AFCNFCNFL DraftNFL NewsProspect Interviews

NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Lawrence Walker, OT, Minnesota State Mankato

Minnesota Mankato offensive lineman Lawrence Walker is a big boy with a nasty blocking attitude
Minnesota State Mankato offensive lineman Lawrence Walker is a big boy with a nasty blocking attitude

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? 

Lawrence Lee Walker.  Jr. 

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’5 310

What is your position? 

Left Tackle, Left Guard, Center, Right Guard and Right Tackle 

Where do you play college football? 

Northern Illinois for 2 years, Concordia St. Paul for 2 years an now I am playing my last season at Minnesota State University of Mankato. 

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

Being apart of my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi we give back to the community by doing a lot of service work. The coolest thing I did was last year is when we volunteered at Central High School in St Paul MN. I worked with freshmen with their school work an also helped them with life situations that they were facing.  

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

MIS 301. It was an independent study course class were I had to create my own database an implement it. The class was a success I created a football recruiting app that coaches are currently using. 

Where are you from? 

Rockford IL

Who is your role model, and why? 

My mom is my role model. The hard work, determination, sacrifice and all the adversity she has been through, and she’s still standing an striving  to be better. 

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

Yes, I played: baseball, basketball, wrestling and ran track. 

Did you play any other positions in football? 

Yes I played Defensive Line in High School. I didn’t start playing Offensive Lineman till the middle of my freshman year. I have played at all positions on the offensive line. 

At your position, what separates you from others? 

What separates me is my mental capabilities. Usually when mistakes are made up front it is because of  a mental laps, lack of confidence, technique or second guessing yourself. Football is 90% mental an 10% physical. One of the greatest books that I have read is Mind Gym. This book has helped me focus an sharpen my tools. 

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

When I first look at film. I look at see who stands out. See who the defense evolves around. Then break down their defense fronts. Their stunts an then focus in on who will be lined up in front of me. See what their strengths an Weaknesses are an find a way to use their game against them. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

The toughest player I have ever faced is my brother, James Hoover. He thought me the game of football an showed me how to play the game of football (in his words) “with that fire”!

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

I would say Trent Williams. The reason why is because of his style of play. His athleticism, also you can see how he’s a student of the game an puts his self in great positions.  

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

The biggest obstacle for me was to get out of Rockford Illinois. Rockford is not the greatest place to live, to stay focused and be successful. Don’t give me wrong I love being from where I’m from it made me who I am today. The city of rockford has given me a lot of heart aches. That’s why I push so hard to get out of there and follow my dreams of getting my education and playing the sport I love which is football. I am thankful to God to be the first one in my household to graduate from college. I don’t feel like I overcame this obstacle as of yet because my true dream is to get my family in a better place. I give glory to God for all the blessings and lessons he has taught me and my family. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I have a few pregame rituals. I always take Epson salt bath the night before to relax my body. I usually catch up on some TV episodes that I miss out during the week. The current shows that I love to watch are, The Empire, The walking dead and The blacklist. One new ritual that I have notice as of late is that I talk to my sister about 15 to 20 minutes before I take the field to get ready for the game. Since me and her have been talking before every single game my last 10 games in college we have been undefeated. 

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

As a small school where I feel that the obstacles that I will have to overcome is to prove that I can play with the best of them. People may say the level of competition that small schools play is not up to par for the next level. But from my experience of playing in a Division I program and a D2 program there is little difference between the two. 

What is your biggest strength? 

My biggest strength is that I will never give up.  I play this game to bring joy to my family my mom my dad my sister my brother and my nieces and nephews they give me the strength to keep going to keep pushing every single day. 

What is your biggest weakness? 

My biggest weakness is that I feel that sometimes I am too much of a critic on myself. I never feel that any play any technique any drill is good enough. There is always room for improvement.

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

My heart and determination sets me apart from the rest. I am very coachable and always willing to learn. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done. 

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

My favorite team growing up was and still is the Chicago Bears. 

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

The three people that I would choose to have dinner with is my grandfather. I never got a chance to meet him but I have heard so many wonderful things about him and I want to be a sponge and soak up all the knowledge and wisdom he has for me. Also my grandmother we have a great relationship she pasted a few years back, she help me become the man I am today. Finally my mom. To sit down with my grandfather, grandmother and my mom and be able to sit back smile laugh enjoy life. Soak up so much knowledge and wisdom and be able to take that opportunity and be able to apply to my life would be a blessing. 

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

Honestly, I would go to the grocery store most likely Sam’s Club and buy food. My family, closest friends and I would barbecue an have a huge cookout and enjoy the day and be thankful for the blessings of family, friends an food 

Rapid Answers:

  • Spongebob or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
  • Backstreet Boys or One Direction? Neither I would pick The Jackson 5
  • Lifetime Channel or HGTV? Neither food network
  • Waffles or Pancakes?
  • Snakes or Spiders?
  • Madden or Mario?

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

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button