2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: AJ Gates, RB, Alabama State University

- Name: AJ Gates
- Position: RB
- College: Alabama State
- Height: 5’7
- Weight: 180
- Twitter: aj_gates7
- Instagram: aj.gatesjr
What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2025 NFL Draft?
My speed and the ability to make people miss in space and make people in tight spaces.
What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?
I’m a great player and give everything I have every play.
If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?
I would donate to kids who have an illness and who’s in need of help.
Who was your role model?
My father was my role model and taught me a lot of things I know until this day.
Who is your favorite NFL team?
Green Bay
Who is the most underrated teammate at your school?
Arelious Dunn
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is not reaching a goal and I put a lot of energy and time into something.
Who is your favorite teacher ever?
Coach Rodgers
Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?
Hardest thing I dealt with in my life was losing my father in 2021.
If you could have any franchise restaurant in your house what would it be?
Longhorns
What is your degree in?
Interdisciplinary Studies
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Barry Sanders, Devin Hester, Darren Sproles. I would choose these three to hear about their stories and to see what somethings they is could’ve done differently and their mindset once preparing for the draft.
What is your biggest weakness?
My biggest weakness is self-criticism.

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com