The University of Connecticut isn’t a traditional football powerhouse like Alabama or Ohio State. It doesn’t have a national championship history and wasn’t even an FBS team until 2000. However, the lack of a significant football background hasn’t stopped them from producing some great talent. The 2013 NFL Draft featured Sio Moore, who has proven to be a very good NFL player. This year’s draft features another great linebacker prospect in the form of Yawin Smallwood.

The leading tackler for the Huskies for the past two seasons, Smallwood has proven to be a talented linebacker with a nose for the football. His Junior season saw him register 118 tackles, nine and a half tackles for a loss, an interception, and two forced fumbles. Now, he takes his game to the professional level, and will seek to have the kind of success his former teammate has had early in his career.

I had a chance to talk to Smallwood earlier this week, and he made it clear that though he may not be drafted in round one, he has lofty goals in the NFL. The former Massachusetts high school star was gracious enough to give me some of his valuable time.

How hard was the decision to declare early for the NFL Draft? What were the main factors in that decision?

It wasn’t that hard. This has always been a dream of mine growing up, and I felt I was ready to make the move, so I decided to leave early.

What do you think are your biggest strengths, and your biggest weaknesses?

My strength would be getting players around me better. I play at a high level and push guys on the field to make plays and get better. I have a good motor, and get the job done with good vision and a feel for the game. I need to work on hand placement and not allowing linemen to get to me.

What do you think will be the biggest adjustment in going from college to the NFL?

Everything will be new and an adjustment for me, but knowing that this is my job, and not a game anymore will be different. I’m a serious guy on the field, as well as in the film room, so I feel like I will be fine.

Do you feel like you’re best in the middle of a 4-3 defense, or does scheme matter to you at all?

I think I’m able to play in both. I’m a little more comfortable in a 4-3 because we played a majority of that in college, but I’m ready to play whatever defense I’m drafted into. I’m just going to get in my playbook and learn the defense so I can contribute.

You’ve said that you look up to NaVorro Bowman of the San Francisco 49ers and Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots. What parts of their games do you try and emulate?

They play at a high level every time they step on the field, and those are guys you never hear about off the field. Also, when you watch them on Sundays, they are always located at the football, and that’s what I try and do.

Jadeveon Clowney famously hit Michigan running back Vincent Smith last year, taking both ball and helmet with him. Is there a favorite play that you’ve made while at Connecticut?

There was a play at the end of the Michigan game when the running back and I met along the sideline and I tossed him out of bounds. I was upset we let them come back, and it showed with how I threw him. I was glad it came against them for people who question the level of competition I can compete in.

How are you preparing for the upcoming NFL Combine and your Pro Day?

I’m training up in Boca Raton, Florida with XPE and just working hard each day to showcase my talents.

During the pre-draft process, players are inevitably picked apart, and every little flaw is put under a microscope. How do you respond when people start dissecting your game and pointing out flaws?

Nobody’s perfect, and you don’t become the best linebacker after four years of college. I will listen to what my coaches say I need to fix, and work my hardest in doing so. I’m a coachable player, and want to get better in any way, and I know there will be a team who believes in me, that will help me reach that level.

So what would you say to a team that is considering taking you in the draft? Why should they draft Yawin Smallwood in the first round?

Winning comes from having leaders on your team, and I am a leader. I’m also a guy who has produced each season, and gotten better. I’m a guy who loves the game, and that’s all it’s about. The rest is in them believing in me or not.

I want to thank Yawin for being so gracious with his time, and answering some questions for us here at edraft.com. He has agreed to check back in with us from time to time, so we’ll keep in touch with him, and we certainly wish him the best of luck in this draft season, and in his NFL career.