National Scouting Combine Featured Athlete Devond Blair Jr, WR from NorthWestern Oklahoma State

Devond Blair Jr | NorthWestern Oklahoma State | WR 

Twitter: @OuwieBlair | Instagram: @rockinfamily_goinplaces

Q: Tell us about your sports career and what the recruiting/scouting process was like?

A: My Career has been a blessed one. I am a QB that converted to WR in Junior College and made the most of it. Earning full scholarships to complete, build great relationships with teammates and complete my education/football career. I was given a second chance I am making the absolute most of it. 

 

Q: Did you play in college and if so, who did you play for? What was your experience like?

A: I played two years of Junior College football at Laney College in Oakland California. Then I earned a full ride scholarship to play at Missouri Southern State University. After playing my Junior year there and Covid shocked the world, I opted out of Missouri Southern State University to Finish my career and education at NorthWestern Oklahoma State University. College football has been a blessing in disguise, I was able create a lifetime brotherhood with teammates that will go beyond football. 

 

Q: What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?

A: I have two accomplishments that I’m most proud of. The first is being apart of a team that won conference championship and also making a run in the playoffs at Laney College. My Second biggest accomplishment was earning full scholarships to play football at the D2 level especially at my age. I don’t think it is too many guys my age in college that have and can produce at my level, my film shows a have a lot of football left in me. I never quit I found a way to produce and be productive for my team, not make excuses, not just on the team. 

 

Q: What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from your coach(es)

A: One of the more important things that I learned from a coach was my freshman year at Laney College. He told me, “you have to love the process as much as you love the prize”. Ever since then I have used that to get me where I am now. I loved this whole process because the average guy wouldn’t be able to go through what I did and still be here. My journey has been remarkable this process has been a love/hate but I wouldn’t regret it for anything. This process changed my life.

 

Q: What would your current/past teammates say about you and your qualities?

A: My teammates would say that I am a tenacious worker and I am always perfecting my craft, spending countless of extra time getting better. I’m a tough guard and I have a dog mentally not because what I say but the actions that I show. I’m a leader, my teammates feed off of ouwie I make people around me better. 

 

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 the catch I made to win us the game against San Francisco City College who wast at the time #2 team ranked nationally and #1 Ranked in California coming off the national title game. We were heavy underdogs, it was the first time we beat our Rivals since 1995 and that sparked a streak that lasted 3 years. What made it special was that I got married just a few hours before the game to the mother of my kids and they got to watch me do something special that I love. 

 

Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how do you manage it?

A: My biggest challenge has been blocking out all the outside noise that is out of my control of football school because after 5 years it was worth the fight to stay focus throughout my process of becoming a pro. Also, not letting my age get to me because on every team I played on I was by far the oldest guy on the team. I started out with 0 support just a young man from Oakland looking for a second chance and now I have countless of people looking up to me and depending on me. Coach John Beam at Laney College gave me that second chance we had a great 2 years together going 19-4 plus a playoff birth. It was then people would tell me that if I remain focus I could make this dream come true. I was told the man that has been through the most is the most prepared, I believe nobody has been through as much as I have and my film shows I am ready for the next level.

 

Q: Who was the best player you played against anytime during your career?

A: The best players I played against has been my defensive backs in practice. We compete for so many months it’s hard not to pick up on each other’s tendencies plus that’s where things get the most hostile. I love all the DB’s on my team because they make the games so much easier for me when it’s time to compete against another color. 

 

Q: If you could compare yourself to any pro athlete, who would that be and why?

A: I honestly don’t like comparing myself to other athletes but ability wise I would say Chad Johnson. Some compares we have in common are size I have good speed and have a quick first step. I am very smooth plus deceptive with my routes and live for 1 on 1 coverage I can create separation and set the tempo against my opponent. Another reason I chose chad because he brings juice in his own way and his teammates feed off of that. I can honestly say I do the same, Teammates call me Ouwie, my style is difference and they feed off of me. 

 

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 competing and after competing I would say bringing the juice. I compete at a high level all the time, with my competitive spirit I can make people around me better. Playing with me your going to have to respect my grind or get disrespected by the grind. I love competing I have been doing it my whole life. From watching film, to doing extra field and weight room work, and in practices and games I want to be the best and I prove it with my actions. With my competitive spirit comes a lot of juice behind it because I know the work has been put in, 10,000 hour plus, so when I’m on the field doing my thing it’s exciting to execute and watch it routinely pay off.

 

Q: Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or ”pay it forward” in your community?

A: Being that I have always been the oldest guy on the team I have always had to be a mentor and somebody that the younger guys can look up to. If I had a dollar for every time a athlete had told me they look up to me I’d be a millionaire. They loved how I handle myself in a professional way no matter the situation. They love how hard I work to perfect my craft, they love that I’m a father of 2 and still get after it hard every single day as if I didn’t. I’m not just a talented athlete I’m a father and my WHY is so strong because it is my sons who I owe the world to. They changed my life forever just like football did. 

 

Q: What do you enjoy doing when not playing football?

A: When I am not playing I love spending time with my family. My family is everything to me, I do not know where I’d be without my family. I love writing music/poetry and drawing in my spare time. Drawing has really grew big on me as of recently. 

 

Q: If you could make a positive impact on all of society what would it be and why?

A:There are many positive ways I will help make an impact in society. The first I’ve always wanted to do since a kid was open up homeless shelter’s. Growing up in Oakland California it is a city over populated with homeless, job less people. I once had to sleep in a shelter after being in my car for a week, so I know the feeling of being homeless. I also would want to find ways to improve the education system in these same areas. These kids do not deal with the typical kid problems, they are abused mentally and physically, abandoned, and neglected. I love my city it’s so much potential in Oakland, and for the next generations coming up I want them to know it’s okay to be different, just because your buddy is doing things that don’t mean that have to be you. Making good decisions is the most powerful thing an individual can have. I did not have a positive mentor or role model I went through things and figured it out, now I want to give back to the youth in a way that wasn’t done for me. Making the right decisions. All the time. 

 

Q: Who is or has been the most influential person in your life?

A: Most influential persons in my life are my kids Marshawn Lynch, Marcus Peters, and Josh Johnson and Kevin King. It’s not easy growing up in Oakland, these guys paved the way for athletes like me because they come from the same place I do. Personally I know these guys, and I watched them do everything right on their journey to the NFL, I have gotten useful advice from all of these amazing men and athletes. They paved the way for athletes from Oakland California that it is possible to play on the biggest stage when you do everything right. 

 

Q: What is something unique about you that people would find interesting?

A: What’s unique about me is that I am a kind and genuine person, I have learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I am very versatile, I can adjust and adapt in any given moment. 

 

Q: If you had the opportunity to play another sport professionally, what sport would you choose?

A: It would be Baseball. I love pitching because there were so many pitches I could throw, also use to be a QB before I converted to WR in college. I love throwing and hitting the baseball. People think baseball is boring but it’s unique because you have to be precise. 

 

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream job is to be a professional athlete. I ain’t to play professional football and after my career I want to be a self employed. At the moment I have just started a trucking company near Dallas Texas and it’s a start of becoming an independent contractor. I believe putting the same grind and dedication I put into football and finishing school that I could make a lot of money through trucking to put my family in position to do the same. Another dream job of mine is to Coach collegiate football. With all the knowledge I have acquired throughout my lifetime I can be a great influencer in the sports community. I love to win games but it’s more about the relationships and experiences that are built because of sports.

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