2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Mark Linden, LS, St. Francis Xavier University

• Name: Mark Linden
• Position: Longsnapper
• College: STFX University
• Height: 6’2
• Weight: 235
• Instagram: mark.linden

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2027 NFL Draft?

My ability to get off the ball and get downfield to be a presence on the coverage team. Not only am I a consistent snapper, but after every snap, I want and will do anything to get downfield and make the tackle. 

Tell me about a time you faced adversity and how you responded?

In my first year of university, being the camera operator for the football team was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. After being the captain and MVP of my hometown football team, it was difficult to watch games from the sidelines instead of playing. Being the camera guy was my only opportunity to stay with the team and continue pursuing football, so I embraced the role while working harder than ever in the offseason. I also learned long snapping to increase my value and improve my chances of earning a roster spot. That experience taught me humility, resilience, the importance of earning every opportunity, and most importantly, that with hard work you can achieve anything. Another defining experience came during my third year of university when I tore my ACL. For the second time, the game I loved was taken away from me. That same week, I was also dealing with personal and family challenges that left me feeling lost. Despite everything, I knew that if I wanted to play football again, I had to wake up every day with the same mindset and commitment to my recovery. The journey was long and painful, but the opportunity to step back onto the field made every second of hard work and rehab worth it.

What are your hobbies outside of football?

Music has always been a very big part of my life, and I recently decided to learn to play the guitar. I try to play for at least an hour a day while learning new songs/riffs/chords along the way. I have also developed an interest in healthy cooking. Playing around with new recipes and having family/friends try them brings me pure joy! 

What role do you see yourself playing at the next level?

I see myself as a consistent, hard-working player that coaches and teams can rely on to get the job done properly every time.

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

If I could donate to one cause in the world, it would have to be Motionball. I will be starting my fourth year as an athletic rep for Motionball at STFX. Motionball is a Canadian nonprofit that raises funds for Special Olympics Canada by organizing social and sporting events for Special Olympic athletes.   

How do you handle coaching, especially criticism or repeated corrections?

I see failure as a way to improve, and being corrected by coaching gives me not only the ability to see what I did wrong but also the path of how to do it right. I believe that criticism makes players great if you attack it with the proper mindset and use the information given by coaches correctly to improve.

Who is the most underrated teammate at your school?

I have 2 very underrated teammates: #38 Tristan Watrich and #37 Cian Campbell. They both have very technical jobs that don’t get noticed too often, but without their superb play of being in the right position and executing their roles, our defense wouldn’t be the same 

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

• Carey Price: He is my all-time favorite athlete for his composure and consistency in difficult situations and his leadership ability. 
• Ray Lewis: His ability to persevere through anything, his leadership capability, and the intensity he brings to every aspect of his life
• Terry Fox: During the ‘Marathon of Hope,’ Terry Fox showed incredible courage by running a marathon a day on one leg. After losing his leg to cancer, he selflessly used his fight to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer.

If you were benched tomorrow, what would be the most likely reason?

If I were to be benched tomorrow, it would most likely be because I was overthinking instead of trusting my training. As a longsnapper, I need to be as consistent as possible, so when I mess up a bit, I tend to focus on that instead of the next play. This is something that I still work on to this day and try to engrave the mindset of “next play.”

Walk me through your typical pre-game routine.

My typical pregame routine starts with the team at our chapel. We get a motivational speech from our local priest or chaplain and use the time to really mentally reset before our game. After that, we get some food from our meal hall and head to the stadium. I take a warm bath and/or shower. Head to the field for some stretching and listen to some music. I’ll find my punter and do some warm-up snaps while he does punt drops. During this routine, I’m making sure I’m hydrating and fueling properly. After that, it’s team warm-ups and game time!

What is your favorite snack food?

My favorite quick snack food would have to be a peanut butter & honey sandwich.

What scheme do you feel you fit the best in?

I believe that I fit in a scheme where the longsnapper is an important part of the coverage unit after a kick. With my speed and ability to tackle, I think I could provide a professional team with an impactful presence in kick coverage while delivering consistent snaps.

What is your degree in?

My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science: Human Kinetics with a minor in biology.

I am also starting my second degree in teaching this upcoming fall (Bachelor of Education).

What would be the first thing you buy with your first NFL check?

With my first NFL check, I would definitely invest a good majority of it. I would make sure to buy a comfortable home and vehicle, but I think I would really try to save a majority of it because you never know when your football career could end, and having money invested can jump-start your next journey!

Describe a time in a game where you feel you made a mistake, and explain how you bounced back?

The first snap of the East-West All-Star Game, I missed an FG snap and it ended up being a scramble play. When I got to the sidelines, I was distraught, but I knew that I had an entire game left to play. I mentally reset and had the most consistent snapping performance I ever had in a game after that mess-up.

Name three songs we can expect on your playlist?

1. I Am Machine, 3 Days Grace
2. Put On, Jeezy
3. Finally, Rich, Chief Keef