NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Riley Smith, WR, West Texas A&M University

NFL Draft Diamonds website has been providing our readers Prospect Interviews over the past 3 years and this year we mixed things up a bit. Our questions are designed to give our readers a little more insight on the draft eligible player. We hope to bring you more than 500 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 our next prospect!!!!

What is your name? 

Riley Smith

What is your Height/Weight? 

5’10, Weight: 180

What is your position? 

WR

Where do you play college football? 

West Texas A&M University

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

I would say the coolest thing I’ve ever done off the field is volunteering to coach a freshmen high school football team and just being able to mentor them and show them the correct way In life and bringing the positive energy that I have to them day in and day out! 

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

 Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra

Where are you from? 

Boise, Idaho 

Who is your role model, and why? 

I would say I have multiple different role models, including my parents, and my Speed and Performance Coach. They are just people I genuinely look up too and admire! 

Did you play any other sports growing up? 

When I was little I played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track as well.

Did you play any other positions in football? 

Growing up I actually played running back and defensive end, and when I got to high school I played Defensive Back as well. 

At your position, what separates you from others? 

 I would definitely have to say my speed and the way I block. 

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

I watch every position, over and over at least 3 times through everybody on offense and defense each and every play. I look for tendencies, strategies that work against specific coverages, what type of player they are.. are they fast, big, slow, great tacklers, great coverage players. Every little thing I can find to find an advantage on my opponent. 

Who was the toughest player you ever faced? 

I would say the toughest player I’ve ever played against was when I was in high school and we played Tanner Mangum and he was a QB and I played DB. 

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

I would say I play mostly like Antonio Brown, I believe this because he is fast, quick, elusive, and breaks down defenses very well and is extremely physical for his size! Isn’t afraid to go over the middle as well. 

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

I would say one of the biggest obstacles in my life is when I lost my old brother when I was 7, it didn’t hit me hard until my Junior and Senior year of high school and that’s when I really started to care about football and working extremely hard to get to where I want to be! I started playing football at the same age he passed, so I just use it as motivation on a day to day basis! 

Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

 I usually just listen to music before and stretch, get taped. Walk around the field twice to get a feel for it, to catch some balls, run a little and get loose. Say my prayer and I’m ready! 

What is your biggest strength? 

I think my biggest strength is me being mentally tough, and able to handle the ups and downs and just stay at a cool, calm, collective mindset at all times. 

What is your biggest weakness? 

I would say my biggest weakness is my height.

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

 I would say that I am an extremely hard working player and person on and off the field and I do my best to represent myself and whatever team I am on in a professional manner at all times. I love football, it’s literally my life and I’ll do whatever it takes to help any team/ organization win and reach its goals while being a great teammate and leader! 

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

Jerry Rice, Raiders 

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

 Deion Sanders, Lebron James, Meagan Good 

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

A house for my parents!