2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Thomas Linnear, Edge, Greenville University

• Name: Thomas Linnear
• Position: Edge
• College: Greenville University
• Height: 6’ 2”
• Weight: 235 lbs
• Instagram: @ultimate_linnear51

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

What made me decide to want to be a football player is growing up watching and studying the game looking at NFL players like JJ Watt, Von Miller, Demarcus Ware and a little bit of Michael Strahan.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

My favorite moments from my football life would have to be in year 2021 when our Greenville University football team had won our 1st conference championship in school history and then this past year 2023 where I was 1st team defensive All American, led our football conferences in sacks, and won Greenville University football team best defensive player.

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

I would say that my mom inspires me the most because growing up living with 2 kids at the time with no dad in our lives seeing all the sacrifices she’s made for both my brother, and I to grow up living a good lifestyle and getting us away from dangers in the city of Chicago.

What are you looking forward to in your upcoming season?

I’m looking forward to the new defensive coordinator coach we have Coach Teneoff and his coaching style, also excited for the new incoming transfer and freshman players coming in but most importantly looking forward to coming back and being 1st team all American defensive player, leading all divisions in sacks and TFL, win conference and d3 defensive player of the year.

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

If I could hang out with any football player past or present it would have to be Myles Garrett. Because Myles right now I would say is the best defensive player in the NFL right now but also his work ethic, his mentality to always be the best player out on the field during game days to wreak havoc in the backfield to QB’s is unmatched.

What are your favorite things about playing for Greenville?

I would say my favorite thing about playing for Greenville is the type of players and athletes that play and come to Greenville because while Greenville isn’t such a big town so there’s not many things to do around here the amount of great athletes from different diverse backgrounds makes playing and being at Greenville a fun place.

What should we know about Thomas Linnear the person?

What people should know about me as a person is that I’m someone who is determined to achieve the goal’s I have set for myself by not just by being a hard worker, being motivated, and the willingness to help, train, coach and improve others in their sport but to know that I’m someone who will when a opportunity presents itself to me where as it will help change not only my life but those around me I always take advantage of it by having that determination and passion for what you are trying to accomplish.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

My favorite defensive scheme would probably have to be a 3-4 defense because in a 3-4 with their being 3 down defensive linemen usually if you’re playing as the DE which is what I’ve played most of my career you can move around when playing your gap responsibility.

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

How I handle challenges both in life and on the football field is by doing what I call “press pause before actions “ and so what that means is that in life and even in sports there are going to be times where people want to give up or quit at times when some things that they don’t want to do or like to do or maybe even do like it just can’t do it anymore or lost the feeling of it in life. As far as the football field may place you against an opponent you don’t like or a teammate, coach whatever it may be pressing pause before action allows you to gather up all your inner ideas, thoughts, feeling, and reactions towards anyone or anybody to leave your mindset before going into your profession and or career.

What would a team get in a player like you?

There getting a player with a big chip on his shoulders that’s going be the hardest worker in the room, the 1st to show up and last to leave always looking for ways to improve my game and to know that a player coming out of a small school from Illinois will take advantage of opportunities presented to him and will do everything and anything to be great.

What stands out about your film the most?

What stands out the most about my film is that my get off is so fast literally every time right when the ball is snapped I’m gone off the line, then the way I attack the quarterback I’m always going at their throwing hand attacking the ball causing strip sacks, and then my motor and determination to chase after the ball carrier is like no other I’m not quitting on any plays and looking to always make a play in key moments or every single time I’m out there on the field.

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

I would the most underrated player that I’ve played with his name is Matthew Binion. Because Matt has been someone who constantly put in the work on and off the field, always shows up to ready to work with a positive mindset , and gets better every single day but doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. So I would say Matt Binion is the most underrated player I played with.