2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Justin Sambu, DL, Baylor University

• Name: Justin Sambu
• Position: Defensive End/Tackle
• College: Baylor University
• Height: 6’4
• Weight: 275
• Twitter: @Jsambu22
• Instagram: @403juice

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

I have a rare combination of speed and strength both playing at 3 tech and end, where I have the ability to pass rush at high level at both positions, and well as having a strong punch that combines with my very long arms that help me set the edge playing at the 5 or defeating a double team at the 3 techs because of good hands and low pad leverage. 

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

I started playing football at the age of 13, after moving to my aunt’s house for my high school career. I was originally a basketball kid due to my father Peter Sambu being a well-known Canadian College Basketball Coach and Player. But then transitioned into football as I was exiting my high school career, having played both sports and being a multi-sport athlete in high school.

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

Told to me by Defensive Line Coach Dennis Johnson at Baylor this past year, I am extremely intentional in what I do, on and off the field when I feel confident there is no doubt that I get the job done.  

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

I would most likely donate to a foundation that works with the prevention of drugs in North America, I recently had a family member that we lost due to that, so it’s been a passion of mine to work against that in any way I can.

What is the best advice you ever received?  

The best advice I’ve ever received was from a motivational speaker and former NFL player that “It would be a sin for myself to have all this talent and potential to change people’s lives around me, and not work on it to the best ability I can” 

Who is your Childhood Hero? 

My Childhood hero is probably Lebron James. He has always just been the pure definition of a solid human being and a dominant sports player which is the lifestyle that I want to live.

What teammate is the most underrated?

This past season I would say the most underrated teammate at Baylor was QB Blake Shapen, while being a stand-up leader especially through a season of adversity that we had this past fall, he always had a good attitude and quite literally had the ability to take big games over.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

My biggest pet peeve would probably be trying to have good communication with somebody and they are not communicating the same.

Who was your favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher is also my high school football coach Robbie McNab, probably the smartest Canadian football coach I have ever had and a large part of why I am entering the 2024 NFL Draft.

What is the hardest moment in your life that you had to overcome?

I would probably say the hardest moment in my life was my biological family losing its way for a short period when I was a child, I had to play a big brother/guardian role at age 12 for my little sister when things weren’t the best, it built character in myself to become a good leader.

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

Baylor is an Elite College football program with a lot of history, my high school football team at Cochrane High School under Robbie McNab went to Baylor in 2016 to watch them play, as well as playing Groesbeck Highschool in Texas. So returning to Baylor in 2023 was a full circle moment for me.

What franchise restaurant would you have in your house?

If I could have a franchise restaurant in my house it would most definitely be Chipotle.

Favorite snack food? 

My favorite snack food would be gushers or PB & J’s.

What is your degree in? 

I have a bachelor’s degree in communications at The University of Maine.

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

“That kid who is way too athletic for how big he is”

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

I would compare myself to Nick Bosa or Derek Barnett.

What is your carnival game?

At a Festival I’m usually at the 3-point Contest game.

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

If I could have dinner with 3 people dead or alive, I would sit down with Drake so he could tell me the ways of how to be a successful Canadian in an American Economy, as well as Aaron Donald so that he could teach me the techniques to being dominant on the field. Lastly, I would sit down with Elon Musk just to learn some cool stuff.