Robert Gronkowski Inteview (Arizona) Tight End

Robert Gronkowski was a three-year starting tight end for the University of Arizona Wildcats before injuring his back during his senior year. Regardless, he is touted as one of the best tight end prospects in the game and is projected to be a first round pick in this year's NFL Draft.

What has been your favorite experience thus far in your football career?

My favorite experience so far in my football career was leading the Arizona Wildcats to their 1st bowl game in 10 years and winning it at the Las Vegas Bowl in 2008.

nfldraftcountdown.com and nfldraftscout.com both have you ranked as the 2nd best TE in the draft trailing only superstar Jermaine Gresham. How do you deal with the pressure/expectations that come with being such a highly touted prospect?

To deal with the pressure you just have to do what you do. I keep on working hard everyday and keep on practicing everyday. And by doing that, everything will fall in place and the pressure will ease off.

You put up very impressive stats at Arizona and drew many people's attention before missing the '09 season due to injury. How has this obstacle put things into perspective for you and how have you recovered?

The obstacle has made me appreciate the game of football much more. I have been rehabbing hard and my back in now 100% feeling great. I have recovered 100% and I'm ready to go into rookie camp and play some football.

What do you think is your biggest strength on the field, and what is an area of your game you'd still like to improve?

I feel like the biggest strength I have is my hands. Overall, the area of my game I would like to improve is just being a better overall tight end, so I will keep working at everything.

If football wasn't a part of your life, what career would you most likely pursue?

I would most likely pursue a career in the field of business.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

Jennie Finch, she is from Arizona and is a superstar softball pitcher.

Armanti Edwards Interview (Appalachian State) Quarterback

Armanti Edwards was a four-year starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers from 2006-2009. He led his school to four straight conference championships, the first quarterback to do so in Southern Conference history. He was also the first quarterback in NCAA Football history to pass for at least 10,000 yards while also rushing for at least 4,000 yards.


You had a very successful college career at Appalachian State; what were some of your favorite memories from your time there?

I have too many memories at Appalachian State to write them all, but I can tell you my favorite two memories are when we won back to back National Championships.

You started at quarterback all four years in college, but are now moving into the WR/ATH role in preparation for the NFL draft. What have you done to hone your skills at your new position and how has this transition worked out for you so far?

I've just been working at running routes as well as still working on my QB techniques the past few months. The transition started out a little rusty at first, but once I got comfortable running routes, I'll be fine. It has turned out to be a good transition so far.

Nfldraftcountdown.com and nfldraftscout.com both have you listed in the top 20 for WR prospects even though you don’t have much experience at this position. What are your expectations for draft day considering the uncertainty that comes with switching positions? What do you hope for in regards to the draft?

My expectations are the same as any player entering the draft; I'm expecting to get drafted and I hope to get drafted as high as I possibly can and for a team to consider me as a QB before I completely switch my position to wide receiver.

You hold 64 school records at ASU including most wins by a starting Quarterback, with 42. Do you think your collegiate success has put you in a position to succeed in the NFL, and if so, how?

I wouldn't exactly say it has put me in a position to succeed because college and the NFL are two totally different leagues but it has given me the opportunity to further my football career like I had always dreamed of when I was a child.

What is your biggest strength, and what is one aspect of your game that still needs to be improved?

My biggest strength is having the ability to do things with my arm and my legs. The wildcat is becoming a big role in the NFL now so that gives me the ability to play multiple positions.

Sean Lissemore Interview (William & Mary) Defensive Tackle

Sean Lissemore was the starting Defensive Tackle for William & Mary. He considered one of the best DT prospects coming out of the FCS.


In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the FCS and the FBS?

I think player depth and publicity are the two glaring differences. The CAA is a highly competitive FCS league that has had several victories over FBS teams this past year. One of the most obvious differences that I see between the FCS and FBS is depth. This is due to the extra scholarships for quality players that the FBS teams are allotted. So in short, FBS teams will have more quality players competing for starting positions along with more depth to replace players who are tired and/or hurt. Publicity differences between FCS and FBS are also pretty significant. FCS teams rarely have nationally televised games (W&M had 2 this past year) and the game attendance is generally lower than FBS. I want to say our league attendance ranges from as low as a few thousand to 23K while FBS conferences generally have a consistent attendance rate of well above 30 thousand.


What is your favorite memory playing for William & Mary?

I would have to say my favorite memory is beating UVA this past season at their home opener on September 5th. This win was very special to me for a number of reasons. First, we had a great deal of support from the student body going into the game because of the "academic rivalry" between these two schools. Secondly, this win marked the first victory over UVA since 1986. On that particular date in 1986 one of our equipment managers was seriously injured during the celebration. When he jumped up to high five a fan in the stands he slipped and hit his head on the concrete ground. He has been paralyzed ever since, but has remained very close to the program. It was very emotional at the conclusion of the game when he was given the game ball in front of the whole team. Finally, this game was my last opportunity to beat an FBS opponent and a great way to start off a successful senior season.

With the NFL Draft coming up, how do you evaluate your chances of playing in the NFL? Do you have some other career path you want to follow?

I think I will have the rare opportunity to play in the NFL, but the benefits of going to a school like William & Mary are that I will be more than prepared to follow an alternative career path. I am currently a Kinesiology and Health Sciences major, and I am trying to decide if I eventually want to go pre-med or pursue the sports business route. Either way, I would prefer for my career path to stay close to athletics.


Besides football, what other sports do you enjoy to participate in?

I was a track athlete (100m, 200m, throws) and wrestler in high school, so I love to get back to those sports when ever I get the chance. Going back to wrestling practices are always a great way to get in shape, and it's great to talk with these young athletes about to the benefits of sticking with this grueling sport for all four years. My sister is a high school thrower and she will be throwing at Ramapo College next fall, so I also enjoy helping her with techniques and teaching her some tips when I can.

Many college athletes forget that they are “student”-athletes. How important are academics to you?

William and Mary is a unique place to be a student-athlete. There is absolutely no favorable treatment to athletes, and all the grades that you receive you earn. The level of competition at W&M is quite high so you must be a student before an athlete or you will not cut it here academically. To me academics are extremely important, and I realize that they will carry me through the rest of my life regardless of my future endeavors. I am thankful that I have received a top quality education because I am well aware that the NFL stands for "Not For Long".

Bill Cundiff Interview (Ashland) Quarterback

Bill Cundiff was the starting Quarterback at Ashland University. He enjoyed a successful career and has become a NFL Draft prospect in the process. He is currently preparing for his first season as a professional.

How do you deal with the pressure of the expectations that come with being an NFL prospect?

I just try to look at it as an opportunity that not many people get, and look back a few years ago when the NFL seemed like a dream to me. So taking that into consideration, I just try to have fun with the process right now.

You started your college career at Connecticut before transferring to Ashland. What can you tell us about the major differences between a D-I program and a D-II program?

There are only a few differences when it comes to D-1 and D-2 programs. First the line play is a little bit more superior in Division 1. You find a lot of skill players in Division 2 that have the same skills as your Division 1 players. Another difference is the depth of players on teams. In Division 1 there are a lot more capable players that can contribute to the team then D-2. Another difference is the fan bases. While we get decent attendance at home games, there are hardly any fans there at all at some games.

When did you start playing football and when did you realize you had the potential to play professionally? Did you play any other sports growing up?

I started playing football when I was 8 years old, and did not realize I could make it to the next level until I was in my junior season in college. I was big into basketball when I was younger, and that was pretty much my main sport until my junior year of high school.


Nfldraftcountdown.com ranks you as the 22nd Quarterback going into this year’s draft. Projections show that you have a chance at being a late round draft pick, while others think you will sign with a team as an undrafted free agent. What are your hopes for next month’s draft, and how are you approaching the situation mentally?

While it would be great to say you were drafted in the NFL draft, I would not mind signing as a free agent. Again, if you were to tell me a few years back that I would have a chance to sign with a team I would jump at the situation. This being said both have their advantages and I am just trying to stay as ready as possible for what ever may happen for me.

