The Miami Hurricanes have been churning out top linebacker prospects for years, and Michael Pinckney hopes to add to that illustrious tradition.
An all-conference pick in 2019, Pinckney recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about how playing at Miami prepared him for the next level, why he can’t wait to tackle Saquon Barkley, and why an NFL team should take a chance on him in the 2020 NFL draft.
JM: You played your senior season at Miami, and you’ve been a starter since 2016. How does that experience serve you well going forward?
MP: It just shows you how much experience I have playing this game. I’ve been through the ups and downs football can take you through. I’ve been faced with many challenges throughout my time at Miami. I’m ready to face anything head on.
JM: This is a long, yet rewarding process. What are you most excited for throughout all this?
MP: I’m just excited to get on a team and make the most of my opportunity. I’m excited to go out there and compete with the guys at the combine and at my Pro Day. I’m ready to get back to football. There’s been a lot of practice throughout this process. The bulk of this process isn’t even over yet. I’m just excited to go compete.
JM: What do you enjoy more, playing downhill in the run game or dropping back into coverage?
MP: I feel like I do both very well. You have to be able to do both in today’s game. I’m a three-down linebacker at the end of the day. That’s just my opinion. I’m so versatile that I can do both.
JM: What are three traits a successful linebacker must possess?
MP: We have to be instinctive. We have to be able to read the game at a high level. Your mental processing skills have to be on point. We have to play fast. Toughness would be my last choice. You can’t shy away from contact. You better be a tough linebacker.
JM: Playing at Miami afforded you the opportunity to play against some of the best competition college football has to offer. Who are some of the best players you’ve ever gone up against?
MP: Dalvin Cook was probably the best player I’ve ever played against. He stands out as the best in my career. He’s just a phenomenal guy and player. He really made me take notice. I played against him during my freshmen year. I believe he was a junior. He was amazing, man. I had never seen a guy play the game the way he does.
JM: He’s been pretty special for the Minnesota Vikings.
MP: He’s been doing a great job. Before this season, I don’t really think he was getting the respect he deserved. I saw way too many negative comments about him. You have to understand that it’s tough to come into the NFL and make an immediate impact. He wasn’t all the way healthy. It took him some time but he really put it together this year. He proved a lot of people wrong. I know what he’s capable of.
JM: Besides him, is there one NFL running back that you’d love to tackle behind the line of scrimmage?
MP: I would probably go with Saquon Barkley. He’s an amazing player. I’ve heard guys talk about how hard he is to tackle. Tackling him behind the line of scrimmage would be a big accomplishment, especially as a rookie. Not everybody gets a chance to do that.
JM: What about one NFL quarterback you’d love to intercept?
MP: Tom Brady. That’s an easy one for me. He’s the GOAT. Everybody knows that Tom Brady is the GOAT. If you pick off the GOAT, that’s something you can tell your grand-kids about one day (laughs). I would never stop talking about that.
JM: Why should an NFL team use one of their draft picks on Michael Pinckney?
MP: They’re gonna get a winner, first and foremost. You’re gonna get a guy that’s coming into the next level extremely motivated. I’m excited to be in this position. I’ll go anywhere and put my best foot forward. I’m gonna make a big impact as a team-first guy. I love to win.
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