NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Rickey Backstrom, CB, Oklahoma Panhandle 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?

Rickey Backstrom

What is your Height/Weight?

6’3 195

What is your position?

CB/WR

Where do you play college football?

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

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

The coolest thing I’ve done off the field was volunteer at a day care. I was able to read to the kids play games with them and was able to brighten their day when in reality they brightened mine.  

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

Hardest college class would have to be criminal law 

Where are you from?

I’m from Chicago, Illinois 

Who is your role model, and why?

My brother is my role model!  Just seeing him go through college playing football as well and graduate, and making a life for himself, has showed me that football isn’t everything in life and that it might not be for certain people. 

Did you play any other sports growing up?

I ran track and played some basketball 

Did you play any other positions in football?

I played WR for 4 years in college and after the first two game of my senior year of college ball I started playing CB. 

At your position, what separates you from others?

My work ethic my determination to want to better myself at my position and my height as well you don’t see to many 6’3 CB

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

When ever I’m breaking down film I look for how the WR release his footwork what he does when he’s about to break down into a route or break into a route I look to see if he’s physical or not, I watch to see how he catch whether or not he catches the ball away from his body or with his body. When I played WR I watched to see if he’s aggressive with his press, if he lunge or not. I look to see if his hips are slow I look at his footwork so I could practice on a certain release that I know will destroy him. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

The toughest player I ever faced was Tarleton WR I don’t know his name but his number was 81 

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

It would have to be Eric Berry. He has to be one of the most dedicated players in the game today and he’s physical and a great open field tackler. 

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

Getting out of Chicago had to be the biggest obstacle I’ve faced that I’ve overcome. I overcame it by praying and putting in the work on the field and in the classroom  to get to where I am today. A lot of people don’t make it out of Chicago and I’m blessed to be one of the few to make it out. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

A pre-game ritual that I’ve always done was go out on the field and lay there and tell myself that I will do anything in my power to help my team come away with a W. I would also pray and thank God for the opportunity that he has given me. 

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

I feel I have to overcome the negativity that people will throw your way. Coming from s small school people would say that you’ll never make it to the next level. And with something like that being said you have to block it out and prove them wrong. 

What is your biggest strength?

Biggest strength is open field tackle 

What is your biggest weakness?

Biggest weakness would have to be working on my zone coverage. 

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

I would be a great asset to your organization. My work ethic, my smarts, and my willing to want to be more for my team will out shine anyone. I’ll play any position and will be dedicated to learning that position so that I could execute it in every aspect possible. 

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

Favorite player was Brett Favre and the Packers will forever be my favorite team 

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

Ray Lewis Eric Thomas and my great grandmother. 

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

My mother and father a house out of Chicago