Durrell Wood
Offensive Lineman
Ohio

 

Ed Hunt:  What are your measurements? (Height, Weight and 40 time)

 

Durrell Wood:  I’m 6’2, ran 5.00 40, 298 pounds, hand size is 10.5 inches, arms 34 inches, 32.5-inch vertical, 9’1 broad jump, 4.71 20-yard and bench press 23 reps.

 

Ed Hunt:  What positions can you play on the offensive line?

 

Durrell Wood:  I can play all the positions, but I’m most comfortable with guard and center.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is your best position on the offensive line?

 

Durrell Wood:  Guard.

 

Ed Hunt:  Can you tell me about Joe Lowery?

 

Durrell Wood:  He’s a great leader.  He is a guy that works pretty hard.  We have been pretty close since we got there.  He’s a great guy.

 

Ed Hunt:  Can you tell me about the camaraderie on the Ohio offensive line?

 

Durrell Wood:  The camaraderie on the offensive line was good.  We had different coaches.  That just made us all closer.  We help each other understand all the things that come with playing on the line.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who is the best player you have faced on an opposing team?

 

Durrell Wood:  Khalil Mack my freshman year.  I had the true honor to block him.

 

Ed Hunt:  Coming out of high school, which schools showed interest in you?

 

Durrell Wood:  I had all of the MAC schools.  Cincinnati and Kentucky showed some interest, but all of my offers were from MAC schools.

 

Ed Hunt:  What made you ultimately choose Ohio?

 

Durrell Wood:  It was kind of a loyalty thing.  They were my first offer.  The campus was beautiful.  The players made me feel very comfortable.

 

Ed Hunt:  What are your strengths?

 

Durrell Wood:  My footwork.  I’m more athletic than most of the guys I go against.  My speed is a strength and I am pretty good in the weight room.

 

Ed Hunt:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

 

Durrell Wood:  Sometimes I get too lungy and over my feet.  I like to be physical, but I can get overboard.  Some of my technique needs work too.

 

Ed Hunt:  Describe your overall career.

 

Durrell Wood:  I came in my freshman year and started.  I had a shoulder injury and then redshirted my sophomore year.  I hurt my back my junior year.  I got hurt my senior year.  My school petitioned for me to get a sixth year.  My last year, I played with a chip on my shoulder and I got second team All-MAC.  I went through a lot of adversity and a lot of learning.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is the highlight of your career at this point?

 

Durrell Wood:  Beating San Diego State in the bowl game.  They had a top 5 defense.  We handled them like a lot of other teams.  Getting the win with my team.

 

Ed Hunt:  I noticed you are a good pass blocker.  What do you attribute this to?

 

Durrell Wood:  I would say our last coach was big on hand placement.  He had me have my hands on the inside.  I didn’t before.  On the offensive line, there are different ways to block different individuals.

 

Ed Hunt:  What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?

 

Durrell Wood:  I’ve learned everyone you go up against puts their pants on one leg at a time.  He gave us confidence.  I learned how to get through adversity.  Coaches taught us how to take our own responsibility for things.  We take a look at each other instead of looking at other teams.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is your favorite NFL team?

 

Durrell Wood:  I’ve been a Bengals fan since I was a young kid.  So definitely the Bengals.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

 

Durrell Wood:  Marshall Yanda.  I love the way he blocks.  If I had to go with a skill player, then I would say Chad Johnson.  He wasn’t the best personality, but he was a great player.

 

Ed Hunt:  What’s the most important trait for an offensive lineman?

 

Durrell Wood:  I would say attitude.  Playing college football, you see a lot of personalities and body types.  He will be as great of an offensive lineman if he wants to be one.  You can teach to block, but you can’t teach him to want to hit somebody.

 

Ed Hunt:  Before the ball is snapped, what tendencies are you looking for in that defense?

 

Durrell Wood:  I’m looking at the play side linebacker.  Defensive linemen’s hand pressure.  You can tell if it’s going to be a bull rush.  I look at the safety.  You can tell if they are blitzing from where the safety is.

 

Ed Hunt:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?

 

Durrell Wood:  I would say Marques Grimes.  He is the left tackle.  He has been behind Joe Lowery.  He is a big body.  Austin Pleasants was our right tackle.  If he can improve his technique, he can be one of the best in the MAC.  Pretty much all of our running backs.

 

Ed Hunt:  What do you enjoy most about football?

 

Durrell Wood:  Probably that you can just take your anger out without getting in trouble.

 

Ed Hunt:  Who is your biggest role model and why?

 

Durrell Wood:  My closest friend Khalil Hardy.  His mom has sickle cell.  He has had to take care of his mother.  He has a job right now.  It’s great that somebody in my age group can be a role model.

 

Ed Hunt:  What is your definition of a leader?

 

Durrell Wood:  Someone who can set an example of how you can be the best you can be.  It doesn’t have to be someone screaming.  Sometimes the guys that are screaming and yelling aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing.  Somebody who works on his craft.

 

Ed Hunt:  What do you want to do with your life after football?

 

Durrell Wood:  I’m a psychology major and want to go into mental health.  I want to accumulate some money after football to own a business.  I would probably go into some type of mental health.

 

Ed Hunt:  What five words best describe you?

 

Durrell Wood:  Dedicated, physical, smart, driven and trustworthy.

 

Ed Hunt:  Have you had any pre-draft visits?

 

Durrell Wood:  I haven’t had any visits, but I’ve have been called by teams.  Yesterday, I was called by the Chiefs, Raiders and Chargers.  Those are the teams I have talked to.