IDP Draft Profile & Player Interview: DE/LB Jareid Combs, North Texas

[Harry]

Coming out of your time at JUCO, you were rated as a 3 star by 247, can you take us through your recruiting process, and how you ended up choosing North Texas?

At first, I was being recruited by a couple of other schools, and I was seriously considering some of them; North Texas wasn’t really even on my radar. But when I talked to Coach Patrick , I really started to like them. He was their recruiting coordinator, but he almost felt like an Uncle to me. I could really tell that he wanted the best for me as a person. Along with loving him and the staff it also helped that it was down South, I like the sun more than the snow, so it being in Texas was a huge plus for me.

It was your first year at North Texas, and in your second game you were playing against the Tennessee Volunteers, what was it like going from Juco to playing an SEC team?

• Honestly, it was a crazy experience. Playing in High School and at Junior College you see all the power five teams playing on TV, so to actually be there playing against one was amazing. The game was in Tennessee and I remember just walking out for pre-game warmups, me and my friends took a couple laps around the field to take it all in. It was mind blowing to me. It was a really great feeling because it finally felt like I made it, it finally felt like I was playing Division One football. The place was packed, and overall, the whole experience was awesome.

 

You’re 6’3, 258 Lbs, you have a good frame; How do you try to use your size to your advantage?

• In my first year at North Texas we ran a 4-3 and going into my second year we moved to a 3-4, so the coaches asked me to slide inside to a 3-4 DE which made me a relatively small player. Using my size I try to stun the offensive lineman, because I wasn’t very big for where I was lining up, I’m not 6’6 280 like some of these other 3-4 DE’s. So, I try to use my power and my quickness to my advantage. Also, in film I tried to find little advantages where I could make up for being a little smaller.

 

On your Twitter you list yourself as a DE/OLB, and this year you were playing at the 3-4 DE, are you comfortable at all those spots and is there one you prefer?

• I’m comfortable at any position, wherever a team would have me. But ideally, I would play as a 3-4 OLB or as a 4-3 DE, or even a linebacker in a 4-3 coming off of the edge sometimes, because my specialty comes in my pass rushing ability. I know I only got a couple sacks last year, and playing the 3-4 DE I don’t want to say “limits” you, but racking up sacks is much harder, especially when you have linebackers rushing off of the edge and you’re going from the interior. But I learned that you gotta be selfless, do what’s best for the team, and do your job to win the game. To sum it up I would like to be used almost like a Von Miller, coming off the edge, being able to use my speed and finesse abilities to rush the Quarterback.
   

Read more:  http://dynastyfootballfactory.com/idp-draft-profile-player-interview-delb-jareid-combs-north-texas/