Jp's Xs & Os Blog

Interview Kadin Bailey. 

Introduction: In my blog for this week I chose to interview Kadin Bailey. Kadin Bailey is a linebacker who currently plays college football at Eastern Michigan University. He fits our topic extremely well due to the simple fact that he’s currently going through the draft preparation process. As we know, this process doesn’t start a day or two before the big day but months prior. With Kadin going into his fifth year of collegiate football and having been at two distinguished universities, he’s the perfect candidate to tell us what it takes and how he’s prepared himself for this day. So stay tuned to what’s next!

Question 1: What does the NFL Draft mean to you as a college athlete?

Answer: It means a lot to me. I believe as a college football player you’re able to see every single year what it takes to advance to the next level. So taking the draft seriously and being conscious that I’ll be up next around this time next year is huge.”

Question 2: What are you doing right now to prepare for the NFL Draft process?

Answer: “Yeah, me personally, I’m really just sharpening my mental skills just as much as my physical ones. Football is a tough game mentally and physically, so being able to excel at both is really something I focus on.”

Question 3: What areas of your game are you focusing on improving before entering the draft?

Answer: “In my physical game, I focus most on draft/combine-related drills that I know I’ll be doing soon. I believe mastering these skills early rather than waiting for the season to start in January will give me an advantage. Every year we see people focusing on different things in the offseason, but I feel like this approach is something many people should adopt in their program.”

Question 4: How do you prepare mentally for the pressure of potentially being drafted?

Answer: “I’ve always believed that pressure is a privilege. It’s a nice thing to feel pressure, so I choose to think of it as a positive. I find comfort in knowing that this game is the same one I’ve played since I was a child. This not only brings me confidence but also reminds me to have fun with itin the end. Since this will always be a kids game and meant for you to enjoy it if you put the work in.

Conclusion: In conclusion, every athlete approaches the draft process differently. But what they all do have in common is the understanding that the road won’t be easy and it’s definitely better to start now than later. We get a look inside of a great player’s head, like Kadin Bailey. Understanding that this is not only a physical game but a mental one also is something that a lot of people forget. I’m really glad he shed light on the draft process with firsthand experience, and I’m excited to have him on the blog again.