2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jake Dalmado, OLB, Southeastern

• Name: Jake Dalmado
• Position: Outside Linebacker
• College: Southeastern
• Height: 511
• Weight: 210
• Twitter: @jakedalmado24
• Instagram: Jake_Dalmado

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

I’m very versatile, I’ve shown that I can blitz leading the Southland in sacks at linebacker in 2024, I’ve shown that I can tackle good leading the southland last season in solo tackles and have 100+ total tackles

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

Early on in my career, I faced a lot of adversity. I was a preferred walk-on out of high school at Nicholls State, where I originally came in to play running back. I started out dead last on the depth chart, so I knew I had to find a way to separate myself. I put my head down, went to work every day, and focused on outworking everybody around me. Eventually, my coaches started noticing, and I began climbing the depth chart. Even though I was improving, I still wasn’t getting the playing time I wanted. One day, my coach called me into his office and asked if I would be willing to try linebacker. I could have looked at that two different ways: either I wasn’t good enough to play running back, or my coach saw an opportunity for me to make an impact somewhere else on the field. I chose to look at it as an opportunity. I did what I’ve always done—I put my head down and went to work. I started playing Sam linebacker that spring, and everything took off from there. I finished my first season at linebacker with 10 sacks and earned First-Team All-Conference honors. That experience taught me that sometimes adversity is really just an opportunity in disguise. You have to be willing to adapt, trust yourself, and keep working even when things don’t go the way you originally planned.

What are your hobbies outside of football? 

I enjoy spending time with my family, working out watching movies, playing basketball, and golfing

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

I see myself playing as an in-the-box safety. I’m at my best when I can play downhill, be physical in the run game, cover tight ends and backs, and make plays around the football. I also think my experience playing linebacker gives me an advantage because I understand the box, blocking schemes, and what offenses are trying to do. I want to be a versatile safety who can impact the game in multiple ways.

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

I’d choose supporting veterans and active-duty military members. They sacrifice a lot to serve our country, and I’d want to help make sure they and their families have the support and resources they need, especially when they come home and transition back to everyday life.

How do you handle coaching, especially criticism or being corrected repeatedly?

I take coaching as part of getting better. I’m not going to take criticism personally because I know the people coaching me are trying to help me reach my potential. If I’m being corrected repeatedly, I look at it as something I need to fix, not something I need to get frustrated about. I’ll ask questions, work on it, and make sure I don’t keep making the same mistake. At the end of the day, I want to be coachable because the best players are always willing to learn.

Who is the most underrated teammate at your school? 

I would say Carter Hanberry because he can do a lot in the coverage game as well as come down and make a tackle.

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

Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis, and Drew Brees I chose these 3 people they all are winners. Kobe Bryant because of his mentality, Ray Lewis because of his leadership, and Drew Brees because I grew up a saints fan and he’s been the underdog his whole life

Walk me through your typical pre-game routine?

So if it’s a 6:00 game for breakfast I’ll usually have eggs/hashbrowns/bacon Then I’ll go stretch to get my body right, go to meetings, take a little nap, eat lunch which is usually spaghetti and toast, I’ll start dialing it in and listen to my playlist, go walk the field and warm up, say my prayer, and then go take care of business.

What is your favorite snack food? 

Definitely some sort of sour candy like sour patch kids

What scheme do you feel you fit the best in?

I think I fit best in a scheme that allows me to play downhill and use my versatility. I’m comfortable playing in the box, fitting the run, blitzing, covering underneath, and making plays around the football. I think a defense that moves its safeties around and allows me to play close to the line of scrimmage would fit my skill set really well, while still allowing me to show that I can make plays in coverage.

What is your degree in? 

Criminal Justice

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

The first thing I’d do is take care of my family because they’ve sacrificed a lot for me to get to this point that I’m at and then I’d probably buy my family a house

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

I was the weak hook 3 up player and I didn’t take 3 up and instead of getting down I’ve learned through experience to just play the next play. Later that game they came back to the same play and because I moved on and didn’t get down on myself I was able to make the correction and pick it up this time

Name three songs, we can expect on your playlist?

My playlist is kinda all over the place but you can expect to hear some Kevin Gates (again) Some old school like zombie from the Cranberries and some Lil Wayne (A Milli)