What is the most solid aspect of your game, and what area needs the most improvement?

The best aspect of my game is my decision making. Majority of the time, I know exactly where I want to go with the ball and never second guess myself because that's how you get in trouble as a quarterback. The area I feel that needs the most work would probably be my footwork. While it has improved greatly, I still want it to become one of the better parts of my game.

Other than a football player, who is Bill Cundiff? What is your life like outside of football?

I am a pretty easy going and a simple person. I enjoy being around my family and hangout with my two brothers a lot. I am also a huge Cleveland fan no matter the sport, but right now my main team is the Cavs. I have a feeling that the Browns will be turning it around here soon and when they do they will be one of the hardest teams to beat since Cleveland fans are some of the best fans there are.

Jack Corcoran Interview (Rutgers) Fullback

Jack Corcoran was a three year starting fullback for the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University. He is ranked as the 4th best fullback in the nation by nfldraftcountdown.com and is currently preparing for the NFL Draft.

Describe your career to us at Rutgers; was it all that you hoped for coming out of high school?

My career at Rutgers was a great learning experience. A lot of things I've learned were off the field. I think the program teaches players to grow up quickly and become independent. I made a lot of good friends and I will have some great memories playing at RU.

What qualities should a fullback have in order to be successful at any level?

I think a fullback needs to be tough, mentally and physically. I describe it as the never back down mentality.

Because you played the fullback position, your statistics from college won’t catch too many scouts’ attention. Your specialty, blocking, is not a measurable stat. What can someone in your situation do to improve their draft stock and show that you are worthy of an NFL roster spot?

Being a fullback, you must show that you can handle the constant pounding and win the battles with linebackers. Being versatile is the way to get noticed. Fullbacks must be good athletes because we are asked to do a lot of different things.

Unfortunately, you did not receive an invite to the Scouting Combine. Regardless, nfldraftcountdown.com ranks you as the 4th fullback prospect in this year’s draft, and projections show you may be drafted as high as the 6th round. How are you approaching the draft from a mental standpoint with so much uncertainty surrounding your draft status?

I do not look at the projections because I don't like to worry about things I can't control. My mind is more on training and preparing for the upcoming season. I know I'll be in a camp somewhere, regardless if I get drafted, so I need to be ready for my opportunity when it comes.

If football wasn’t part of your life, what career would you pursue and why?

I'm not sure what career I would pick. I think about life after football a lot but I'm not set on one thing. Maybe real estate because that is what both of my parents do.

Jay Ross Interview (East Carolina University) Defensive End

Jay Ross was a starting defensive end for the ECU Pirates and he is one of the best defensive ends in the nation. He is currently preparing for the NFL draft.

What was your favorite memory playing for the ECU Pirates?

My favorite memory was just being around the guys day in and day out. It made the experience go by shorter. Winning two conference titles was also awesome.

Even though ECU is in Conference USA, there have been many players like Chris Johnson who have gone on to have successful NFL careers. How much harder do you have to work to show NFL team scouts that you belong to play in the big show?

I feel that coming from Conference USA, the respect factor isn't really there because a lot of people say there isn't much competition in the conference but if you do research, you will find that some guys making impacts on NFL teams are from Conference USA. A lot of people even doubted Chris and said he couldn't do it and he's the best running back in the league after two years, so if you are a player all the rest shouldn't matter, but unfortunately it does.

Many NFL draft hopefuls like to throw parties on draft day. What are you planning on doing during the NFL draft?

I probably will be at my home throwing a cookout or something with my family and friends.

What are some of the weaknesses in your game that you improved on during the offseason leading up to the NFL draft?

I think I've improved a lot on my pad level because looking back at old tape that seemed to be something I noticed that I needed to work on during the offseason in order to become a successful NFL player.

Besides playing football, what do you like to do for fun?

I like to fish with family and friends and we also are very competitive on the Xbox 360. As of right now our favorite games to play are Madden 2010 and NCAA Basketball 2010.

Is there a message you would like to say to all the NFL teams?

Whoever decides to draft me will be getting a very hard working player who is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in the NFL.