Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?
T. J. Warren: Football means everything to me. It helped me figure out who I am as a person and taught me lessons that molded my life on and off the field. It helped me realized that my purpose is bigger than me. That is why I continue to work hard and hope to pursue my dreams of playing in the NFL.
Joe Gaiter: What inspired you to play football?
T. J. Warren: I was always the physical one in my family growing up. So when we played basketball and I was fouling too much they told me I was too aggressive and that I needed to try football. Once I did that, I immediately fell in love with game and I’ve been all in ever since.
Joe Gaiter: What are your favorite memories at Rockdale County High School?
T. J. Warren: My fondest memories at Rockdale County High School was during the summer going into my junior year. We were at a 7 on 7 tournament and we were dominating the competition. In the game that would decide if we would represent Georgia in the national tournament, we were up against some of the best talent, but I put my best foot forward and made a name for myself by getting 2 interceptions on the best wide receiver in the state.
Joe Gaiter: Do you feel like your Track and Field knowledge gives you an advantage on the field?
T. J. Warren: Definitely. Track and field helped me to gain speed and stamina and how to move fast in order to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. I am able to use that skill on the field to cover pursuit angles and have a strong finish without getting winded.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories of playing at Mizzou?
T. J. Warren: My fondest memory playing at Mizzou was our game against South Carolina my redshirt freshman year. It was my first SEC start and my entire family drove up to support me. I was blessed to have a big hit in the second series of the game and it changed the momentum for me.
Joe Gaiter: What was your contribution to Murray State’s football team?
T. J. Warren: I’d say my biggest contribution to Murray State’s football team was my experience and athleticism. Coming from an SEC program, I had experienced playing on a bigger stage against some tough competition and I learned a lot from that experience that I was able to share with my team. In terms of my athleticism, I was just able to be a versatile player. I played 3 different positions and was influential in each role.
Joe Gaiter: What were some of your stats this year?
T. J. Warren: 70 tackles, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, 3 TFL, and 2SAF.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you such a dynamic Defensive Back?
T. J. Warren: What makes me a dynamic defensive back is having played on both sides of the ball in high school. It gave me insight on how the offense moves which helped me perfect my craft on defense.
Joe Gaiter: How did you face in adversity this season?
T. J. Warren: The biggest challenged I faced was not having the best senior season in terms of wins and losses. I overcame that by not allowing it to be the end all be all for me and giving each game everything I had regardless of what the score ended up being.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your proday?
T. J. Warren: While I was unable to do my pro day at Murray, I had a virtual pro day that was timed and confirmed by a trainer from U48 Performance.
Broad Jump- 10’4
40 Yard Dash- 4.58
Short Shuttle- 4.15 & 4.25
L Cone- 6.91
Overall, I caught the ball well, fluid through drill, and showed very good footwork.
Joe Gaiter: Have you reached your athletic peak?
T. J. Warren: No. I think I play with everything in me and no matter how much football I have played I see progression every time I step on the field. I know my best is yet to come and I am excited to continue to improve my game.
Joe Gaiter: Where are you training to stay ready during draft season?
T. J. Warren: Initially, I was training with Manny Rodriguez at U48 Performance in Lawrenceville, GA. Now, with the gyms being closed, I am training with Cord Parks and Josh Jones from DB 101.
Joe Gaiter: What have you learned from yourself during this process?
T. J. Warren: During this process I’ve learned that outside noise doesn’t mean anything. So many opinions are expressed, some in your favor and others not, but I’ve learned that I am fearless when it comes to doing what is needed to be done to achieve my goals.
Joe Gaiter: Who is your agent and why did you choose them?
T. J. Warren: My agent’s name is Paul Aloise. I chose him because I saw how hard he worked for the players he had before me and I admired his dedication to them. I also liked how family oriented he was because family means a lot to me and he was receptive of my family and our bond from the beginning.
Joe Gaiter: Why should any NFL team pick you over someone that plays your same position?
T. J. Warren: An NFL team should pick me over anyone else that plays my position because I am a student of the game who wants to learn and develop. I am versatile, playing 3 different positions and that makes offense hard to scheme against me. Most importantly, I’m a DOG. I’m not afraid to work hard and get my hands dirty and no matter the circumstances, I will find a way to come out on top.
Joe Gaiter: Who are some other athletes should we look out for?
T. J. Warren:
Chris Williamson – Minnesota
Ronnell Perkins – Mizzou
Keyston Fuller – Richmond
Artevius Smith – East Tennessee State
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
T. J. Warren: My untold story is that I am just a country boy from Columbus, GA. I come from a single family household, with a mother stronger than iron. I have faced many adversities to get to this point but each bump in the road was a lesson that lead me to this moment.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
T. J. Warren: My major in college was Human Development and Family Studies. My goal after pursuing my dream of being in the NFL, is to start a foundation that focuses on mentoring and counseling minority adolescents. The main goal it to be their safe haven and equip them with real world skills like financial literacy, job training, and even education readiness.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
T. J. Warren: I want my legacy to be that I was an all-around guy. Both on and off the field, I want them to remember me for my humility, my personality, and being the one who cared about the simple things.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
T. J. Warren: My final words are, “this game teaches you a lot of lessons and it is up to you to sit down and learn from them.”
Joe Gaiter: Shoutouts?
T. J. Warren: Shoutouts: I’d have to give a shoutout to my mother, my siblings, all the coaches throughout my life, my trainers, and close friends. Most importantly, I’d give my biggest shoutout and praise to God, without him this would not be possible.
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