Name: Damien McGhee
School: Florida Tech
Position: WR
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
I had two goals this season. On a team level, my goal this season was to lead the team by example, not just mere talk. I was intentional about evaluating those around me and challenging them by coming to work day in and day out…being one of the first to get there and last to leave and being the team hype man and encouraging guys that they could do more and be better. My personal goal was to lead the conference in receiving touchdowns and yards. I accomplished the goal of leading the conference in receiving touchdowns.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
My coaches and teammates would say that I am hard working, that I am a “team first, me last” type of guy who is going to get his job done at all costs.
Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?
When I watch film to prepare for an opponent, I focus on player tendencies: How do they line up, when they line up certain ways…what do they like doing, etc.? I also like elevating film to watch other receivers and see what they do well that I can possibly add to my tool bag.
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
What separates me from other prospects is my versatility. I can play on the outside or in the slot. I have a combination of great feet and the power to maneuver anywhere on the field. I can create mismatches and by doing so I open up others around me.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
My offseason plan to prepare for professional opportunities is to train my mind, body and spirit. Those things I believe affect you greatly both on and off the field. If you well centered then you will succeed. I am training with XVXIII Performance and Uberzati, located in Melbourne, FL.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
I am a perfectionist. I take pride in everything I do. I am detail-oriented and I do not mind doing what is asked of me, whether that is making a play or being a diversion for a teammate to make a play. I have the ability to fit into any environment and I actually care about the people around me. That level of care and work ethic rubs off on those around me and that brotherhood has created something special.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL or any other pro leagues?
I have wanted to play football in the NFL since I was 7. My mom did not let me play until I got into the ninth grade but I had known from 7 that I was going to do it and that I would be good at it if I just had a chance. Spent all my days after school playing football in the neighborhood learning from watching television. In my freshman year of high school, my first year of football, I was my school’s MVP. By my senior year I was on the news every week for Friday Night Blitz, finished the season recognized as All State, recruited into a D1 school. While my journey has had different turns and twists, the plan from 7 years old was and still is to be a NFL player. There is nobody that wants it more than me, no one that will work harder than me, no one that will sacrifice as much as me, and nobody that will look out for the guys he plays with the way that I will. The last 15 years of my life have been a mind evolution of wanting something and working to see it manifest. It’s my time. I’m ready!