Friday, June 15, 2018

Off the Gridiron: Tanner Ibarra


PLAYER PROFILE:

NAME: TANNER IBARRA 
TEAM: NORTH IOWA BUCKS
AGE: 24
POSITION: CENTER 


What's your favorite pro and/or college team?

Minnesota Vikings

What NFL player do you think you most play like? 
John Sullivan from the Rams. He's a small center height-wise, very smart in football and goes out there and just works. Or Brandon Fusco for the versatility. He can play any position on the line and does what he has to do to help the team win. 

What's your favorite sport that's not football?

Whatever sport my niece or nephew is playing 

When did you first start playing football? 

Haha my dad had a football in my crib before I could walk. But I know my dad had me in football when I was five or six. I remember being one of the smallest kids out there.

Why do you still play?

I love the game, it's a great stress reliever. My niece and family enjoy watching me do it, and I like the team/family concept of sports.

What are your goals for this year?

The goal every year is to help my team win a championship. Unfortunately, I can only do my best to lead the team there as the day of our championship is also my sister's wedding.

What's your favorite football memory?

Just playing catch with my dad in the backyard as a kid, he taught me everything I know about the game, built my work ethic, and just the time I got to spend with him.


Around the League:
I asked some other players in the league about Tanner's play.

Former teammate Justin Engh said, "Kid has the biggest heart I've ever seen. He might not be the biggest or strongest, but he won't back down from any challenge. I've tried to make him quit in the gym and he won't. He will do anything for a teammate, always there for you up or down. [He's an] all around great team player."

Competitor (and occasionally fellow center) Shon Osborn added, he's "not the standard prototype center. [He] knows how to beat you with his smarts... [A] leader, great competitor."

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Off the Gridiron: DJ Jackson

It's been a couple years since I've interviewed any of my adult athlete friends, and I wanted to pick a few more to talk to and ask them what they love about the game and why they still choose to compete at that level! 

PLAYER PROFILE:

NAME: DJ JACKSON
TEAM: MIDWEST RAMPAGE
AGE: 22
POSITION: WIDE RECEIVER 

What's your favorite pro and/or college team?

NY Giants and LSU 

What NFL player do you think you most play like? 
Me personally, I feel like I play like Odell Beckham Jr. 

What's your favorite sport that's not football?

Soccer - I won my first ever championship in soccer. 

When did you first start playing football? 

I first started playing football at the age 10 after Hurricane Katrina’s in 2005 when I moved to Birmingham, Al. Then I moved around and played for different little league teams until I was older enough to play middle school football in the 8th grade

Why do you still play?

I still play because of the brotherhood and I love the sport. I love the process of getting prepared for a game and I love the support you get from the fans and families.

What are your goals for this year?

My goal for this year is to finish the season undefeated while winning a championship

What's your favorite Rampage memory?

My favorite memory is when me and Aaden do our handshake on the sideline and I throw him up 😀 lol fr that’s bomb.

I asked some of DJ's teammates to describe his play. Here's what they came up with: