Junior Faulk
Cornerback
Delta State

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Junior Faulk:  6’2, 205 and my recent forty time was a 4.45. 

Alex Khvatov:  How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Junior Faulk:  I am still doing my workout since I have been in high school.  I am watching a lot of film, the good and the bad from this season.  I watched all of our games.  I was scouting all of the teams on the schedule.  I have been watching film of the NFL corners.  I have been working on my footwork and hand placement.     

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Junior Faulk:  I played basketball.  I thought that I would play college basketball.  I was a star at my school.  I loved dunking in a game.  I would just jump out of the gym.  I guess I was a little short.  After the basketball season, I had a couple of offers for football. 

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Junior Faulk:  Not too many people.  I had some community colleges look at me.  I had the grades.  I graduated third in my class.  I came from a small school in a small town.  We have about 2,000 people and I had 37 seniors in my graduate class.  We had about 300 students at the school.  We had great athletes at the school.  I had Southwest Mississippi junior college and Hinds, which was a bigger junior college looking at me.    

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose JUCO?

Junior Faulk:  I didn’t know anything about Southwest Mississippi.  I took the one-time visit.  I wanted to play receiver.  Other colleges wanted me to play safety.  I was a good receiver in high school.  I was electric when I touched the ball.  During my freshman year, I was a receiver.  I caught a couple of passes.  Before my second year, I asked if I could play defense.  I felt like I can be a playmaker for the defense.  I moved to strong safety. 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you decide to transfer to Delta State?

Junior Faulk:  The first couple of games, I had a D-I program like Southern Miss looking at me and University of Lafayette.  But I got injured and missed five games, so I didn’t have enough tape.  Delta State still had the offer on the table.  I had asked everyone that I wanted to play corner.  None of them wanted me to play corner except for Delta State.  I felt most love from them.  I felt like if I move to corner, I can be like a Jalen Ramsey type.  We have the same size and we can run.  He played safety and corner at Florida State.  With my size, speed, physicality at the line, I can be a ballhawk and play corner at the next level.   

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your junior campaign? 

Junior Faulk:  It is one for the books.  It was my first year playing corner.  I had three goals before the season.  I wanted to get 10 INT’s, be an All-American and be all-GSC.  I didn’t complete one of them.  I only had 9 INT’s.  I feel good and I plan to come better this season.     

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Junior Faulk:  I can cover man to man and erase one side of the field.  I am a playmaker. 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Junior Faulk:  I want to be a versatile player.  I want to be able to outside and in the slot.  I want to play any position in the defensive backfield.  I want to play like a Jamal Adams type of role.  

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Junior Faulk:  When we played Mississippi College this past year, and I recorded my 9th INT of the season.  I broke the record at Delta State.  My name will always be here.  I left my legacy that I can tell my kids about.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Junior Faulk:  It is a doggy dog world.  During the first scrimmage when I got here, I wasn’t starting.  It made me work harder.  The hard work paid off.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Junior Faulk:  My family originated from New Orleans.  My grandfather and dad are Saints fans.  I root for them.  

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Junior Faulk:  Jalen Ramsey is my favorite player.  I also have watched a lot of Richard Sherman.    

Alex Khvatov:  Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the offense? 

Junior Faulk:  First, I look at the type of formation they have.  I pick up on tendencies when I watch film.  How many receivers and TE’s they have, which down and distance it is.  I am watching the receiver’s inside leverage and watching his hips.  We played press man 95% of the time this past year.  

 
Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Junior Faulk:  OLB Marvin Terry.  He is like Von Miller in the NFL.  He is physical, fast, causes havoc in the backfield and has great moves.  He stays in the backfield and gets TFL’s and sacks.  Our QB Patrick Shegog and OL Innis Claud. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Junior Faulk:  QB from West Florida (Austin Reed) as a freshman.  He was a good player.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a CB?

Junior Faulk:  You have to be confident in your game.  Have a short-term memory and not let it linger on in your mind.  Move on to the next play.      

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Junior Faulk:  Probably the fans.  I also like having the bond with the team.   

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from Delta State this upcoming season? 

Junior Faulk:  We will have a great team.  We added some more key pieces to our defense and offense.  We have a mature team.  We understand what it takes to win.  It is the big key.  

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Junior Faulk:  I love watching sports commentators.  I love working out and playing basketball.   

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Junior Faulk:  I have the size, speed, physicality, IQ and ball skills.  I have everything all in one.  I am definitely an NFL player.  I am a leader.  I want to show more of my skills next year.  It adds more fuel to the fire proving people wrong.   

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Junior Faulk:  My major is in sports management.  I plan to go to the NFL and then coach somewhere.  I want to help teach the younger guys.   

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Junior Faulk:  Determined, driven, unique, versatile and caring.