2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Carson Heidecker, OL, Notre Dame College (OH)

• Name: Carson Heidecker
• Position: Offensive Line
• College: Notre Dame College (OH)
• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 295 lbs
• Twitter: @HeideckerCarson
• Instagram: c.heidecker

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

– I think being at the Division 2 level helps a lot because I already feel like I have been overlooked by everyone throughout my entire football journey, which has caused me to work out harder than ever and drives me to be great. On the field, I think I am above average when it comes to athleticism for my size and I pride myself on being a technician while having quick feet in the trenches.

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

– I started playing football when I was 5 years old as I was asked to leave my indoor soccer team because I was “too physical”

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

– I truly love the game of football and I spend the majority of my time thinking about football or even working on different drills to work on my craft. Along with that, I have a great support group around me that also wants nothing but the best for me and that group also drives me to be a better player, and even a better person.

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

– If I could donate to one cause it would be to the AAAD which is Athlete Against Anxiety and Depression. I feel as if this I important because so many athletes go through struggles in today’s society including me at one point and football has always been my “getaway” from my problems.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

– My dad always told me to “make them remember” and this may not be advice, but it always stuck with me because it always made me play harder. After all, I wanted the person across me to remember who they were playing along with the entire team, but also everyone from back home who watched me play at Columbia Station.

Who was your childhood hero?

– My parents were my childhood heroes because they always found a way to get through everything even though I know there were struggles, they never made us feel as if there were. They showed me how to keep my head down and work and make no excuses. 

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

– There are a lot of young cats in the locker room right now that will be great football players, but I would say right now Whakeem Roman would have to be the most underrated because he played great this year until his injury, but he is young and is going to bounce back. Another name I would throw out there is Abe Nyang who balls out every time he gets the opportunity to.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

– When guys don’t go all out in the weight room and practices when we only get so many hours to play this game, but also when people refuse to re-rack their weights in the weight room because it truly is not that hard and my high school football coach Jason Ward always emphasized picking up the weight room and he even called me out once and it has stuck with me ever since and helped me stay disciplined throughout my journey.

Who is your favorite teacher ever?

–  I’ve had a lot of great teachers in high school and NDC but my favorite college professor has to be Professor Berdysz because he taught me in a way that helped me understand, but also was in the field that I am looking into and gave me life experiences that he was currently going through. In high school, I would have to say that Mr. Geanuracos or Mr. Taylor would be my favorite because they were easy to talk to about anything and I also enjoyed their classes.

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

– I would say that coming back from my many injuries throughout my career has defined me as a player as I never gave up even after my injuries to my foot, pelvis, knee, and many others. When I hurt my pelvis I never really thought I would play football again, but that was my junior year in high school and I am now playing college football in my senior year of college.

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

– I think NDC is different than other schools to me because of the history and how it used to be an all-girls school until recently which is even more astonishing when you look at how the football program has become so well respected in the short time it has been here. NDC is special to me because they were one of the few schools that saw something in me when many did not and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. 

If you could have any franchise restaurant in your house what would it be?

– I would say Chipotle which is pretty basic, but it is the best post-workout meal known to man.

What is your favorite snack food?

– I am a big fruit snack guy and will have those or sunflower seeds at any and every film session.

What is your degree in?

-Criminal Justice 

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

– I will do whatever is asked of me with no questions asked.

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

– I know this is a hard comparison because he is one of the greats, but I think I play like Jason Kelce because of how athletic I play and how I play with my leverage and angles.

What is your favorite game to play at the carnival/theme park?

– I like knocking the pins down with a baseball or the dunk tanks because I used to play baseball so I am pretty good at it.

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

– I would say, Coach Paul Alexander, Joe Thomas, and Jeff Saturday because I think I could soak up so much knowledge just speaking to them and maybe even getting up and walking through some stuff.