NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Tarique Anderson, DT, Delaware State Unviersity

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?

Tarique Anderson

What is your Height/Weight?

6’5/ 265lbs

What is your position?

Nose Guard/ Defensive Tackle

Where do you play college football?

Delaware State University

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

Back home I’m apart of this program called “Football In Training” where college players come together and train and workout over the winter and summer break. Throughout our sessions we have high school football players come and work with us. As a veteran in the program I help guide these players in getting an opportunity to play at the college level. For instance, I would show them what coaches are looking for or what they need to do to have a better chance at getting a scholarship for football, etc.  It is really fun helping the younger players.

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

Intermediate Accounting 2

Where are you from?

Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Who is your role model, and why?

My role model is my big sister; Teija McLeary. She has sacrifice so much for me. She is my teacher, manager, and friend. She does it all. Also, I admire her tenacity.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

In high school I played basketball, track & field, and volleyball

Did you play any other positions in football?

In high school I had to play both sides. I was a defensive end and an offensive tackle.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I have long arms, good hands, and I’m very energetic. It’s difficult for offensive linemen to fully block me.

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

I look at the stance, alignment, and tells of offensive linemen. Are they off the ball a bit, are they leaning forward, are the guards projecting who their going to block, etc. I also look at the QB and RB’s in the backfield. Is the RB even with the QB or is he a few steps in front or behind the QB, is it a pistol or shotgun formation, etc.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

#77 Billy Turner the Offensive Tackle for North Dakota State University.

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

Malik Jackson because he is a relentless player and plays hard.

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

I started playing football in the 10th grade. After graduation, I played American football. Therefore, my biggest obstacle was adapting from playing Canadian football to American football playstyle. The game is much quicker and being a defensive linemen you only have a few seconds to process everything. I overcame all this by being coachable, and I never gave up even if I messed up. Eventually I got use to everything.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I watch a motivational video of Ray Lewis on YouTube. Then I listen to a mixture of music such as rap, rock, and dubstep. I find the music helps me clear my mind before the game.

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

Getting exposure

What is your biggest strength?

I don’t give up on any play. I use my long arms to my advantage.

What is your biggest weakness?

I overthink situations at times

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

I play hard and work hard. I’ll give you everything I got to better the team and myself. I’m coachable and I have great character.

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

My favorite player is Ray Lewis. I admire the way he motivates his teammates and his passion for the game of football.

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

Ray Lewis, Barrack Obama, Bruce Lee

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

I’m not a big spender but I would buy a decent sized house, hopefully with majority of the mortgaged paid off.

Rapid Answers:

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