Justin Wyatt
Safety
Limestone College
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Alex Khvatov: Where will you be training for the NFL Draft?
Justin Wyatt: Houston, TX at Break Away Speed with Tim Boutte.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall experience at the National Bowl all-star game in Daytona Beach, FL.
Justin Wyatt: Definitely a great life experience, and I was blessed to be able to showcase my talents in front of the best of the best and in front of professional scouts. I got close with my teammates and coaches. I just wish we were a real team or we could play together longer.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest thing that you will take away from that
weekend?
Justin Wyatt: This would be one of the biggest interviews of my life, and I had to perform at a high level and make a name for myself. I feel as if I did that.
Alex Khvatov: Who was the best player that you have faced at the National
Bowl?
Justin Wyatt: #81 on the American Team (Brian Burnett – WR from Tusculum). He brought his A game everyday of the week and in every team period. He’s a very good route runner.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Justin Wyatt: Coming out of high school I was a three-star prospect. I had offers from programs: UCF, Cincy, Ohio, Troy, Minnesota, Penn State. I got recruited by UGA, Tennessee, Cal, Miss State and Kentucky. I signed with Ohio.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at Ohio University?
Justin Wyatt: I enjoyed my official visit, and they had a plan for me to come in immediately and play right away. I loved the tradition they had and I had watched them on TV a few times prior to them offering me a scholarship, so I knew a little bit about them.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you decide to transfer to JUCO?
Justin Wyatt: I wanted to play at a bigger program, but I didn’t want to sit out a year, so I did some research and made my decision to leave.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Troy after JUCO?
Justin Wyatt: I was going to the University of Colorado, but my degree from Juco didn’t process on time, so they pulled the scholarship. I was sitting at home spring semester of 2016. Then I kept sending my film around and I realized that the coach that offered from Troy in high school was still there and I hit him up. I took my visit and that was the icing on the cake.
Alex Khvatov: How did you eventually wind up at Limestone College?
Justin Wyatt: In the fall of 2017, right before my senior season started, I tore my labrum in my shoulder and had season ending surgery. My D-I clock ran out, so I had to drop down a level. I graduated from Troy in July of 2018. I ended up at Limestone. I was looking at programs close to home, and they were one of them. Then Vyncint Smith blew up, and the head coach was a former NFL player, so I felt like this would be the pipeline for me to get where I needed to be.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you make the switch from WR to DB your final season at Limestone?
Justin Wyatt: To be completely honest I was an athlete in college, I played 7 different positions (RB, slot, WR, SS, FS, Nickel, CB). I always felt like I was a better defensive player than I was on offense. I had more years of defense experience than offensive. My mindset for defense is you don’t have to depend on people to get you the ball, you go out there and hunt and make your own plays, whereas on offense you have to depend on somebody to get you the ball all the time and that dictates your future.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your teammate DB Joshua Simmons?
Justin Wyatt: Definitely a great leader and teammate. We talk about football all the time and check up on each other.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Justin Wyatt: My IQ and athleticism to play anywhere on the field.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Justin Wyatt: More fluent hips and smoother breaks in transition.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Justin Wyatt: It definitely had its ups and downs, but it was definitely a long race that I had to finish. I don’t have any regrets, just all lessons. I strongly believe in everything happens for a reason that will lead you to a greater purpose in life.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Justin Wyatt: Recording my first pick 6!
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Justin Wyatt: I’m from Atlanta, so it’s the Falcons by default.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Justin Wyatt: Tie between Eric Berry and Tyrann Mathieu.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a DB?
Justin Wyatt: Technique.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that
you are looking for from the offense?
Justin Wyatt: Look at the down and distance and where the ball is. Look at personnel and alignments. I play nickel, so I go to the passing strengths every snap. I used to play WR, so it’s easy for me to figure out what routes or plays are about to be run. That’s why on my film, I fly around so much because I watch hours of film daily.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Justin Wyatt: Jerko’Ya Patton, Clifton Garrett, Bernard McCall, DJ Witherspoon, KD Frederick, Mannie Olgetree, DeShawn Thompson, Dalton Yates, Lawrence Williams and Juwan Scott.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Justin Wyatt: My freshman year, played against Dri Archer and Khalil Mack. Two best players I ever seen, and you see where they are at now.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Justin Wyatt: The passion for the game, the camaraderie and the excitement of lining up and competing at a high level.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your biggest role model and why?
Justin Wyatt: Tyrann Mathieu, his story inspires me. I followed him since I was in high school. I used to watch his highlight tape everyday. TM was at his lowest and thought his life was over and he was given a second chance and look how he ran with it. He is a future HOF safety. I can relate cause when I had my season ending surgery, I was at my lowest I’ve ever been. I didn’t know what I would do with my life. All I knew was football. I couldn’t cope with not playing and for it to be my senior year, that was the worst way to end college football and that bothered me daily. One day, I had to realize that there won’t be football anymore and I’ll have to get a job. I got my head on straight with my books and graduated from Troy with two degrees. I was granted a second chance, I took it and ran with it. Now look how life changed in one year. I prayed and asked God to bless me and keep me in his favor, and he’s showing me that he kept his promise.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Justin Wyatt: Playing video games, training and watching movies.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Justin Wyatt: I would love to be a sports agent, and then later in life become an NFL GM/Owner.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Justin Wyatt: Athlete, leader, hard worker, competitive and coachable.
Alex Khvatov: Who will win the National Championship in CFB this year?
Justin Wyatt: Alabama.
Alex Khvatov: Who will win Super Bowl LIII in February?
Justin Wyatt: LA Rams.
