135 : NFL Pro Interview : James Lee
James Lee first went to the University of Georgia to play college football, but later transferred to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to play at South Carolina State. While he was at South Carolina State, he started 31 of 33 games. He entered the 2008 NFL Draft, but went undrafted and then signed with the Cleveland Browns. He was waived before the regular season, but was claimed and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a member of the Buccaneers from 2008-2011, playing eighteen games, with nine starts. He recently signed a contract with the Washington Redskins.
128 : NFL Pro Interview : Ryan Davis
Ryan Davis played college football in the MEAC at Bethune Cookman University. He was recruited to play TE at BCU, but ended up making the switch to defensive end/outside linebacker. During his four year career, he totaled he was there, he totaled 190 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss, 24.5 sacks, and forced twelve fumbles. During his senior season, he was nominated to be the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. He is entering the 2012 NFL Draft, and projected to go in the mid-rounds. Click ‘Read More’ to check out the interview.
85 : NFL Pro Interview : Jamaal Jackson
Jamaal Jackson entered the 2003 NFL Draft, but went undrafted. He quickly signed a FA contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was their starting center from 2006 through 2009. He is also known to be the longest tenured Eagles player on their roster. He has played in 88 games in his entire career.
Read more 
14 : NFL Pro Interview : Marcus Dixon
Follow @MarcusDixon94 Follow @ProInterviews
Strauss : So, Marcus, why do you make it extremely important to connect to the fans?
Dixon : I feel like the fans keep us going. The fans are always there for you and I feel like, if I’m able to, I need to stay connected with my fans. Fans make a lot of difference in a game. They are the 12th man. Gotta love the fans!
Strauss : If you could meet anyone who would it be and why?
Dixon : I would want to meet Martin Luther King Jr. No explanation needed at all. He was a great powerful man that I would love to meet and follow around for a whole day. It would really be awesome.
Strauss : Who was your childhood star?
Dixon : I loved Reggie White. Tremendous player and just an all-around great guy.
Strauss : If you weren’t playing in the NFL, what would you want to do?
Dixon : I would like to teach and to coach in high school or even just land a coaching job in college.
Strauss : What is your favorite song to listen to before a game? What pumps you up?
Dixon : In college I used to listen to Standing Ovation by Young Jeezy. Crunk music with great bass usually pumps me up. A loud crowd always has me pumped up as well!
Strauss : What is your favorite movie of all time?
Dixon : This is hard because I have a lot of favorite movies, but two movies off the top of my head would be Harlem Nights and Life.
Strauss : What is your favorite snack food?
Dixon : Chips.
Strauss : What is your favorite TV-Show?
Dixon : Martin will always be a favorite TV show of mine.
Strauss : What is your favorite restaurant meal?
Dixon : Olive Gardens’ Lasagna, the all you can eat salad with the shredded cheese over the top, and that bread they bring me.
Strauss : What is your favorite homemade meal?
Dixon : My favorite home meal is Fish and Grits. My grandmother makes it for me all the time!
Strauss : What is your favorite video game?
Dixon : Not really good at video games… but I like to play NCAA football.
Strauss : What is the one thing you can’t leave your house without?
Dixon : My iPod.
Strauss : How long have you played football?
Dixon : I’ve played since I was seven years old.
Strauss : When did you see your first live NFL game?
Dixon : My first live NFL game was when I was about nine or ten years old, and I went to see the Falcons play and I even think it was against the Cowboys and if I’m not mistaken, the Cowboys won.
Strauss : Did you play any other sports in high school?
Dixon : I played baseball in 9th and 10th grade. Track 11th and 12th grade. I also played basketball all four years.
Strauss : What is your favorite sport to play other than football?
Dixon : I loved baseball, but basketball is more of my favorite now. The best experience in basketball was during my 10th grade year, and we were the first in school history to win the regional championship and make the playoffs. Actually, we ended up going to the Sweet 16 that year.
