I had the opportunity to sit down with multiple linebacker and defensive lineman prospects at this year’s NFL Combine. Each prospect I interviewed with was extremely well-spoken, crafting unique responses to repetitive questions. They each seemed grateful to be involved with the combine and eager to impress. Here are some of the stories and players that stood out to me from today’s round of interviews.
Rob Windsor, DL Penn State
Rob Windsor, who grew up in Wisconsin and had dreams of being a Badger, relayed that he had “no regrets” about attending Penn State and loved his time there. Windsor stated that he had no friends at Penn State when his college career began. When asked about playing for the Packers, Windsor mentioned “it would be great, but overall, I will be grateful for any opportunity to play in this league. But being on the local team would be a bonus.”
I asked Windsor about his internship with NX Level Sports:
“my internship experience was awesome. I learned a lot about my body and about media. I was able to get great exposure to pro nfl guys like t.j. and derek watt. overall it was great.”
I followed up my question by asking Windsor, an avid hunter and fisher, where he would go if he could go anywhere. His response? Canada. The Great White North, according to Windsor, is the ultimate destination for him. Off the field, Windsor is representing for Rare Diseases, which he first found out about while participating in Lift for Life at Penn State. While participating in the golfing event, Windsor met a few families impacted by rare diseases and it connected with him on a personal level.
D.J. Wonnum, EDGE South Carolina
Wonnum has found himself in a distinguishable situation as a college football player: continuously battling his brother Dylan in one on ones. Dylan is the starting tackle for the Gamecocks, and Wonnum had this to say when I asked him about battling his brother:
“It’s an even match. he’s a great athlete with great feet. When I go against him I know I have to come ready. My go-to is the long arm. He’s got great feet so i know I have to try to get him off balance.”
Wonnum mentioned that he has yet to speak to the Atlanta Falcons, but that he spoke to them at the Senior Bowl. The 2020 NFL defensive lineman prospect’s favorite player is John Abraham, a former Falcons, and South Carolina edge rusher. Wonnum said it would be amazing to be drafted by the Falcons. In terms of support throughout his career, Wonnum couldn’t say enough about Gamecocks coach Mike Peterson.
“They’ve been through it, and they give me advice daily,” said Wonnum.
When discussing potential top-10 pick Javon Kinlaw, Wonnum mentioned how great of an opportunity it has been to feed off of him, and to see him grow each season. Wonnum closed the interview taking pride in his versatility, namely his ability to stop the run and drop back in the passing game. Both are essential in today’s NFL, especially in a 3-4 scheme.
Malcolm Roach, DL Texas
Not unlike Windsor, Roach has already gotten his feet wet in community service as a player. Last fall, the Longhorn star ran a successful shoe drive dubbed “Kicks4Kids” for his community in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. One day while looking through his closet at his apartment in Austin, Texas, Roach noticed how many pairs of shoes he had and how he took it for granted. Led by his mother, the youth leader at his church, Roach made fliers and started collecting donations. Ultimately, Roach and his mother gave out 427 pairs of shoes to youth in Baton Rouge. He summarized his experience with the event, one he hopes to continue with his larger footprint in the NFL.
“I did this to put a smile on the kids’ faces. but really, it ended up putting a smile on my face.”
Kenny Willekes, DL Michigan State
Kenny Willekes informed PFN that if he hadn’t gotten injured in his team’s 2018 bowl game, he likely would have entered last year’s draft. In addition to that injury, Willekes noted that he suffered far worse injuries in his childhood growing up on a 10-acre wooded plot in Michigan. Luckily, Willeke’s father is a doctor, and was able to stitch him up on their living room couch. There were so many, I’ve listed them below.
- Jumping on the bed with his brother at age 10, Willekes fell backward and split open the back of his head.
- After a game, the fat was hanging out of his finger. His dad removed it and sealed it up.
- While scrapping metal with his left hand, a pipe ripped open his hand along the palm.
- While building real wooden forts in the woods, Willekes’ brother stole his favorite log and threw it at him, splitting open his forehead right between the eyes,
- While snowboarding, he split open his chin (this was the easiest one to fix).
“Football has been less painful than my childhood. My mother told me they used to have to come out and make sure I wasn’t bleeding because I would just keep playing.”
Willekes was also asked which runningback was the toughest he faced, and while he commended Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor for his balance and his ability to take it to the house. His ultimate answer, however, was Ohio State’s, J.K. Dobbins.
Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson
Arguably the top dog of the NFL linebacker prospect class at this year’s NFL Combine, Isaiah Simmons spoke to his versatility, recalling a college game where he played five different positions. When asked about his ability to be a swiss army knife, Simmons replied:
“Look at Travis Kelce and George Kittle. It’s my job to stop them, that’s why I do what I do.”
Simmons wowed analysts and fans alike by matching Clemson RB Travis Etienne step-for-step in a footrace. I got the chance to ask Simmons who won that race. Here was his response:
I asked .@ClemsonFB LB Isaiah Simmons who really won the race between him and RB Travis Etienne. Here’s his answer: @PFN365 #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/sDHcccYrEK
— Eric Roddy (@RoddyPFN) February 27, 2020
Simmons will almost certainly be the first linebacker prospect taken in the 2020 NFL Draft and models his game after Kansas City’s Tyrann Mathieu. His rare combination of size, speed and athleticism is exactly what NFL defensive coordinators are looking for, especially as the league continues to develop into a passing league. For a complete breakdown of his interview, check out this thread.
For exclusive coverage from the 2020 NFL Combine, follow Pro Football Network (@PFN365) and Eric Roddy (@RoddyPFN) on Twitter.