NFL Draft Prospect JoJo Domann on Nebraska Cornhuskers, Football Family

Fred Richani of The Sports Courier. In this interview, we chat with Nebraska linebacker and defensive mvp jojo doman who enters the 2022 NFL draft. Well, jojo, thank you so much for joining us on TSC News on mnn. Before we get to everything you’re doing right now, how you got to this point. Can you just reflect a little bit on your Nebraska football career and how it all ended. Yeah, man, playing at Nebraska was a dream come true. I was there for six seasons played as a true freshman and then redshirted because of medical reasons and then ended up finding my way on the field and led all the way up to this year where I felt like I was dominating out there.

So, I wouldn’t trade it for the world the ups and downs the wins the losses. I grew a lot as a man. And grew up and found a love for the game beyond just the wins and losses and the camaraderie of the team and the shared adversity. So, it was quite the experience and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. And of course, congrats on you the senior Bull invite, I understand as well. You’re going to be headed to the NFL scouting combine first time in person in a couple of years. What’s that like for you to finally go to get up close and personal with some of these scouts.

It’s really exciting watching the senior Bowl and the combine growing up specifically the combine. It’s like kind of surreal that I already did the senior Bowl and then I’m going to indianapolis. So, just, you know, more mentally than anything just preparing myself for the moment you only get to run the 40 twice and you know, if you mess up you mess up. So just trying to take as many mental reps, as I can and just being so detailed in everything that I do. So when my opportunity comes that. I’m there to take advantage of it, not only were you killing it on the field at Nebraska, but you were keeping busy off the field you’re doing charity work.

I heard real estate a podcast seems like you were juggling a whole lot for such a young guy. So, what was the day in the life like for you. When you were killing it on the field in Nebraska and off the field. Yeah, I definitely like to keep myself busy after we I did a the beat with husker online Sean callahan every Sunday monday and we did it starting in july and we did 18 episodes all the way through December. So after games. On sundays or mondays I’d go in and record for an hour hour and a half. And then obviously everything that comes with football and school and then the down time.

So I definitely kept myself busy, but I feel like it also helped me lock in and really just, you know, find that flow state of just of man. I’m in college football playing at Nebraska living my best life trying to take advantage of my senior year nil this once in a lifetime opportunity. So, it really just kind of honed me into the moment and man. I’m excited for what’s to come, you were the Nebraska defensive mvp after going through what you went through these last few years, you know, how does it feel to really end on a high note it’s humbling because you know, going into Nebraska.

I chose Nebraska because of the rich tradition and you know what it means to play for Nebraska and it was kind of big shoes to fill and a part of me didn’t know if I was going to be able to fill them and after my true fresh veneer kind of getting thrown into the fire and then tearing my acl twice in seven months a lot of doubt creeped in and I just I didn’t know if this was for me if I could even do it. You know, this dream of playing in the NFL since I was four years old seemed pretty, you know, far-fetched. So 2018 2019, you know, just I was out there, but I wasn’t making plays and I wasn’t dominating like, you know, I did in high school and that I expected myself to.

And then 20 20 rolls around and I feel like I had a I had a decent season. And the whole reason to come back was to really just play the type of football. I know I’m capable of playing and you know, I’m older that I’m a super senior. So, I’m older than everybody. I’m working harder than everybody. I’m watching more film just like I really trusted and was confident in my preparation and everything. I was doing on and off the field to put me in a position to be successful. So, that’s why I came back and, you know, the season went the way it did and to be recognized as a defense mvp is definitely an honor and but you know, it’s a game.

It’s a team game and there’s 11 of us out there. Kudos to you and you didn’t mention yo. You were older than pretty much every one of your teammates. You’re going to be one of the older rookies going into it, but as we know football, especially on the defensive side is a grown man’s game. We saw with the super Bowl defense wins championships. So, do you feel like your college experience and your age and everything. You’ve overcome up to this point that you’re kind of going to be a more seasoned rookie than maybe some of the other guys going into the draft. Absolutely. I mean growing up with my dad and we talked before we hopped on I’ve seen every way to succeed in this sport and I’ve also seen every way to fail I’ve seen second third round guys.

Not make it to their second contract and I’ve seen undrafted rookies played 10 years in the league and went to super Bowl. So it’s not about, you know, the pristine of when you get drafted and how highly scouted you are. It’s really about, you know what you do when you get there. And I’m really excited to honestly be a rookie again, be the, you know, have to work my way up the ladder and to prove myself. I mean, that’s all very exciting and low expectations. So you exceed all expectations and I’m looking to contribute right away. I think yeah, being an older guy and already having the preparation and the habits and the lifestyle that I’ve implemented and that I’m living out as we speak.

It’s I’m ready to go like there’s no daunting something too big for me anymore. It’s like I know I have that blind faith in myself in my preparation and I’m just ready. I’m ready for combat. I dig it. And you mentioned your dad now full disclosure folks. I’ve known your dad, I’ve known your mom for about a decade now. They rep a number of NFL players, I’ve wrapped a number of draft picks most notably right now presently Luke Rhodes who just got a massive contract as an all-pro long snapper for the indianapolis colts they’ve rep the mod bradshaw Josh hill the list goes on and on.

