Plenty of attention will be paid to the prospect’s weigh-ins, 40 times, and position drills, but that’s not all that will be going on in Indianapolis this weekend. Some of the most crucial moments for many prospects will occur behind closed doors, when they’ll be the target of some tough questions.
For many players, how they handle those fifteen minute sessions will likely make or break their draft status in many teams’ eyes. Who needs to impress in these interviews the most?
Tyrann Mathieu, CB, Louisiana State
Tyrann Mathieu will have something to prove on the field this week, but the reality is that there will be nothing more important for the controversial defensive back than the 15 minutes he’ll spend with different NFL teams.
His off the field issues, particularly with drugs, have been well documented. Reports of multiple failed drug tests resulted in his departure from LSU, and then just days later he was arrested on possession charges. If he can convince a staff that he’s grown past those issues, he could be drafted fair earlier than anyone would have expected. It’s fair to say that no player has more riding on the interview process than Mathieu.
Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame
Just a couple of months ago, it would have seemed absurd to even imagine Manti Te’o being mentioned as a potential character concern. Fast forward to the Combine, and now the alleged “catfishing” scheme that Te’o was somehow involved in will now make his interviews some of the most scrutinized of the week.
Although it doesn't appear that Te’o broke any laws, there will be significant concerns surrounding him now. Whether he needs to explain some awfully worrying judgment, or an extreme case of dishonesty, teams will be very interested to get a feel for Te’o's version of events.
Top Quarterback Prospects
There’s no clear cut leader in the quarterback class, and to make things even tighter, there isn’t much a quarterback can do to distinguish himself from his classmates in an environment like the on field workouts in Indianapolis. Where a quarterback can separate himself, however, is behind closed doors with coaches, general managers, and scouts.
With reports that Geno Smith is one of the brightest prospects in the draft, the interview process will be his chance to prove that he’s deserving of hearing his named called first in April. Tyler Bray, on the other hand, will be looking to show he’s not the problem child that many whispers out of Knoxville have painted him as. Tyler Wilson is likely to impress teams with some impressive leadership skills. Will he also be impressive on the chalk board?
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
While Star Lotulelei is the top defensive tackle on many people’s boards, he’s not a leader by a wide margin. In fact, by the time the defensive linemen prospects depart from Indianapolis, Sheldon Richardson could be the new leader.
Richardson will need his best performance of the week to be in his interviews. He’s had some academic issues in his past, and he’s made a few very public statements about opposing teams and coaches (He accused Georgia of playing “old-man football”, for example). There are also concerns about how motivated he’ll be in the pros once he receives his contract, as his motor doesn’t always seem to run at 100% on film. If he can dispel those concerns, he could be the first defensive tackle off the board.
Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
With his unique combination of size, speed, and most of all an incredible wingspan, Margus Hunt has drawn comparisons to Houston's JJ Watt. While both are exceptional athletes, there is one key difference. Hunt, a native of Estonia, has only played football since 2009.
He's had a storied athletic career, setting records in discus throwing and also competing in shot and hammer throw. His tape certainly shows some tremendous promise and potential, but coaches will certainly want a peek at Hunt's football IQ.
Da’Rick Rodgers, WR, Tennessee Tech
With athletic ability and body control that are seemingly off the charts, Da’Rick Rodgers should be a sure fire first round draft pick. Instead reports of multiple failed drug tests, episodes of berating coaches, and refusing to participate in practices (all of which resulted in his leaving Tennessee’s program) might make it difficult for him to be drafted within the first three rounds.
Stepping down to a smaller program such as Tennessee Tech has been the wakeup call that many young players have needed, and it’s not a stretch to think that it could have done the trick for Rodgers as well. If it has, Rodgers could very well end up being one of the steals of this class. Can he prove to teams that he’s worth an early round gamble?
Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
In the NFL, timing is everything. For Alec Ogletree, his timing couldn’t be much worse. His February DUI arrest will send a message to teams that he’s using poor judgment and probably not spending enough time preparing for the biggest interview of his life.
It’s not Ogletree’s first run in with the law. In 2011 he was suspended for four games due to a violation of Georgia’s drug policy. In 2010 he was arrested for theft. Without the list of off the field issues, Ogletree would probably be a lock in the top ten. Can he work towards regaining that status with strong interviews in the coming days?
Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State
Were it not for Manti Teo, the most bizarre story of the college football season might have just involved Marquess Wilson and his departure from the Washington State football program. In November, Wilson was suspended from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules. Just days later, Wilson very publicly announced that he was leaving the program, while accusing the coaching staff of being abusive.
A review of the Washington State program found no problems and Wilson eventually recanted his story. The outburst certainly raises some questions in regards to Wilson’s characters, and will make for one of the most interesting interviews this week.
Ziggy Ansah, DE, Brigham Young
One word could be used to describe Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah: raw. Originally from Ghana, Ansah arrived at BYU with no real knowledge of American football, nor did he see himself playing it. After two attempts to make the basketball team there failed, Ansah eventually made in onto a football field, where his 6’6 270 lb frame caught coaches’ eyes.
Ansah has many around the league comparing him to Jason Pierre Paul. Ansah is just as raw as a prospect, and only totaled 4.5 sacks in his career at BYU. He looked like a great prospect at the Senior Bowl, but teams are going to want to get a good feel for his football knowledge this week in Indianapolis.
Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon
Kiko Alonso’s collegiate career at Oregon couldn’t have gotten off to worse start. In 2009, just as he began to battle for playing time, he was arrested on DUI charges and was suspended from spring practices. In May 2011, shortly after head coach Chip Kelly had publicly stated that offenders in his program would see harsher consequences, Alonso was again arrested for felony burglary and trespassing charges.
Since that time Alonso hasn’t been in anymore trouble and has appeared, at least from the outside, to have turned his life around. But he’s very rarely talked with the media and there’s still much that teams will want to uncover and discuss with him before they’ll be comfortable drafting him.
Other Players That Need to Shine in Interviews
Chris Faulk, OT, Louisiana State
Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida
Michael Ford, RB, Louisiana State
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