2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Tavion McCarthy, DB, Mercer University

• Name: Tavion McCarthy
• Position: DB
• College: Mercer University
• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 197 lbs
• X (Twitter): @thtman_tae
• Instagram: @tae.mccarthy

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

Growing up I was a triple sport athlete and in high school I had to pick between basketball and football and my high school coach told me about the brotherhood that comes with football and how everyone has to do their 1/11th and establishing a culture and I believe football has the best culture in sports and in college I fell in love with the work and training that you do in football.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Being selected as a captain my senior year of high school and in college facing adversity my freshman season and how I came back in 2022 my senior year showing a captain role at Northern Michigan and that allowed me to go into Mercer in 2023 the first year I was in the playoffs and it was also the first game in school history Mercer won in the playoffs.

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

Deliver the word of God to people around me and give back to others and to educate others to show them what a sport can do physically and mentally for others.

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

Deion Sanders, just his extreme confidence in his work ethic and tenacity and how he used his work ethic to change the game for cornerbacks and now how there’s 3 on the field at a time and how he could teach me some things.

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

My father, because he’s a blue collar worker working 65-80 hours a week, working hard for what he does and he instilled in me a work ethic that I take with me on the football field every time.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

Cover 4, 0, 1. All true man concepts, the cornerback position is well respected when you play man to man and I always respect the challenge of going one versus one and showing what I can do out there.

What should we know about Tavion McCarthy the person?

I’m willing to do whatever it takes for my team and I work extremely hard for what I want and to find a solution and everyday I go out there and try to be a better person everyday. I will never step down from mediocrity I will always strive for perfection even if I never achieve it.

What stands out about your film the most?

I’m a very instinctual player, when I see the ball I attack it and I always feel like I need to be part of the play even though I understand my job comes first I want to be in the play.

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

I continue to find my weaknesses and find opportunities to overcome those weaknesses and challenge my mistakes like being in the film room more or practice more and off the field I just try to gain as much wisdom as possible and use it to overcome my mistakes.

What would a team get in a player like you?

Somebody who consistently works hard and someone who wants to soak up as much knowledge as possible and go out there everyday and a person who is willing to do anything they say and do anything they want me to play.

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

The brotherhood and everyone having to work together to have a winning culture and how much time you have to put in to be successful and it takes more than one person to win you have to have help from others.

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

Tyshon King, he plays at Youngstown State right now, I’ve seen his work ethic and drive and just seeing him wants me to put in more work to an NFL professional athlete the way you have to become a pro.