NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Oluwadamilola “Dami” Ayoola, RB, University of South Alabama

NFL Draft Diamonds has been bringing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed up the questions and added some fun questions for our readers. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the player. We hope to bring you more than 350 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 to the right.  Now let’s meet the prospect!!!!

What is your name?

Oluwadamilola “Dami” Ayoola

What is your Height/Weight?

5’10” 205

What is your position?

Running Back, Punt & Kick Returner

Where do you play college football?

The University of South Alabama

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

Being able to receive as well as pour humility into those with similar walks in life as myself.

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

History

Where are you from?

Fort Lauderdale Florida

Who is your role model, and why?

Curtis Jackson is my role model for his success in so many avenues. I pride myself in being well rounded as a person for that very reason.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Played basketball from 8 to 16 and ran track from 5th grade throughout high school

Did you play any other positions in football?

Punt Returner and a Kick Returner as well

At your position, what separates you from others?

The full toolbox in terms of completion by being able to bring a philosophical understanding of the game into fruition with the desire to compete at the highest level.

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

A few things I try to take heed to while watching film is how quickly the defensive ends get up the field in contain mode and how laterally active their interior guys are. Are the apex guys in run phase (scissor stance) or in coverage on a number 2 or 3 receiver? Are they an add-on/green dog type of team or a pressure to the man side of protection type of unit? What are their triggers to start to show pressure? …..Just to name a few things

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

Lamarcus Joyner, Former St. Thomas Aquinas Raider and Florida State Seminole, current Los Angeles Ram

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

Giovani Bernard because of the versatility and value he brings into each facet of the game. His ability to affect the productivity for an offense is second to none.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Making my own personal ice tub inside of hotel bathrooms on Gameday

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

No obstacles are worth mentioning because there are gems all over the place.

What is your biggest strength?

My attention to detail and proactive approach to preparing my mind & body for competition.

What is your biggest weakness?

The passion that I bring about when playing the game and leading others around me, at times, causes steamy jargon between myself & those being pushed to their full potential. A risk I am always willing to take…

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

A technician of a person who is always pushing passion into others and smiling warmly when those things come to fruition; which eclipses his successes past and those to come.

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

The Miami Dolphins. Huge Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown fan

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

• Tupac
• Curtis Jackson (50 Cent)
• My Father

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

A more reliable (used) vehicle for my mother to get to and from work.

Rapid Answers:

• Who will win the Super Bowl?
• The Patriots
• Whose better Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
• Peyton Manning
• Better Running Back Adrian Peterson or Barry Sanders?
• Adrian Peterson
• Better safety Eric Weddle or Ed Reed?
• Ed Reed
• Better linebacker Ray Lewis or Luke Kuechly?
• Both are beasts but I’m going with the legendary Ray Lewis.