Name: Timaje Porter
School: Delta State University
Position: DT
Height: 6-2
Weight: 315
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
I set out the goal to win a national championship and make All-American. We made it to the second round, repeating as conference champs and I did not make All-American. However, I did get All-Conference.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
They would say I am the heartbeat of our defense. They would say I am an excellent leader and a great locker room guy. They would say I worked hard day in and out to ensure the success of our team and I was a dedicated teammate.
Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?
Most of the time I try to look at where my feet and hands are once the ball is snapped and when I make contact. If I have good pad leverage and good feet movement, it’s much easier to win the block/rep.
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
What separates me is my knowledge of the game. I played OL at both the collegiate (University of Louisiana) and HS level which allowed me inside the mind of an offensive lineman. Much of the verbiage and hand signals stay the same. I am able to pick up on many plays just by hearing pass protections or hearing offensive lineman tell their blocking combinations to one another during the course of the game. All of this allows the game to slow down times 10 and I get a pretty good feeling of what to expect.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
My plan is to train in Pensacola with Fred Robbins.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
Strengths and abilities I bring on the field include my willingness to play the run and ability to stop the run. I am good at taking on and defeating double teams, allowing backers to move freely. I am also a great communicator and learn playbooks at a level and speed that most can not. Off the field, I have an exuberant personality and can pretty much talk to anyone. I have not had any off the field issues that would make a team think twice about my character and abilities to represent their organization to the fullest extent.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?
While I may be from a division 2 school, my film, accompanied by the way others see me and speak about me should dismiss or diminish any second thoughts you may have. Although my journey has been long, I am more ready than ever to compete and contribute.
