Will Warner
Safety / Drake

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

Will Warner:  Height is 6’3 and weight is usually in the 210-215 range. 

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

Will Warner:  The biggest thing is just running and staying conditioned.  I am blessed that one of my roommates has a semi gym in the garage. 

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

Will Warner:  I played soccer and basketball.  All four years, I loved playing basketball.  I was a big soccer player.  In high school, soccer was my first choice for college.  I was a center midfielder.  I went to a few camps.  The Creighton soccer camp was big.  I talked to the Drake soccer coaches here.     

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Will Warner:  I started at corner my sophomore year.  During my junior year, I played receiver and safety.  As a senior, I played receiver, safety and kicker. 

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

Will Warner:  NW Missouri State, Central Missouri, South Dakota State, and Drake.    

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Drake? 

Will Warner:  My former high school teammate was here at Drake.  Education was going to be prioritized.  They had some majors that I liked.  I liked the coaches.  Guys were different.  We were like minded, and school was important.   

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your overall career?          

Will Warner:  My high school team was very good.  It was a pretty large school.  I had a blast.  We didn’t lose a game my junior and senior year.  We won the state championship the last two years.  I came to Drake, and my primary position was receiver.  They were looking at me to play receiver.  Our defensive coordinator and safeties coach Todd Stepsis was a recruiting coordinator.  He is now our head coach.  He didn’t want me to leave the defensive side.  I had great safeties to learn from who were in front of me.  As a redshirt freshman, I started getting playing time.  One of our safeties went down, I stepped in and led the team in picks.  During my redshirt sophomore year, we had great players coming back.  One of our starting safeties broke his wrist.  I started the whole year.  With my receiver background, I was playing the ball and reading receivers.  I was second in the nation in picks.  I was a first team All-American.  I had the most fun playing football that year.  Our defense was solid all-around.  We had great athletes and players.  We had playmakers.  Last year, we lost a bunch of guys.  We had a true freshman QB this past year.  We had other people hurt at other positions.  We finished second in the league behind San Diego.  They always have a great team.        

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from the Bulldogs this upcoming season? 

Will Warner:  We have a lot of returning players this season.  We want to make the playoffs.  We should be No.2 or No.3 in our conference.  San Diego is the top dog.  We need to start hot. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Will Warner:  My size is unique for the safety position.  I can come down on the TE’s and cover them.  I have receiver’s background.  I read the field well during passing downs.  I read the QB and I can make a play on the ball.  I have great ball skills.  I am not just looking to tip the ball, but make an INT.    

Alex Khvatov:  You have a knack for coming up with a big play.  Where does that ball hawking ability come from?

Will Warner:  There is some luck involved in it.  There was a pick against Morehead State.  One of my linebacker’s undercut it.  It was a tipped ball.  I slipped and I was on the ground, but I still made a pick.  My vision has been a big thing for me.  I was center midfielder in soccer and a point guard for basketball.  I have pretty good hands and pretty good leaping ability over most people.   

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

Will Warner:  Speed.  Everyone can use a little more speed.  I also need to focus on the little things.  Getting out of my breaks a little quicker.  Sometimes I get greedy by watching the ball.  Tackling.  I have never been the best form tackler. 

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

Will Warner:  During my redshirt sophomore year, we played against Montana.  The score was lopsided in the end.  They beat us.  I scored a TD on a fake punt.  That same year, we played against Iowa State.  It was a crazy game.  It was rainy and muddy.  It was a close game.  We lost by three points.  Being named All-American as a redshirt sophomore.  I also had three INT’s against Marist.  I sealed the game.  I was the FCS player of the week.      

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team? 

Will Warner:  I am a huge Chiefs fan from Iowa.  My family lived in Kansas City.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Will Warner:  Patrick Mahomes and Tyrann Mathieu.  Stephon Gilmore has great technique.  49ers TE George Kittle plays with so much energy.  I am related to him.  He is my second cousin.

Alex Khvatov:  What did you think about the Super Bowl this year?  Your favorite team playing against your cousin George Kittle. 

Will Warner:  I was happy with the outcome.  I was cheering for George, but I was rooting for the Chiefs.    

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

Will Warner:  DL Gavin Dineen is an animal.  He is always on the go.  He always wreaks havoc.  CB Collin Seymour also returns punts for us.  He knows the defense better than most people.  Alex Rogers is the other safety who makes tackles.  Danny Morales plays the star position.  He has quick feet. 

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

Will Warner:  Dayton TE Adam Trautman was a playmaker who would make his blocks.  Michael Bandy was a great receiver from San Diego.  RB Anthony Lawrence and QB Reid Sinnett from San Diego.  Iowa State RB David Montgomery and WR Hakeem Butler who was a freak with his size, speed, and strength.    

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

Will Warner:  Leadership.  Within our defense, knowing what each position is doing and where the rest of the guys are supposed to be.  Being vocal and getting downhill.  I have been around long enough here.  I know the defense.  If I see something in practice that doesn’t work, I will talk to the coaches.   

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Will Warner:  The team aspect.  We spend a lot of time together. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Will Warner:  I play video games with my teammates.  I love watching some movies.  I like playing Frisbee golf.  I am from Palo, Iowa.  They have a central course here.  I like playing sports like soccer and basketball.  My teammates and I took home a championship at Nebraska in intramural basketball for two straight years.  We were supposed to go to a regional tournament this year.  It was obviously canceled.       

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique? 

Will Warner:  My background.  I was home schooled.  I grew up in a large family.  I have 11 siblings.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  It was never boring.  It was always a competitive environment between my brothers. 

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

Will Warner:  I started an internship at Principal.  My major is in finance and data analytics.  I want to set myself up for the future.      

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Will Warner:  Competitive, versatile, easy-going, family-oriented, and clever.