Name: AJ Forbes
School: University of Montana
Position: C
Height: 6-2
Weight: 300
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
The ultimate goal was to lead my team to both a conference championship and a national championship. We were able to win the Big Sky Conference championship after defeating our in-state rival Montana State, then we were able to compete for a national championship at the end of the season. I knew that if I committed myself to becoming the best possible player I could be, then I could help my team win. If that effort ended in an All-Conference or All-American selection, then that would be the cherry on top.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
My coaches and teammates would say that I am a tough, gritty football player who showed everyone that he truly cared about the people around him. They would say that I am someone who yearns to lead and makes sure that those around him are doing what they need to do. They would say that I take things seriously and look at football as a business.
Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?
When self-scouting myself, everything starts with the pre-snap picture of the defense. Did I properly identify the front and structure? Is the call that I made correct on a particular play, or could I have made a better one? Could I have identified a Safety instead of a Linebacker to get a run scheme on a better angle? As a Center, I take great pride in the cerebral aspect of the game.
Then I move to my feet. Are my knees inside of my toes in my stance so that I can be in a good power angle at the snap? Am I transferring my weight to one foot or the other at the snap, or have I properly distributed my weight in my stance to take a good first step? When I take that first step, do I have all my cleats in the ground?
Then I move to my hands and my target point. Did I establish the correct leverage on a defender based on the play we’re running? Could I have gotten my helmet in a better position when I set the block? Could I have tightened up my hand strike?
Then I look at my finish. Did I do everything I could on that play to not only do my job, but do it with tenacity through the whistle?
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
One of my primary selling points at the Center position is my mobility. I am very comfortable pulling as a Center, getting out in space on screens, and blocking Linebackers at the second level. Another selling point for myself is my ability to command an Offensive Line. At Montana, I was responsible for scanning the opposing defense, identifying the defensive structure, establishing the Mike point in the run and pass game, and adjusting the blocking scheme on a given concept based on several factors. My knowledge of the game and eagerness to study gives me the confidence to lead a unit on the field.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
I am currently training in Omaha, Nebraska with JR Epley and Gibbie Duval at “Xplosive Edge”.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
As an Offensive Lineman, one of the main points of pride is durability. I started 42 of a possible 43 games in my career at Montana. Some of the games were played with painful injuries, but I take great pride in my toughness and my ability to be there for my team.
As a Center, I am very comfortable pulling on inside and outside runs, climbing up to the second level, and blocking in space on screens. My mobility allows offenses to use me in a variety of ways that wouldn’t be as successful with other Centers.
I take great pride in the cerebral aspect of the game. I watch film like how a coach would. I understand the responsibility that I am given as a Center and want to be able to put the offense in the best position possible to be successful.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?
I have bet on myself for my entire football career. At every place I have been where I was given the opportunity to be the player I knew I was, I have given that team everything I had and worked tirelessly not only to prove them right but to prove myself right. Any team that bets on me will get a man and a player who has always done whatever he can to lead and succeed.
