2024 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Dominic Roberto, RB, Furman University

• Name: Dominic Roberto
• Position: Running Back
• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 230 lbs
• School: Furman University
• Level: Division I FCS – Southern Conference
• Twitter: dominicr_09
• Instagram: dominicroberto_

Talk about your experience as a student. What is your major/minor? Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?

My time here at Furman has been pretty good. The schoolwork was tough, but I made a lot of lifetime friends along the way. I just graduated in May with a Health Sciences degree and this fall I’m working towards a double major in Anthropology. Outside of football I go bowling with my roommate and a few other teammates of mine at least once a week. We all have our own bowling balls and shoes, so it gets pretty serious. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

I think they’d say my best quality would be my dependability. On any given down whatever job I’m given I will do to the best of my ability and something that I’ve always prided myself about is my availability. I’d say always being healthy and being able to do whatever is asked of me makes for a very dependable player. 

What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team? What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?

The role I see myself as on the team would be the bell cow running back. Give me the ball on any down whether that’s through the air or on the ground and I will produce. As a bigger back I love to get going downhill to enforce my will on the defense, but I also love to run zone schemes out of the gun. 

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

The best player that I have played in college, in general, would probably be Hendon Hooker who was playing at Virginia Tech at the time, but the best player that I have faced on the field would be Isaiah Moore the linebacker that played for NC State. 

Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?

I have so many teammates that continuously impress me, but if I had to choose one it would be Jake Johanning. He is by far the most athletic and strongest lineman I have ever been around. That man can move and he can move some people out the way. 

What makes you different from others at your position?

I think what makes me different from other players at my position would be my willingness to block for my teammates. That’s something I’ve always taken pride in and will continue to do. Another thing that sets me apart would be always falling forward. I rarely get stopped at the line of scrimmage or behind it. 

Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.

A time in my life that I really struggled was my senior year of high school when I tore my ACL four games into my season. It was probably the darkest time of my life because the one thing that I loved the most was taken from me. Looking back at it, it was my biggest blessing because it taught me to stop feeling sorry for myself and to put my head down and work no matter the circumstances. 

If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?

If football wasn’t in the picture I would run track and field, specifically long jump. I went to nationals my freshman year of high school for it and went to states the following year. 

What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?

I’m most proud of earning a full scholarship to play division 1 football and actually making an impact on the team. My biggest achievement would be graduating college and receiving the national offensive player of the week award against Western Carolina. 

Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.

One of my most memorable plays of my career would be my 90 yard touchdown run against The Citadel in the fall 2021 season which really kick started this streak of good games for me to end the season. 

Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?

What gets you “pumped up” before a game?

My favorite player for a long time was Adrian Peterson because I loved the way he ran the ball. Every single time he touched the ball, you were expecting some sort of violence. The fact that it’s gameday gets me pumped enough. I’m not one to listen to music before a game or during warm-up because I like to clear my head of all distractions. 

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Any secret talents?

As I stated before, I love to go bowling with my teammates every week. Outside of that I like to hang out with friends/teammates and just talk about what’s going on in our lives.

Why do you play football? Who or what motivates you the most?

I play football because it’s the only place I truly feel like I belong. I love everything that comes with it. Every high and every low. My motivation is to make my parents proud and prove to anybody that’s doubted me that I’m the real deal. 

What do you want NFL teams to know about you?

The NFL has always been my number one goal in life and I will go to extreme lengths to make that dream become a reality. I don’t cause problems, I’m dependable, and I love to put my head down and grind. There is no second option for me. I’m never satisfied with myself and will always look for ways to improve my game.