2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jaylen Pate, DL, Northwestern University

• Name: Jaylen Pate
• Position: DL
• College: Northwestern University
• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 255 lbs
• X (Twitter): @JaylenPate41
• Instagram: @jaythejetplane

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

I used to be a bit ‘aggressive’ as a kid and liked to rough house and fight and stuff. Soccer was my first sport, but my parents said I would always push the goalie out of the way to try and get the ball in, so they realized it wasn’t really the sport for me, and that I needed to try something else. Once I realized that in football, I could hit people without getting into trouble, it was a match made in Heaven. I started playing football when I was 6 years old, 17 years later, I’m still at it.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

When things finally work out after a lot of hard work has always been the best times. Going back to high school I didn’t make much of an improvement from my sophomore year to my junior year so that’s when I finally committed to being all in and working hard to come back the next year and earn all city and truly become a dominant player. I ended up achieving my all-city goal and becoming a Bonafide D1-caliber player. 

Another moment was the Utah State game during my final year at Wyoming. At Wyoming they give out payday bars for players of the game. I had never earned one until that game where I had the best performance of my Wyoming career against Utah State (who were the eventual conference champs). It was also a huge road victory for us that secured bowl eligibility and won us back the Bridgers Rifle Rivalry Trophy. 

To go from struggling so greatly when I first arrived at Wyoming and questioned if I ever belonged at this level of football to that, it was a great night.

During the 2023 season at Northwestern after I had come back from an ACL tear, the game against Minnesota was a big one because that was the team who I had torn it against the previous season. It was an emotional leadup to that game, as well as the actual game itself as we had a dramatic 3 touchdown comeback in the fourth quarter to win the game in overtime. I had a great game as well and overcame all feelings of the ACL holding me back. That is probably still my favorite football memory today.

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

I always like to break things down into one step at a time, so after having a great pro day, the next is to have a great local day with the Bears on April 8. After that, while the ability to choose where you go and negotiate a bit with teams can be appealing as an UDFA, after working so hard it’d be nice to finally hear your name called so I want to sneak into the late rounds and be an actual draft pick. Next is to impress in rookie camp and OTA’s and then dominate in preseason to make a 53-man roster. After that, it is truly time to start my career and become a great player by dominating the details each day, one moment at a time.

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

Bit of a random pick but I’ll go with current New York Jet Byron Cowart. Back when I was a freshman in high school, Byron was the number one recruit in the country and I remember when I would turn on his tape and watch it, the biggest thing that stuck out was just how aggressive he played and how he was always in attack mode. It inspired me a lot and I tried to model my game after him in some ways, changing my stance to be like his and adopting that aggressive, physical playstyle.

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

My mother has always inspired me not just for the way she cares for me and would do anything for me, but also for how she fully believed in me and what my true potential was long before it ever was realized and while many other extremely close family members who shouldn’t have been doubting were.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

I prefer 4-3 schemes where I play as a true DE and that are based on gap responsibility but still allow you make to plays. Meaning that you have the freedom to backdoor a gap, half gap etc., but you better just make the play if you do. But that freedom allows you to play fast and free, and I always prefer when we can be aggressive and attack on defense rather than just sitting back, holding a spot, and letting the ball come to us.

What should we know about Jaylen Pate the person?

As recently as early in my junior year of high school I was a much different person and player. I had to take a hard look at my current place in life and where I ultimately wanted it to go and get serious about the work that would be required to get there. I consider my mental toughness to be my greatest strength but that doesn’t just come about, it’s been forged in the fire throughout a variety of challenging circumstances and each time choosing to make the right choice in the moment and push through even when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I like to say that every time I’ve ever felt weak, it’s made me stronger. The commitment to making sure all the hard work, sacrifices, and pain previous versions of myself went through and experienced wasn’t for nothing is what keeps me driving each day.

What stands out about your film the most?

Power and juice. In terms of power, I play with violence and aggression, perhaps sometimes to a fault, but physicality has always been a trademark of my game, and I pride myself on being the most physical player each snap, living in the backfield, and not giving up a blade of turf when I’m out there. I also pride myself on the energy and effort that I play with. My tape is littered with me sprinting full speed across the field and selling out to make plays. I have zero hesitation when it comes to all-out diving for someone whose initially out of reach. I don’t believe in giving up any free yards and you only play this game for so long, so when you play, you go all out and put it all on the line.

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

For the most part, I’m an extremely practical individual, so I like to first briefly take a step back and assess the situation, come up with a plan that should achieve the goal that I want, and then diligently and consistently execute the plan. Now, sometimes (in fact, often) you do all that and the plan absolutely blows up in your face. Welp, tough beat, that’s when you adapt, respond, overcome, and win. Life is never about the challenges but always how you choose to respond to them.

What would a team get in a player like you?

An extremely disciplined and focused player who will lead by example, even as a rookie. As well as a dynamic player who can play multiple positions across the defensive line and has the versatility to win in a variety of ways whether it be with power one play or quickness with the next.

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

I just like hitting people.

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

Bit of a random pick here but I’m going to go with Dalton Schroeder. He was a walk-on safety who I played with my first year at Wyoming when we both redshirted. I believe he only played for one year, but I always thought he was a great player who was tough and probably played with the greatest effort that I’ve seen. The way he relentlessly ran sideline to sideline is something I’ve tried to emulate with my game. He was also one of those silent killer types. Didn’t say much but his actions spoke for him. That’s what I strive to be like.