NFL Draft Diamonds International Prospect Interview: Okko Outinen, DE, Finland

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission.

The latest international prospect is Okko Outinen who plays for the Helsinki Roosters from Finland. The Roosters play in Finland’s Maple League and are one of the top ranked teams in Europe.

•       Name: Okko Outinen
•       Height: 6’4
•       Weight: 270 lbs
•       Position: DE
•       College: Europe/Semi Pro
•       Twitter: @Loco_okko

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?
• Helsinki, Finland. Kind of a big city feeling but everything’s close and safe. I still love the people in Helsinki more than the actual place, most of my friends live there and really make it feel like home.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?
•1. Strength and conditioning, if you’re not in shape, the other two won’t matter because football takes people physically to the edge. 2. Practice, execution still matters more than preparation even though film study is also very important and the key to winning, as long as S&C and practice are covered.

What do you worry about, and why?
•I worry about not living up to my own expectations. Why, that’s a good questions. I guess my expectations get higher every time I live up to them!
Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?
•I failed to become a professional ice hockey player. One year after I quit I started playing football at the age of 22 and still on that path!
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
•Work ethic, motor.

Who is the best player you have ever played against?
•Robert Johnson, former Texas Tech WR and QB star from Juco. Deadly at setting tempo for an air raid offense.

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?
•I am a marine biologist already so I guess that.
Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?
•Desk, room and a car. Don’t own a car but I’d leave that to last. Desk is something you gotta clean daily, room maybe weekly.

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?
•One family member. Family is the most important thing in life.
If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?
•Doctor House, what a great show.
Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?
•High expectations, set by myself. Just beat them every day and set the bar higher.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
•I once broke a chair on family dinner, by just sitting on it. This has actually happened at least few times.
What was the most memorable play of your career?
•TD, Fumble recovery in the end zone. It was 2012, my first season in the Finnish top league and I was a rookie in the league, thats why it was so memorable.

What song best describes your work ethic?
•Wiz Khalifa – all day

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level?
•Outworking everyone else.
If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?
•My grandma, we were very close and I was able to tell her everything without her judging me.

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it?
“Hips”

Who is the most overrated player in the NFL?
•Aaron Rodgers, he just needs to start playing like he used to.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?
•Respected. Respect means more in life than pleasing others.

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?
•Aaron Hernandez. Just the way his story ended, some people are never really able to leave the ghetto and that is something all people can’t understand.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?
•Hate to lose, so bad.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?
•My dad. Very down-to-earth guy who is a great man but never takes credit for all the good he has done.

Read the original article in NFL Draft Diamonds.