They say availability is the best ability, and if that’s true, then plenty of NFL teams should be looking to add Cal’s Evan Weaver to their defense.
One of the most durable linebacker prospects in the 2020 NFL draft class, Weaver recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his career with the Golden Bears, his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, and what he’ll bring to the next level.
JM: What a career you had at Cal. You played in 49 out of a possible 50 games. How have you been able to stay so healthy over the years?
EW: I think a lot of it has to do with good genetics, to be honest. I’ve been blessed. Both of my parents were athletes that competed at high levels, and they were incredibly durable, as well. Knock on wood (laughs). I’ve been able to carry that over to my football career. I take good care of my body. I’m always putting in extra work throughout the week of preparation. I have a pretty good routine after the game and I stick to it. It’s been working.
JM: You’ve also been such a productive tackler. You posted over 400 tackles during your four-year collegiate career, including 181 total tackles this past season. That’s just ridiculous. What is it about your game that led to such tackle production?
EW: My ability to diagnose plays has been the biggest factor in my tackle production. I always understand what’s going on around me. My instincts are also highly developed. I feel like those are the traits that have really brought my game to another level. It’s transferred over to the field.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
EW: It was awesome. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s definitely something that I had been thinking about for a long time. Being able to participate in something like that was a dream come true. Every kid dreams about going to the combine. I was happy with the numbers I put up. I proved that I can play football at the next level. It was a blessing.
JM: What do you think is the overall impression that you left out there?
EW: I think I made a good impression out there. I think I surprised a lot of people with my 40-yard dash and agility times. I finished in the top two of the agility drills at my position. A lot of people thought I was gonna run a 4.9 out there but I quieted a lot of the critics with that 4.76. It’s all good.
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the linebacker position?
EW: I love the contact. The contact and being able to command a defense. I love being the guy that has to make the play-calls on defense. I get to sit in the middle of the defense and take control. I love that. It’s my job to tell everybody what to do and to make sure they’re lined up. I absolutely love to hammer someone into the ground.
JM: Did you have many formal or informal interviews at the combine?
EW: I had a bunch of informals. I probably met with every single team informally. I didn’t have any formals. A lot of teams told me that we didn’t have to waste our time with the formals. They feel great about my production and my knowledge of the game. I guess they’re pretty comfortable with me. They didn’t need to put anything up on the white board to see if I knew it, they already know that I do.
JM: Do you have any private visits or workouts lined up, or will all of that be scheduled after your pro day?
EW: I have two private visits already lined up with the Bengals and Cardinals. We’re planning to take a few more visits after the Pro Day which is on March 20th. We’ll see what the availability looks like. A few more teams plan on getting me up there after the 20th.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine? We always hear reports of a getting guy asked an off-the-wall question.
EW: I had one team ask me how competitive I was. When I told him that I was extremely competitive, he asked me to prove it by staring at the wall for as long as I could without blinking (laughs). That went for about two minutes and then he finally asked me to stop. He was like, “Okay yeah, that’s good, we’re just gonna stop here.”
JM: You’ve played against some great competition throughout your time at California. Who are some guys that stuck out to you?
EW: Justin Herbert definitely comes to mind. Sam Darnold was another one. I played against Christian McCaffrey during my freshmen year. He had to be the toughest running back I’ve ever played against. He was a tough tackle, but I was pretty happy that I got him once in the open-field on a punt return (laughs).
JM: When a team uses a draft pick on Evan Weaver, what kind of guy are they getting?
EW: I think they’re getting a winner, first and foremost. I’m a leader both on and off the field. You’re never gonna have to take me off the field. I’m gonna show up every week ready to play. They don’t have to worry about me. There’s a lot of Ferrari’s out there that are good when they can play, but when you only get them for eight games a year, they only give you a chance to win those eight. I’m gonna give you a chance to win all 16.
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