Antonio Nunn
Wide Receiver / Buffalo
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Antonio Nunn: Height is 5’11, weight is 206 and the last forty time was a 4.46. I ran that time during the offseason going into my junior year.
Alex Khvatov: How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Antonio Nunn: I have a few friends in Florida. I work out with them. I do conditioning and run routes. I am doing the morning runs. My mom bought me a treadmill.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from Buffalo this upcoming season?
Antonio Nunn: This season, we expect to come back for that MAC title. We had an amazing season last year. But we didn’t finish in the title game. We also want to win another bowl game.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Antonio Nunn: I ran track for all four years, and I played a little basketball. In track, I ran the 200 meters and I was the alternate for 4×100 relay. I also did the triple jump, long jump, and high jump. Track was mandatory for football. I wanted to stay in shape and stuck with track. I performed at the regionals for the jumps.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?
Antonio Nunn: Safety, corner, receiver, and a lot of special teams. I was a returner and blocking on punts. I was also a gunner.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Antonio Nunn: I wasn’t focused on college football. I was just playing football with my friends in high school. But I started focusing more my junior and senior year. During my junior year, I hyperextended my knee three games into the season. I had Iowa State, USF, UCF, Rutgers, and North Carolina. During spring football, Buffalo and Georgia State offered me. Then Coastal Carolina offered me, but I never visited there. Our QB got hurt during my senior year. I knew that I needed to commit early.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Buffalo?
Antonio Nunn: My uncle lived in Long Island, NY at the time. Buffalo’s WR coach always kept in touch with me. They showed a lot of interest.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your career.
Antonio Nunn: Individually, I have learned from the guys who have been here before me. I learned my craft from them. Guys like Anthony Johnson and the other receiver K.J. Osborn, who is with the Vikings now. I still talk to those guys. During my freshman season, I was known as the speed receiver coming in. As a sophomore, I took a seat back to the Wisconsin transfer, George Rushing. During my junior year, I finally seized the opportunity. I took advantage of it. I went to Penn State and showed that I could play with those guys. As a team, we always have a chip on our shoulder coming from the MAC. We get disrespected. When we beat the big schools, people are shocked. A lot of the time, teams get praised because off their names. Buffalo is here to play. We take football very serious here in the MAC.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your teammate junior RB Jaret Patterson?
Antonio Nunn: Jaret is going into his third year. He is a team player and a workaholic. He cares more about other people than his needs. When he started living in my apartment building, we started to send each other workouts. Jaret is willing to go out of his way and learn different positions.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Antonio Nunn: Route running and catching the ball in traffic. I can outjump defenders. I play bigger than what my listed size is. My high school coach put a big emphasis on fighting for the jump ball.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Antonio Nunn: Blocking. I can do better. I need to stay with the block and help my teammates get free. Our WR coach Rob Ianello gets on us about blocking. We take pride in it.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Antonio Nunn: People didn’t know me before the Penn State game. I was coming off surgery. I didn’t play the first game of the season. We proved that we could play with a top 15 team in the nation. I was still not 100% healthy during that game. We were winning at halftime. During camp before the season, I tore my meniscus. It was a quick surgery. I missed about two or three weeks.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Antonio Nunn: Time is everything. I was hard-headed as a freshman. I have grown and matured. I can’t take anything for granted going into my senior year. You never know when it is your last day. Give it your all.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Antonio Nunn: Most of my people grew up as Atlanta Falcons fans. I root for them. My grandparents are from there.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Antonio Nunn: I like my former teammates Anthony Johnson and K.J. Osborn. I also like Julio Jones, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen.
Alex Khvatov: Which WR do you model your game after?
Antonio Nunn: Stefon Diggs and Davante Adams. Stefon Diggs is not a big guy, but he is a workhorse. Adams is a great route runner. He has the cleanest releases and gets separation from point A to point B.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Antonio Nunn: DL Malcolm Koonce, DL Taylor Riggins, OL Kayode Awosika, LB Kadofi Wright and S Tyrone Hill. The younger receivers like Trevor Wilson, Marlyn Johnson, Lemaro Smith and Bernard Porter. The Patterson twins (Jaret and James).
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Antonio Nunn: CB Rock Ya-Sin from Temple.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a WR?
Antonio Nunn: Reading coverages and knowing where the zone pockets are. Your job is to get open. You don’t have to be the fastest or the most athletic receiver. You have to be smart and understand coverages. Blocking is also an important part.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Antonio Nunn: Making the big play and hearing the crowd scream. Seeing my teammates make a play during the game that I see in practice. Getting amped up on the sidelines.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Antonio Nunn: I go to Canada sometimes or bowling. I like to watch a movie or have a game night.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Antonio Nunn: A leader doesn’t have to yell. A lot of people don’t work that way. I do it by example. I have matured a lot more over the year. I take the one on one approach and help guys out. A leader can also be a follower. K.J. Osborn led by example.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
Antonio Nunn: My character. I am a goofy guy. I am a corny guy at the end of the day. I pop jokes. I don’t want to see anyone down. I am humble. I can make you laugh and lift your spirits.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Antonio Nunn: I should graduate in December in communications. I want to go into sports broadcasting. I want to be in front of the camera. I am a sportaholic. I like watching the First Take, and I see myself doing that eventually.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Antonio Nunn: Corny, humble, giving, respectful, and learner.