Strauss : When did you realize that you were going to play football in college and in the NFL?
Dixon : I realized my 10th grade year when I went to a football camp and received a verbal scholarship offer from the former Auburn Coach, Tommy Tuberville.
Strauss : Why did you choose the number 94 in college?
Dixon : I’ve always like the #4 for some reason, so 94 is what I chose!
Strauss : What is your favorite memory from Hampton University?
Dixon : I don’t really have a long story but some of favorite memories were definitely at the football cookouts. Everybody would come to that. The Block Parties were always great. Fishing outside of the dorm rooms with the fellows will always be a great memory. The Classics that we played in. Those games were always live. Scoring a touchdown against Morgan State my senior year will always be a great memory. So many things I will never forget!! Hampton was a great experience for me.
Strauss : How does choosing a number in the NFL work?
Dixon : The number, 95 was given to me during my rookie year, but now I’m 92 which is great, because that was Reggie White’s number!
Strauss : What impact did your high school coach have on your career?
Dixon : My high school coach, Lynn Hunnicutt, was a tough guy that gave out tough love but always gave you the tools you needed to succeed. He had a major impact on my career. He really showed me how to work for what I want.
Strauss : What impact did your college coach have on your professional career?
Dixon : Three coaches in college really helped me on my way. Joe Taylor, Tim Edwards, and Jerry Holmes constantly stayed on me and never let me slack. They are the reason why I believe in doing the little things right all the time!
Strauss : What is an experience you have had that changed your life?
Dixon : When I was eighteen, I got put in prison for 15 months. Wasn’t suppose to be there at all! That experience really changed my life. That experience made me grow up fast and realize that I can’t take anything for granted. It strengthened my faith and it also brought me even more closer to my family
Strauss : For someone aspiring to play football in college and in the NFL, do you have any advice for them?
Dixon : Give it your all on the field and off the field because it never goes unnoticed. Keep striving and remember when you’re laying around, the man across from you is working so you always need to keep an edge. Most of all is stay prayed up because without God it’s not going to happen anyways.
Strauss : Thank you for your time.
Dixon : Thanks for the opportunity, and God Bless!
01 : NFL Pro Interview : Don Carey
Follow @DonCarey Follow @ProInterviews
Strauss : So, welcome Don, why do you make it important to connect to the fans?
Carey : I love fans, I feel as if I’m a fan of sports myself.
Strauss : If you could meet anyone in the world (alive or dead), who would it be and why?
Carey : Entirely too many people I want to sit down and have a conversation with. I don’t really have one in particular though.
Strauss : Who was your childhood star?
Carey : My mother is my Star. I’ve watched her raise four Kids, work two jobs, and often not eat so that we could. She still had a smile on her face and always had time to make sure her children were loved and knew who God is.
Strauss : What is your favorite movie of all time?
Carey : Life with Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, + many more
Strauss : What is your favorite snack food?
Carey : Hmmm, Tropicana Orange Juice lol.
Strauss : Hmmm… What is the one thing you can’t leave your house without?
Carey : My CarMax.
Strauss : What is your favorite type of pie?
Carey : I like Strawberry Cheesecake.
Strauss : What was your favorite NFL team growing up?
Carey : I’ve been a Buccaneers fan ever since Tony D took over the team. Their Defense ranks in the top of all-time in my book.
Strauss : When did you see your first live NFL game? Who played? Who won?
Carey : I saw my first NFL in 2008, Ravens vs. Dolphins playoff game. Ravens won. Ed Reed is amazing.
Strauss : How long have you played football?
Carey : I’ve played football since I was 6 years old.
Strauss : Did you play any other sports in high school?
Carey : Track. (4×100, 110H hurdles, 300 Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, and Triple Jump).
Strauss : What is your favorite sport to play other than football?
Carey : Other than football, Bowling.
Strauss : When did you realize that you were going to play football in college and the NFL?
Carey : I didn’t know I would play football in college until a month before my high school graduation. I didn’t know I had a chance to play in the NFL until the summer before my senior season in college.
Strauss : If you weren’t playing in the NFL (or after retirement), what would you want to do?
Carey : I had a job as a field engineer for Hensel Phelps Construction out in Phoenix, AZ. If I wasn’t in the NFL, I would be in Phoenix.
Strauss : What impact did your high school coach have on your college career?
Carey : My high school coach (Larry Stepney) helped me get into college on a full scholarship. He, personally, took my highlight tape to the NSU coaching staff
Strauss : Describe the hardest change between the jump from high school to college.
Carey : Dealing with the size of the other players.
Strauss : What have you learned from college DB Coach, Marco Butler?
Carey : Marco is a great guy, easy to talk to, and always willing to listen. He taught us how to be a player and give effort 100%!
Strauss : Why did you choose the number 27 at NSU?
Carey : My coach gave me the number because I reminded him of Rashean Mathis
Strauss : How had your game improved throughout college?
Carey : Every year, I got a better understanding of the Defense which allowed me to play faster.
Strauss : Who was the hardest player for you to defend against in college? why?
Carey : Kenny Britt <- Dude is a handful for anyone. lol.
Strauss : What is your favorite memory from Norfolk State?
Carey : My favorite memory was blocking the game winning field goal vs. Hampton in 2007, we won 20-19. Fans came onto the field and did the Cupid Shuffle.
Strauss : What was it like to train for the combine?
Carey : Exciting! I really got a chance to see what other big name guys were like and how I matched up against them.
Strauss : Describe the hardest change between the jump from college to the NFL.
Carey : The speed and schemes are both elevated.
Strauss : What impact did your college coach have on your professional career?
Carey : Coach Adrian really opened my eyes in terms of Defense. I was blessed to watch film and talk about football with him. I learned a lot.
Strauss : Why did you choose #22 on the Jaguars?
Carey : My uncle has been a Jaguars fan since they came into the NFL, and he wore 22 when he played.
Strauss : As you’ve grown as a player, how important has film been to your development?
Carey : I am more mature then I was a year ago. I’ve been watching film and being around the NFL meetings has really helped develop me mentally. I look for anything that can give me the edge.
Strauss : What’s the hardest workout for you to complete?
Carey : All of our workouts are challenging, Coach Richardson really does a great job with us in the weight room.
Strauss : How do you get better at being a defensive back from wide receivers?
Carey : By watching them and learning from the way the run their routes.
Strauss : Who do you compare your game to?
Carey : Not really sure, I enjoy watching Charles Woodson and Al Harris.
Strauss : What does DB Coach, Cory Undlin, really do for your development?
Carey : Coach Undlin is a super cool dude. He really focuses on technique and demand that we be technically sound, he is a great coach.
Strauss : What do you learn from Defensive Coordinator, Mel Tucker?
Carey : Coach Tucker really has an understanding of how offenses work. Every time he speaks, I learn something new. Coach helps us focus on technique, the better your technique is, the more physical you can be.
Strauss : Has Coach Jack Del Rio said anything to you?
Carey : He told me to continue to work hard and they are excited to have me on the team.
Strauss : Could you have predicted how far football was going to carry you?
Carey : Not at all.
Strauss : What is an experience that changed your life?
Carey : Watching my mother raise four kids by herself.
Strauss : Who are your best buddies on the team?
Carey : Rashad Jennings and Derek Cox.
Strauss : What have you learned from teammates?
Carey : How to be a Professional and how to balance football with family.
Strauss : What is your favorite quote?
Carey : “DEFINE YOURSELF FOR YOURSELF, BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T YOU’LL BE THROWN INTO OTHERS’ FANTASY AND EATEN ALIVE!!!” ~ Audre Lorde
Strauss : Thank you so much for your time.
Carey : No Problem, Keep up the great work. GO JAGUARS!
Max Strauss
