2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: James Stockwood, DL, University of Toronto

• Name: James Stockwood
• Position: Defensive Line
• College: University of Toronto 
• Height: 6’7
• Weight: 290
• Instagram: @james_stockwood

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

I bring a run first approach to the game because of playing the Canadian game but I am still athletic enough to get into a pass rush with speed and also strong enough to get a blocker off me if I want. I believe that I am one of the most athletic interior linemen that is tall enough to get there hands into the passing lane to bat down a ball.

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

From as early as I can remember I was either watching football or thinking about football whether that be first time I played contact football at 5 years old or from watching football all the time.

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

I don’t just enjoy football. I am obsessed with the little tricks and schemes behind everything from how QB’s say their cadence to how offensive linemen lean in their stance. I love to study and examine all the little ins and outs of the sport that has given me so much.

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 Ending Violence Association that deals with women and children that come from domestic violence houses where they may be abused verbally or physically.

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

The best advice I have ever received from my grandparents was to never stop believing in yourself because that’s all you need doesn’t matter what anyone else says, it just depends how you feel about yourself and always stay confident in yourself.

Who was your childhood hero? 

My childhood hero in my family was always been my grandparents my grandfather who was always there to listen to my problems whether it was in person or over the phone when I lived far away from him and also my grandmother who would help me to pay for football or equipment I have always needed to play football and to also always set an example of what it looks like to be successful in life.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

My biggest pet peeve is definitely to do with my height and how clothes fit whether it be sleeves of a sweater and jacket are too short or that my pants are not long enough and expose my ankles that has to be my biggest pet peeve. 

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

The hardest part of my life ever has to be when my mom finally decided to leave my step dad who was abusing my mother verbally and physically and also abusing me mentally it was hard for my mom to leave but she knew she had to and when she finally did I had to be her rock to lean on so she knew she wasn’t alone which caused me to grow up faster than I should have but I wouldn’t change a thing about it because my mother is happier and we are both stronger for it and I am forever grateful for her and the trauma we went through together.

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

University of Toronto was important to me because It isn’t the easiest school to get into and I was the first of my family to get into a university and to get into such a prestigious school that is so close to home was huge for me and my family.

What is your favorite snack food? 

My favorite snack food is definitely chocolate rice cakes. I can eat a whole package of that if I’m not careful.

What is the best part about football?

The best part of football is the brotherhood of the team and also the preparation that goes into every game you prepare like your going into a war and you can only prepare so much and eventually have to trust the skills that you have developed from years of playing the game and play the game at a thousand miles an hour.

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

I am a hard worker that has no quit and has max effort in everything with natural length and natural athleticism.

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

I would compare my play to Deforest Buckner because we are close to the same size and we are both a power first defensive linemen but we are also athletic enough to use the speed and bend that we are naturally gifted with while also able to throw are massive arms up in the throwing lanes to interfere with the ball and the throwing lanes so the quarterback has to pull the ball down or lob it over. 

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

If I could have dinner with three people dead or alive I would have to choose JJ Watt because he is just such an influential player and just person he changed Texas when he was drafted there, I would also have to choose Babe Ruth because of how much he changed the game of baseball back in the day and finally I would have to choose probably Kobe Bryant just to get to see his mindset in real life and get to see what he is really all about with his love for the game and his mentality.