NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: William Hertel, LS, 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? 

William Hertel

What is your Height/Weight? 

6’1 / 245

What is your position? 

Long Snapper

Where do you play college football? 

Northwest Missouri State

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

I think the coolest thing was when we were in Kansas City for the National Championship, we were able to go and visit with veterans at the local hospital. 

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

Microeconomics 

Where are you from? 

Garland, TX

Who is your role model, and why? 

I would have to say my mom, step – dad and my sister. They have always made sure that I was taken care of even if that meant they had to go without. Oh and my good friends Francisco and Armand, they are older than me and have lead me down the right path through their own mistakes as a student, college athlete and person. They have played a Big brother role since I met them. 

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

I loved playing basketball, I played up until my sophomore year of high school. 

Did you play any other positions in football? 

I played offensive and defensive line in high school 

At your position, what separates you from others? 

I would have to say my ability to critique myself, a lot of snappers cant watch their own film and see small flaws that can hinder your snapping. Whether it is hand placement or release point, a snap could look good to most people but i can find ways to make it better. 

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

First thing I look at is they type of return scheme a team has and whether they bring pressure up the middle or not so i know if I have to block. If I do then I determine the Biggest threat. I always like seeing a guy that can block kicks, I take it as a challenge. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

Derek Akunne (UNT/ Dallas Cowboys) 

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

Probably Justin Drescher from games I have watched him snap in he is one of the better blocking long snappers in the NFL. I take pride in being able to block well as a snapper. 

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

I thought I was done with football after last season but I found out I had one more year of eligibility in the NCAA after playing in the NAIA for 3 years , I was pretty down on myself but my friends and family told me to have faith and  kept reassuring me that someone was going to take a chance on me. Finally NWMSU called and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.  

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

I always made sure to sit in the same place at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or the bus. I also wore the same thing for every game. 

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

There is a lot you have to overcome especially as a specialist, you see other snappers at big schools having interviews and stuff of that nature done on them. Whereas a snapper coming from a small school most people don’t even know what or where your college is let alone who you are. So overall the biggest obstacle is exposure.

What is your biggest strength? 

Approaching every opportunity with a chip on my shoulder. 

What is your biggest weakness? 

I am my biggest critic, I get pretty pissed if i mess up. 

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

I have had to fight my whole college career, I could not afford fancy camps or top notch instructors. I am a “Blue Collar” player and I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.

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

Dallas cowboys and Jason Witten he is why I wore #82 my senior year. 

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

Tom Landry, Jason Witten, Garth Brooks 

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

Well I would pay off my student loans…then a car for my parents 

 Rapid Answers:

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