Name: James “Jimmy” Bauer
School: Colorado School of Mines
Position: OLB
Height:  6’2″
Weight: 230

Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?

After going 10-1 in the regular season last year the goal was to be perfect in 2019. As a senior class we tried to instill a no play, no day, no games off attitude that would prevent another upset and we were successful. We finished the season 11-0.

Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?

After asking this question to a few people who coached and played with me, there was a consistent theme of leadership, and passion. They say that I found my role as a player, not through my words, but by how I played the game. Saying that the player I was made everyone around me better.

Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?

When studying film, I break it down into components. In order for me to improve my game I have to know my opponent so I can identify certain things like formations and motions so I could play faster. When watching opponents I will watch each play concept first, watch every time they ran that play. Then I’d watch games and try to identify what play it was based on formation and down and distance. After that I would rewatch the game and go through what I would do presnap and throughout the play. This helped me keep a feeling of surprise out of the games. When I knew what they had to offer there was a consistent trend of player better.

Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?

I believe the things that will separate me from other pro prospects are technique, consistency, and intelligence. As far as technique goes I was lucky enough to have an 8 year NFL linebacker coach that gave me everything he knew. I believe I have techniques to play over tight end and pass rush that most others have not had access to. Consistency is the key to my game, as a young player I was reckless and made plays in the backfield but was unpredictable and left my teammates out to dry. Being well coached I was shown the impacts of being unpredictable and saw how much I can help my team by playing within the defense. Since then my teammates know that I will bring it, and they know where I will be, making their jobs easier. Finally intelligence, having graduated from what is considered the best engineering school in the nation with a degree in geophysics, I know I can learn playbooks with a limited amount of time. I believe these are my main assets that I can bring to professional teams.

Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?

My plan for training this offseason is to train at Landow Performance, which has a widely known pro prep training program. I believe this training will prepare me for my pro-day and for my CGS senior bowl game in January.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

I believe I will bring leadership to a team that will impact a program in a new way. Having to speak to the team and the public, I was able to portray my vision of what Mines football could be, and it was incredible how many things about my vision came to reality. I believed after losing an incredibly talented senior class, starting a true freshman at quarterback, and losing possibly our two best players to injury in Cameron Mayberry and Anthony Makransky, that we could still go undefeated, and we did. Belief is the first step to success and I know I can bring that to a program.

Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL or any other pro leagues?

I had a coach tell me about a conversation he had with a scout this year at practice and when he said tell me about Jimmy Bauer, my coach’s response was he will bring nothing but pride to your program. He’s a sure bet in that you know exactly who he is and what you will get out of him, and that is valuable beyond measure. I believe I’m an asset and I can help teams win at the highest level and I’m excited to receive and opportunity to do so.