Hard work and discipline are staples of success in the NFL, and Notre Dame safety prospect Alohi Gilman already knows all about them.
One of this year’s best prospects at his position, Gilman recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his time at a Naval prep academy, his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, and what kind of player he’ll be at the next level.
JM: You attended the Academy Prep school in 2015 after signing on to attend the Naval Academy. What did that experience teach you about hard work and discipline?
AG: It was a very unique experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was definitely different. I’m just an island boy from Hawaii. I was uprooted to Newport, Rhode Island. That’s all the way on the other side of the country. It was obviously a very different experience for me. It was tough. It was a whole new world, a whole new life for me. The military is a steep transition.
You start to understand the ins and outs of military life and the leadership and discipline that go into it. It taught me how to be a man. It forces you to grow up rather quickly. It’s an experience that molds you. You learn a lot about yourself along the way. I credit the man that I am today to that experience.
JM: Fast forward a little bit, and the last two years at Notre Dame went so well for you. How do you look back on your time there?
AG: My time at Notre Dame was awesome. I really enjoyed it. It was such a unique experience. I had so much fun with my teammates and friends. I met so many great people along the way. Those relationships will last me a lifetime. It will forever hold a special place in my heart.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
AG: The combine was obviously a fun experience. It also comes with some stress and pressure to perform. Those are some of the factors at play. It was a long five days. It’s a process. A lot of people don’t realize everything that goes on before we hit the field for the entertainment part of it. I’m talking about the medicals and interviews. It was a really fun experience though. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.
JM: Taking every aspect of the combine into account, all of the factors that you mentioned, what do you think is the overall impression that you left out there?
AG: I think I left a great impression. I just tried to show people who I am as a person and what I bring to the table. I thought I had a nice workout and showcased how smooth I am with my movements. I thought I killed the interview portion and really showed off my football intelligence. I understand the game at a high level and I believe that’s a fact that really shined through for me. My medicals checked out completely. I believe that I put a really good combine together in all aspects. The responses I’ve been getting from teams have been really solid. It seems to line up with how I believe I performed out there.
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing the safety position?
AG: Playing the safety position allows you to see the entire field. You’re like the point guard of the defense. You’re able to see everything and make sure that everybody is lined up correctly. It’s really like being a point guard on a basketball team. It allows you to make plays on the ball. That’s my favorite part of the safety position. It makes me feel like a little kid in a candy store. I’m trying to find something to eat, let’s go out there and make a play. That’s kinda the way I look at it.
JM: What can you tell me about the defense you guys ran at Notre Dame? What did your coaches ask of you within the scheme?
AG: We ran a pretty common scheme that you could find all around college football. My coaches put me in different positions to make plays. We were mainly a two-high team. They moved me around and used me in different places and coverages. I played in the box a little. I was in the slot playing man-to-man. I played some single-high as well. I was moved around a lot. Our defense was fun because they used me all over the field.
JM: When you’re playing in coverage, do you approach a smaller, shiftier receiver any differently than you do a bigger, more physical one?
AG: Yeah, I definitely do. It’s a little easier to get your hands on those bigger guys just because there’s so much room to do so. They also have their strengths as well. You wanna get your hands on them early in the process. That’s how you disrupt the timing of their route. It’s tougher with the shiftier guys. They’re great in space, that’s how they make a living. You have to have good footwork and great technique with those guys. You try to get your hands on them as well but you have to be a little smarter with your technique.
JM: Were you able to get any private visits or workouts in before COVID-19 shut everything down?
AG: I unfortunately did not. I had 5-7 private visits lined up, but everything shut down before I was physically able to make any of those visits.
JM: I’m assuming that you’ve moved things to the phones since then. Who are some of the teams that you’ve met with via FaceTime?
AG: Yup, I’ve been getting all of my team meetings in via FaceTime and Zoom. That’s how we’re getting it done this year. It’s been a very unique process. I’ve met with so many teams. I’m trying to put together a list for you. I know that I’ve met with the Bengals, Jaguars, Cardinals, Texans, Raiders, Titans and Patriots. Those were some of the teams that I had visits set up with that got canceled. I had private, top-30 visits set up with the Texans, Saints, Raiders, Patriots and Cardinals.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
AG: I know that a lot of people get those strange questions, but I honestly didn’t get one. The teams know that I have a clean record and background. They respect my background, my time at the Naval Academy, and the way that I was raised. They didn’t have any concerns with me. I didn’t get any strange questions.
JM: If you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one teammate with you, who would it be and why?
AG: I would have to go with my boy Jalen Elliott. That was my safety partner. We played so much football together. He’s a dog. I have a lot of experience with him. He’s a great leader and a great player.
JM: When a team uses one of their draft picks on Alohi Gilman, what kind of guy are they getting?
AG: Alohi Gilman is a guy that’s very physical and understands the game of football at a high level. I’m gonna get my hands on the ball and make game-changing plays for my team. I bring a lot of versatility to the table. You can move me all over the field and my instincts and high football IQ will pay off in a major way. I can change the game at any given moment.
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