Nick Ferrer
Quarterback – Senior
Saint Francis
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Nick Ferrer: Height is 6’4, weight is 230 and I am hoping to run in the high 4.8’s or low 4.9’s.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Nick Ferrer: I am training at AWP in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is a great facility, and I am taking advantage of it. I am working out with WR Jared Murphy out of Miami (Ohio). Jessie Bates from Wake Forest and Jaylon Smith of the Cowboys have been in and out at the facility.
Alex Khvatov: When is your Pro Day and what are your expectations on that day?
Nick Ferrer: It will be on April 4th at Ball State. I am hoping to run good times. I want to prove to teams that I am athletic for the position. I want to show my footwork, size and arm strength. I want to get on teams’ radar and shine in interviews. I am a leader.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall experience at the College Gridiron Showcase in Dallas?
Nick Ferrer: It was a great experience. I have never participated in anything like that before. I had a great time. I was able to handle plays and concepts. I process information quickly. I had the command of the offense. It definitely got me some exposure. A lot of questions were asked about me. Being from a small school doesn’t matter.
Alex Khvatov: What type of feedback did you receive from scouts?
Nick Ferrer: Scouts are really intrigued by me. There is definitely some interest. They look at my measurables. My pro day will be crucial. I want to show my ability. I am an under the radar guy. I am a sleeper prospect.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest thing that you took away from that all-star game?
Nick Ferrer: I can play with anybody. I knew that going in. I thought that I was one of the best players there. I can play at the next level. I process the game quickly.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Nick Ferrer: I pretty much always played QB. I never hit the camp circuit or seven on seven circuits. I was a late bloomer. I started as a junior. I grew six or seven inches from my freshman to sophomore year. It took me awhile to catch up with my body athletically. I had to gain weight. I had local D-I schools that wanted me to walk-on. Saint Francis was the right school for me.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Saint Francis?
Nick Ferrer: I had a bunch of D-II and NAIA schools. Coach Kevin Donley is the winningest active coach in college football right now. He is a big reason why I came here. I played for a guy like that in high school. Coach Donley taught me a lot of life lessons. Saint Francis offered me a full scholarship. I didn’t want my parents to pay for college.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Nick Ferrer: I came in as a freshman and competed for the starting job with the fifth year senior. My freshman year was up and down. I won the job initially. I was in and out of the lineup that year. We didn’t make the playoffs my freshman year. I learned from my mistakes. I went through some adversity. We lost in the semifinal game in the playoffs the next year. I won conference player of the year my sophomore year. We won the conference championship. We lost one game my junior year. We lost the conference title, but won the National Championship. We went 14-0 my senior year. We won the conference championship and became National Champions again. I also earned NAIA Player of the Year as a senior. I am also second in passing yards and TD’s at the NAIA level.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Nick Ferrer: First and foremost, it is my leadership. I am an extension of the coaches on the field. I was in the meetings when the coaches came up with the gameplan. I gained their trust. I have the discipline. I process information very quickly. I see the field well and react quickly. I go through the progressions. My size and arm strength stand out. I can make any throws. I have great anticipation. I am very sound mechanically, and my throwing motion is very compact.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Nick Ferrer: I am working on my speed and quickness. I never worked on 40 starts. I am also working on the agility drills. I was primarily in the shotgun. I am working on my footwork and my drops.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Nick Ferrer: It is the times when we dealt with adversity. I learned a lot from coach D. He led us in the right direction. We lost to Marian during our junior season. It is the last game we lost. It was because of me. I didn’t have a very good game. I threw three or four picks against Marian. Slowly but surely, we bounced back. We became a better team because of that game. Facing adversity helped our team in the long run. The credit goes to Coach D. He helped us overcome and grow through adversity.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Nick Ferrer: I grew up a Colts fan.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Nick Ferrer: Peyton Manning. If you grew up as a kid in Indianapolis and you were a QB, you wanted to be him.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a QB?
Nick Ferrer: Mental toughness. You look at the great QB’s today like Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. They are all mentally tough. They have consistency and the drive every day. They are very confident.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Nick Ferrer: Justin Green is an amazing athlete. He is our tailback. He is a great player. He is naturally gifted. He flew under the radar. He will be talked about. He is a guy that should get drafted.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced during your career?
Nick Ferrer: I played against LB Dwayne Beckford my sophomore year. He got into trouble at Purdue. He went to Marian. He is a very good athlete. This year, there was a DB from Sienna Heights (Darius Price). He played CB, but he is more of a safety at the next level. He was at the College Gridiron Showcase with me. He is a good player. He is in this year’s class.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Nick Ferrer: I enjoy the team aspect. You build a bond with your teammates and coaches. I enjoy the relationships that I have built. It is a complete team game. You have that unity.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Nick Ferrer: I am a low-key guy. I like to hang out with friends and family. I like to go fishing during the summer.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Nick Ferrer: I might want to become a coach. I also want to own a business.
Alex Khvatov: Finish the sentence, Nick Ferrer is….
Nick Ferrer: A leader. It has defined me in my career. People gravitate towards me. I take that responsibility pretty seriously. I am able to lead.
