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Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Thomas Teal, DT, North Carolina State University

thomas tealEvery year, NFL Draft Diamonds brings our readers the best in depth interviews on the internet. We specialize in giving players an opportunity to showcase their talents on our website. We conducted interviews last year with over 300 plus players. We want you to enjoy our interviews, because when these young men are in the league, we will not be surprised, and neither should you.

What is your name

Thomas Teal

What school do you attend?

North Carolina State University

What is your height & weight?

6’1” & 300 lbs.

How many teams were recruiting you out of high school?

I believe there were ten teams who recruited me out of high school.

How did you choose your college?

My mother has a problem with flying, so I wanted to stay nearby so she could drive.  I also looked at defensive schemes, fan base, and education.

Where are you from?

Bennettsville, SC

Who is your role model, and why?

My father is my role model.  He has a construction business and he has worked so hard to get where he is.  He is man of integrity and I deeply respect that.

Have any scouts met with you yet?  If so, what are they saying?

I have met with three scouts, so far.  They state that I am a great football player, they like my speed and my overall athletic abilities as big man.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I played baseball and tried out for basketball a couple times.  I started playing football at age 6.

Did you play any other positions in football?

Oh yeah.  I started out as a running back then moved to a TE, then linebacker and DE, and then I played OG & DT.

thomas teal 1At your position, what separates you from others?

The way I use my hands and my first step separates me from others.  I don’t get beat too often because my hands are so good.

When you are breaking down film, what do you look for?

First off I look at the down and distance to see whether it’s likely to be run or pass.  Next I look at the personnel, which often limits the plays they can do.  Then I check out the backfield set (one or two back, strong or weak).  Lastly, I look at the offensive linemen’s stances and splits because this tells me the type of blocks I will get.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina, was the toughest player I’ve ever faced, as he’s a great athlete for his size.  He has the footwork and power that he needed to get the job done.  I didn’t see any other OL that moved like him.

What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?

I grew up in a rough place with limited opportunities and programs for kids.  So in college I had to adjust to a different lifestyle where there was so much more available to me.  I was overwhelmed by everything and, at first, hesitant to try new things.  However, through my years at NC State, I’ve grown and matured a lot and opened my horizons to new things.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

For any pre-game rituals, I like to lay on the floor, put my feet in the air and listen to music for a few minutes.  This helps my body to relax, get loose before the game and play relaxed and lose in the game.

What is your biggest strength?

As a player, my biggest strength is my ability to read players and to identify which schemes they are going to use against me.  As a man and a player, my pride and competitiveness – I hate to lose!

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness, I hate to lose … and sometimes you do.

If I were a GM and gave you a second to sell yourself, what would you say?

You should pick me because I am consistent, a great player and I am versatile.  I can play any position on the DL – you can play me inside or outside, it doesn’t matter.  I am very versatile.

Who was your favorite player and NFL team growing up?

Growing up my favorite player was Eddie George, RB, Titans. I like that he played hard and carried himself the right way.  I looked up to him.  My favorite team is the Philadelphia Eagles.  I like how they play the game – it’s always fun to watch them play.

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?

Michael Jordan, who was one of the best basketball players ever.

Denzel Washington because he’s my favorite actor.  He can be the good guy or the bad guy.  He never lets me down in any movie I’ve seen him in.

President Obama because he’s the first black President of the United States.

Damond Talbot

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

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