The teams that routinely win the NFL draft are the ones that are able to find the best players, regardless of where they played their college ball. It’s about finding diamonds in the rough, and getting the best value across all seven rounds.
If your favorite NFL team is looking to check all those boxes with a tight end prospect in the 2020 NFL draft, they should look no further than Dayton’s Adam Trautman.
One of the biggest winners at this year’s Senior Bowl, Trautman recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience against top competition in Mobile, how he handles the “small-school” criticism, and what kind of impact he’ll make at the next level.
JM: What was your experience like at the Senior Bowl?
AT: It was a great experience. For a guy like me and with my situation being a small school guy, it was a huge opportunity for me to go out there and compete against the top seniors around the nation. It was important for me to go out there and prove that I belonged. I got to showcase myself against some of the best of the best. The week itself was a grind but it was a lot of fun. It’s football so naturally I had an awesome time out there.
JM: Was your main focus out there to quiet some of the small-school talk?
AT: Yeah, I wanted to specifically prove that I’m a complete tight end. I can put my hand in the dirt and attack people in the run game. I of course wanted to showcase my abilities in the passing game as well. I basically wanted everyone in attendance to realize that everything I put on film throughout my entire college career will translate exactly to that level of competition as well. I definitely feel like I did that and proved that to everybody.
JM: You just know that some scout or whoever is gonna ask you about the small-school competition. Will you point him in the direction of your Senior Bowl tape?
AT: Yeah, I would honestly tell them to pull up the tape from the week of practice I had out there. It clearly translated for me. They can’t just say that I was giving more effort out there or whatever because if you watch my tape, that’s how I played all season. I go hard all the time. That would be my response. People are gonna have their opinions and I understand that. I had a chance to prove myself throughout the three days of practice and in the game as well. I definitely feel good about it. I don’t think I should have an asterisk next to my name. I was thrilled with how the week went.
JM: You put up 70 catches, 900+ yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Those are some impressive numbers. What is it about your game that allowed you to be so productive?
AT: It comes down to great game-planning. It starts there. Our offensive coordinator did a great job being creative and putting me in different situations that allowed me to thrive and be successful. Opposing defenses had a difficult time game-planning for me in any given situation because we threw so much at them. We did a great job hiding me, finding me mismatches and getting me into 1-v-1 opportunities. A huge amount of credit goes to our offensive coordinator. I also put in a lot of work throughout the summer. I really honed in on route running and blocking. I was fortunate to see that hard work translate over. I’m very happy with the season that I had.
JM: There was such a big jump in production for you from 2018 to 2019. Why do you think that happened?
AT: I was really focused throughout the off-season. Going in as a senior, I knew this was my last run at it. There’s a new level of focus that comes with that realization. I certainly spent a lot of time on the little techniques. Those things did a great job carrying over for me. They lead to a lot of big time opportunities on game-day. I was able to make some big plays for my team and dominate in the run game as well. That really was where my focus was at. I also think our offense did a great job evolving this past season. We were able to carry over the momentum from the year before and take that a little further. We went from scoring 36 points per game to 42.5 points per game which was the best mark in the country. That’s a credit to our offensive coordinator.
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing tight end?
AT: I enjoy being able to impact the game in multiple aspects. You can be that go-to guy in the passing game as the chain mover or play-maker if you will. You can also be the guy on 4th and 1 who demands for the team to run the ball behind you. We’re able to impact the game in so many ways as a tight end. The NFL has seen an increased usage of multiple tight end sets as of late. That’s really what I love about the position.
JM: You’re an excellent route runner. Do you have a favorite route to run?
AT: Yeah, I’d have to say a corner route. That’s definitely my favorite route to run. Being able to change the angle when you come off of a cut, just having that freedom makes it my favorite.
JM: I have a two-part question here for you. Is there one NFL defender that you’re looking forward to squaring off with? How about one NFL quarterback you’d love to catch a pass from?
AT: Wow, those are tough. I have to think about a safety or someone I could realistically square off with in coverage. Tyrann Mathieu definitely comes to mind. I’ve always loved watching him play the game. He’s a heck of a player. As for the quarterback question, I don’t really care (laughs). I’ll catch a pass from any NFL quarterback. That’s a tough one. I like Deshaun Watson. I grew up a Houston Texans fan. I grew up in Houston up until I was 11 years before we moved to Michigan. Catching a pass from Watson would be pretty cool but I honestly don’t have a preference at all.
JM: The NFL Scouting Combine is fast approaching. Are you looking forward to any drills in particular?
AT: I’m really just looking forward to having another opportunity to go out there and compete on another big stage against my peers. There’s so many talented guys throughout the country and I’m excited about competing alongside them. I’m looking forward to meeting the teams and interviewing with them. The position drills are big. It’s another chance to show that I can separate and move with the best of them. I can get in and out of breaks effortlessly and I can move guys off the ball in the run game. I’m excited for it all. I’ve been watching the combine on television for at least seven years in a row now. I’m looking forward to partaking in it.
JM: This is a long, taxing process, but it’s an incredibly rewarding one. What are you most looking forward to?
AT: I’m really excited to see where I could take this thing. I’m excited to ultimately find out where I’m gonna end up. Where I was before last season, I’ve seen quite the rise. The way teams view me has changed drastically. There’s a big difference in where I’m projected now to where I was a year ago. It’s gonna be exciting to see how high I can end up and how I can continue to elevate myself. Continued development is very important to me. I’ve been working with some great position coaches as I prepare for what’s next. I’ve obtained a lot of knowledge over the last little bit. I love developing as a player. I’m already excited to head out to rookie mini-camp wherever that might be (laughs). I can’t wait to do what I do best.
JM: What kind of impact is Adam Trautman gonna make at the next level?
AT: I plan on being a huge contributor. I’ll take up whatever role I need to. If they need me to be the third tight end and play special teams, I’ll be ready to embrace that. I’m absolutely all for that. If they need me to be the blocking tight end in a two tight end set or the leading pass catcher of the position group, I’m ready for whatever role’s coming my way. I’m looking forward to contributing to whatever organization believes in me.
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