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Darion Brossard | Vanderbilt/ Austin Peay University | DL
Twitter: @debrossard_era | Instagram: @debrossard_era
Q: Tell us about your college (or pro) career and what the recruiting/scouting process was like. Why did you choose Vanderbilt?
A: I had a slightly different college recruiting process than most people. First, I started playing football in 12th grade, so the onus was put entirely on me to get recruited. While in high school I was getting heavily recruited by Brown, Mississippi State, and Louisville. Each school has an entirely unique component that I wanted. Brown had stellar academics, and MSU and Louisville presented opportunities of playing in the ACC and SEC. When I was offered a scholarship from Vanderbilt it had the perfect culmination and that drastically influenced my decision making.
Q: What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?
A: I would say the biggest accomplishment I have made in my sports career is learning how to play all positions on the offensive line/ defensive line and playing in the SEC.
Q: What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from the coaching staff while playing at Vanderbilt?
A: While playing defensive tackle at Vanderbilt I was taught you can make 100 percent of the plays in your gap, and that really embedded in me as a nose tackle/defensive tackle the importance of staying in my gap. Also, the ace bang block as an offensive guard taught me how effective tagging the hip of the tackle could be at displacing him so he can’t stay in his prospective gap.
Q: How was your career impacted due to the 2020 pandemic and what have you learned from the adversity?
A: The 2020 pandemic had an enormous effect on my career. My pro day was canceled, and it left me with little options towards getting exposure in the draft process.
I coach youth so I can share my gifts even if that means teaching young males to value academics and be Christ centered on their sports journeys.
~ Darion Brossard
Q: What was your major and what are your plans if football doesn’t work out?
A: My plans are to attain an EDD in Educational Leadership and be a school principal.
Q: What would your current/past teammates say about you and your qualities?
A: They will always say I’m the funniest guy on the team and that when I’m on the field that is turned off and its all aggression.
Q: What has been one of the most memorable plays of your career at any level?
A: The most memorable play of my career was getting a TFL against the University of Arkansas only because I saw the exact way I could do it before the play happened.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how do you manage it?
A: My biggest challenge has been building a football IQ and I have never really gotten to play one position and focus on it. I came into college with a bit of a learning curve having not played football until the 12 grade and I have found that in order for me to grasp a play or concept often calls for a deep analytical understanding through studying, like I would on a test, and doing walkthroughs in order to further visualize how something is done. I always have to make something second nature in order to master it.
Q: If you could compare yourself to a pro athlete, who would that be and why?
A: I would say Terron Armstead since we are the exact same size and both possess almost a freakish combination of speed and explosiveness relative to bodyweight.
Q: What is your biggest strength that you bring to a professional team and why should pro scouts consider you?
A: My biggest strength is my versatility. I can play any position on the offensive/defensive line. I am coachable, and lastly for my prospective positions I bring an extraordinarily rare athletic skill set.
Q: Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or ”pay it forward” in your community?
A: I coach youth so I can share my gifts even if that means teaching young males to value academics and be Christ centered on their sports journeys.
Q: How are you preparing for the 2021 National Scouting Combine and what are your goals?
A: As it stands not my regimen consists of a high protein/ high fiber diet that keeps me in a daily caloric deficit. Training regimen that heavily activated type 2 fast twitch muscle fibers. Studying the game is a huge priority as well as being consistent with my endeavors towards improvement. My goal is to run a sub 4.6 at 300 pounds.
Q: What would be your ultimate achievement?
A: My ultimate achievement would be getting drafted into the National Football League
Q: What do you enjoy doing when not playing football?
A: I am actually an amateur dunker so I really enjoy doing that, lifting weights, and reading books on spiritual growth, and I am also a bit of a Marvel/DC comic book nerd.
Q: If you could make a positive impact on all of society what would it be and why?
A: A positive impact to me would be valuing a positive culture. Growing up where I am from very little value was put on academic achievement and things that could have a substantive impact on someone’s life, and I saw this culture of mediocrity constantly being reinforced and I feel like cultures that exemplify positivity should be highlighted more in our society.
Q: Who is or has been the most influential person in your life?
A: I would say my parents have been an enormous influence in my life even if some of that entails having contrast views from them in certain areas.
Q: What is something unique about you that people would find interesting?
A: I’m obsessive and although that can sound a bit off putting but when I’m obsessed with reaching a specific goal I will go above and beyond what is required to attain that goal. Lastly, I have hundreds of pages of Shakespeare memorized in my head.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: Playing in the NFL no question.
