NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Brandon Yost, DT, Northwest Missouri State University

NFL Draft Diamonds and our staff have been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 2 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. We have tons of NFL staff that read our interviews, and we actually received several of the questions from NFL scouts we speak too. This gives them a little bit more information regarding your character. We hope to bring you more than 300 interviews of NFL Draft Prospects this season. You will be able to track them all on the front page of our website in the banner.

What is your name? 

Brandon Yost

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’2″ 300

What is your position? 

Nose Guard/Defensive Tackle 

Where do you play college football? 

Northwest Missouri State University 

Football is about giving back, what is the coolest thing you have done off the field? 

One of the best memories I have had off the field is going to the Veterans Hospital in Kansas City. Being around and having conversation with the vets was an awesome experience.

What was the hardest college class you ever had to take?

American Historical Survey

Where are you from? 

Omaha, NE

Who is your role model, and why? 

My grandma because she was always giving back to the community and she went above and beyond to help raise my brother and me. 

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

In my younger years I played football, baseball, basketball. In high school I focused on football, wrestling, and track. I was fortunate enough to play on a class A state football championship team, and go undefeated my senior year in wrestling, winning a title. 

Did you play any other positions in football? 

 In high school I was an offensive tackle and fullback. At Northwest Missouri State I had the opportunity to also play some defensive end. 

At your position, what separates you from others? 

How hard I play, how explosive I am, and how well I use my hands to get off blocks. 

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

Weaknesses in other players so I am able to exploit them. I also watch for formation and backfield tendencies of the different offenses. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

It would have to be from my sophomore year, the center from grand valley state. I don’t remember his name but I do remember he was a senior NFL prospect.

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

Vince Wilfork because he’s an athletic big guy that plugs up the middle of the line. Plus we both have some interceptions to add to the resume. 

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

When my grandma died before I left for college. It was hard because I had to leave in the next couple days so I couldn’t spend a lot of time with my family. I had to remind myself that she was in a better place and spent a lot of hours on the phone with relatives back home. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I always take a shower right before I start getting dressed for a game and I drink a light blue Gatorade. 

As a small school football player what obstacles do you feel you have to overcome?

The biggest obstacle to overcome is that I am looked at as a “division II football player”. I was looked at by D1 schools but picked to play at Northwest because I wanted the playing time and experience of playing at collegiate level. I wouldn’t change that decision for anything, and I even had the chance to play against guys who were bigger and stronger O lines that look like they are from D1 and play like they are from a D1 school too. 

What is your biggest strength? 

The passion I have towards getting the job done.

What is your biggest weakness?

My passion for football distracts me from school sometimes, thankfully I am done with classes and on the right track to graduate this May. 

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

You will not find anyone else that will work as hard as I will for something that I want. 

Who was your favorite player and/or NFL team growing up? 

Warren Sapp for my favorite player, and the Buccaneers were my favorite team.

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

Both of my grandfathers, since I never had the opportunity to meet them. Also Warren Sapp since he was my favorite player as a child.

What will be the first big item you buy once you are in the NFL?

I would buy a reliable car…. so I don’t have to deal with mine anymore!

 Rapid Answers:

• Tupac or Biggie? 
• NFL Network or ESPN?
• Coke or Pepsi? 
• Pizza or Burgers?
• Dogs or Cats?