NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Paul Butler, TE, California University of Pennsylvania

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?

Paul Butler

What is your Height/Weight?

6’6” 255lbs

What is your position?

Tight End

Where do you play college football?

California University of Pennsylvania

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

Having opportunities to give back to the community doing things such as coaching kids on the field, volunteering for fish fry Fridays and community clean ups.

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

Legal aspects of sport with Dr. Wood.

Where are you from?

Reynoldsville, PA

Who is your role model, and why?

LeBron James, his work ethic on and off the court is what truly makes him great and its something I’ve always admired.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Baseball, Basketball, Track & Field

Did you play any other positions in football?

I was a wide receiver in high school and a defensive end at my previous school.

At your position, what separates you from others?

I don’t believe there’s many people who can run and catch the way I can at my size.

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

Defensive tendencies, where the safeties and linebackers are playing, how they might be showing potential blitzes and coverage’s.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced?

I played against Jatavis Brown and Justin March-Lillard for an entire season when I was on the scout team at Akron, two current starters in the NFL. Competing against those guys every day really helped give me my competitive edge.

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

Rob Gronkowski, we are very similar in size and athletic ability, being able to make touch catches in traffic and absorbing big hits.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Listening to my head banging music and getting my mind locked in.

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

Adjusting to the level of play, the best athletes on the planet play in the NFL.

What is your biggest strength?

I’ve had to work for everything I have, I believe my work ethic sets me apart from everyone else.

What is your biggest weakness?

I’ve only played at the true tight end position for 3 full seasons, there’s still a lot more I can learn about the position.

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

Not many guys have faced adversity the way I have on and off the field and my ability to always keep my head up and keep fighting and chasing my dreams makes me extremely valuable.

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

Rob Gronkowski because he’s the best tight end in the league but I grew up as a die-hard Miami Dolphins fan.

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

Rob Gronkowski, Dan Marino, and my Grandpa Denny

With your first NFL paycheck what would you buy?

I’ve driven very small cars I could barely fit in since I was 17, I would buy a truck.

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