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Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Tony Bell, LB, University of Tennessee-Martin

bellEvery 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?

Tony Bell

Where do you play college football?

University of Tennessee at Martin

How many teams were recruiting you out of high school?

Arkansas State, Memphis University

How did you choose your school?

When I went on my visit to Martin I just felt as they really should interest in me and made me feel welcome and like family

Where are you from?

Memphis TN

Who is your role model, and why?

Monica Bell my mother a woman that raised 3 kids mainly on her own stayed very strong through the process and never complained once. She gave me strength and a strong mind set that no matter what situation you are in theirs always good that can come out of it.

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

Yes and mainly could I make the transition from playing outside linebacker in college to inside backer in the NFL. To answer that question I always answer yes with the defense we ran in college I had to move from the outside backer position to inside with different checks and play calls so it wouldn’t be a problem at all.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Basketball

Did you play any other positions in football?

WR, RB, FB During high school and Safety at the college level

At your position, what separates you from others?

Fast to point of attack and Great Game awareness

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

Movement and blocking schemes of the offensive line from center out to the tackles and any keys that would help me get a jump on my opponent such as slow first step not sound at pass blocking what moves would work to defeat run blocks.

tony bellWho was the toughest player you ever faced?

EIU former quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had to be the smartest player I’ve ever faced. He made it very tough to get a sack or even hurry him in the pocket but I still was able to sack him maybe 5 times in the 2 years I have played him.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?

Clay Matthews with him being so versatile with the skills to pass rush, run stop from every linebacker position and his ability to transition from outside to inside within a snap.

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

The biggest obstacle to me was coming from high school having all the big stats numbers on both sides of the ball being name all-State MVP and more then my freshman year of college playing nothing but special team and not really seeing the field on defense or offense. With me being young at the time I couldn’t understand that and it took time talking with the older guys on the team and them telling me your time will come just continue to work on your craft and you will be fine.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

No

What is your biggest strength?

Smart with diagnosing plays and film great football awareness violent at the point of attack

What is your biggest weakness?

My biggest weakness maybe that I’m not 6’2 or 6’3 as a linebacker. I’m standing 6’0 230

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

If I had a second? Boom(that’s the sound of me hitting the ball carrier). No seriously, I would make sure they knew I was 230 pounds not 200 like the websites say for some reason. And that I’m a solid athlete and man on and off the field

Who was your favorite player and NFL team growing up?

LaDainian Tomlinson when he was at the chargers and favorite team had to be the dolphins when Ricky Williams was at running back.

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

Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr, Ray Lewis

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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