OT and win the game I couldn’t even speak after the game my voice was gone. The whole narrative was if we lost that game we would have been the first team to lose to these guys in like 35 years. Easily the craziest game I’ve been apart of.

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

I want to be one of the greats and best OL to play the game of football.

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

I would want to hang out with Trent Williams. I gotta pick his brain he’s the best OL in the game right now and fighting for his claim as one of the best regardless of position to ever play the game. Michael Jordan, as a Chicago person you have to have Jordan on your list I would really want to speak to him about his mindset and what are the things he did to stay at the top for so long.

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

The family member who inspires me the most is my Grandad he taught me to always do the right thing no matter what. He also taught me about sacrifice and to be the man of the family and keep everyone together.

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

My favorite offensive scheme is a very easy hard nosed fast tempo and balanced out run and pass scheme. Once the DL hands touch their hips and they turn into mouth breathers you know you are close or have broken them.

What should we know about Malik Scates the person?

I’m just a simple man that works really hard. I try my best to help others and I’m a big family man.

What stands out about your film the most?

I think my ability to move someone off the ball and when up to the second level making the LBs pay. And my hand placement and footwork for a guy my size are good.

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

Football has molded me ever since I started playing my freshman year and the environment and people around me have shown me you can over come any challenge if you attack them one by one

What would a team get in a player like you?

A competitor that loves to compete and a guy that’s always willing to learn and work hard. And most importantly a versatile guy on the OL you can plug me on either side guard, center doesn’t matter.

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

Something I really enjoy is being the lead blocker up field also being the puller on counter putting that pressure on me to make that key block excites me because the team is depending on you and I know that’s the last thing I’m gonna do is let them down.

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

Kameron Hill (Tiffin University), due to his size and frame teams always keep bumping him down to DL to rush the edge most likely thinking he can’t cover in space or whatever because he’s a tall and bigger linebacker. His natural position is MLB.