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NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Denzel Philip, DE, Eastern New Mexico University

Denzel Philip is a physical specimen as a linebacker
Denzel Philip is a physical specimen as a linebacker

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? 

Denzel Philip

What is your Height/Weight? 

Height: 6’2 Weight: 240

What is your position? 

Defensive End/ Outside Linebacker

Where do you play college football? 

Eastern New Mexico University

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

I went to local high schools around the town, and helped clean up.

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

Biology Anatomy and Physiology

Where are you from? 

Toronto, Ontario

Who is your role model, and why? 

My parents, and my sister, because they are so supportive of everything I do no matter what as long as I’m happy doing it. They always have my back no matter what.

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

I played basketball growing up.

Did you play any other positions in football? 

I played Tight End in high school.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I am relentless; I have a motor that keeps going, and my speed off the edge.

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

I look for how the offensive linemen pass block or run block. If they’re overly aggressive, if they have quick feet, where they shoot their hands, and look for any tendencies in their stance.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Honestly, I don’t know his name but it was one of the offensive tackles from when I played at Junior college against Snow Community College

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

I would say Brian Orakpo of the Tennessee Titans, because we are built similar and we have the same style of play.

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

One of the biggest obstacles in my life was finishing and online class that I needed to have done before I had to leave for school. I had only a few months to finish it. I overcame this obstacle by applying myself to my working and focusing on getting it done.

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I go to sit down in the locker room, put my headphones on and listen to my music, while I set up my game uniform. Then leave the locker room to go do my warm up before having to be on the field.

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

I believe that an obstacle I will face, is that I do not get the same exposure as a player at a D1 school would get.

What is your biggest strength? 

My biggest strength is my straight line speed. Also, I pick up on things that I am taught fast.

What is your biggest weakness? 

My biggest weakness is the fact that I’m not the prototypical height for defensive end.

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

I love football, and everything that it comes with. Preparing myself physically and mentally for this game is a thrill in itself. On the field I bring speed and physicality and will never be outworked. I will be the hardest working player on the team and will do anything it takes to help the team get better.

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

Ray Lewis, and the Baltimore Ravens

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

My grandfather, Kobe Bryant, and Ray Lewis

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

I would help my immediate family, and put the rest in savings.

Rapid Answers:

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

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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