So growing up. You mentioned that you fell in love with football at the age of four how much did it help you having parents who not only love the game, but are literally involved in the game and being able to have a front row seat to all these success stories and, you know, unfortunately some failures as well. It definitely is a blessing and I don’t know if I would have been able to I mean I just grew this deep love for the game at such a young age and just had like crazy big aspirations that like I wanted to fulfill through the game and like I already touched on like I didn’t always believe it.

But I always felt it in my heart and to now be here. It’s I wouldn’t be here without my parents, I wouldn’t be here without all the adversity in every obstacle and every high and every low. Like I’m a true believer that everything happens for a reason and without all those triumphs. And with all those setbacks. I wouldn’t be where I’m at and where I am today. So I’m just thankful for it all it obviously helps having parents that put you in the right position that give you that confidence and that mentorship. But when did you personally realize like, okay, I can go to college.

I could kill it in the college game. And hey, maybe I could even make this a career shoot I realized I was just flat out better than everybody basically when I put on the pads right away. In sixth grade was when my mom let us play tackle, but I mean in high school. I would have been like I was I thought big, but I also thought I tried I thought I was thinking realistic and was like, man, I’d walk on. I mean, any a mountain west offer would be a dream offer like that’d be insane. So, as you can imagine like when Nebraska came knocking.

It was like, Whoa. They think I could play for their school and I don’t like it was almost like that challenge that I needed to like push myself to that next level and believing in myself and again, just pulling it out of me that work ethic that competitive spirit that I think all of us have, but I’m definitely rooted in to just be the best version of myself and that’s what in Nebraska brought that out of me. What was it like playing for head coach Scott frost four years with coach. It was a lot of ups and downs man. We went through a lot of adversity.

I hope he turns it around. Yeah, man. It’s bigger than us. It’s bigger than it’s bigger than coach frost. It’s bigger than me. It’s what it the special thing about Nebraska is what it means to play for Nebraska to have a whole state. Rooting for you. And cheering you on and behind you knowing your names. Like when I wasn’t playing like you wouldn’t believe how many people knew who I was and it was just like astonishing to me. So just to have that support from a whole state behind your football program is something special. I mean, these Nebraska fans are hardcore, I’m constantly seeing them tweet mel keiper and all these people.

Hey, where’s jojo on your draft board and everything. I mean, I would imagine that I would imagine that support’s pretty awesome. Oh, yeah. And it goes and it even goes beyond the football field to like you touched on earlier like the charity events the runs the cancer runs the hoffman foundation like it goes beyond the football program. And it’s truly a special place. I always said that Nebraska people is what makes the people is what makes Nebraska special. Well, you’ve been very gracious with your time. But we always like to ask our guests some kind of random rapid fire questions just for fans to get to know him better.

Are you ready? Yeah, let’s go. Let me lean forward favorite cheat meal or late night snack. Oh my gosh, cheat meal chips and queso. All right. There you go. I dig it. You’re a Colorado boy. Favorite spot in Colorado manitou incline Garden of the gods. Favorite spot in Nebraska memorial Stadium. All right. Favorite place to eat in Nebraska probably Cohen it’s a Japanese hibachi grill favorite player growing up Ed reed Ray Lewis Peyton manning if I was an NFL scout and I asked whose game. Do you most resemble who would you say the honey badger. Love it. It’s all about the ball, it’s all about the ball most awkward moment as a football player.

I’ve had a handful probably when you think you’re about to lay somebody out and then you are the one that ends up getting laid out, which I mean, my true freshman year happened a couple times on kickoff return where I went I mean I had a seemingly like 250 260 guy barreling down on me that ended up projecting me like five yards back on my back, which was nuts. You play this game long enough, you’re gonna end up on a poster sometimes, right? Maybe sometimes you’re the one playing them on the poster, right? Definitely. So you have a lot of fan support of course, but you know, you got these armchair quarterbacks and defensive coordinators at home as well.

So I like to ask all football players this. What’s the biggest misconception of your position, being a linebacker probably that we can’t cover because I mean you have to cover you’d be surprised how hard it is to keep your eyes on the quarterback, but also like feel these route concepts and guys running in front of you guys running behind you. Yeah, I mean, it’s really a tough position to be in you’re right in the middle of everything. So, yeah, maybe that as I mentioned your dad is literally a certified NFL, pa agent. If you weren’t a football player, would you have gone the agency route or was there another alternate career path in the jojo multiverse.

Craig told me, I could be anything in the world except for an agent. So scratch that and I went to Nebraska to. And I initially majored in broadcast journalism and after my first week in broadcast school. I was like confused why they were telling me as a freshman what to say. And I dipped and I ended up just getting an advertising public relations major. So, you know, I’m really an outdoors guy. So after football, I really just see myself getting relative and going and climbing some mountains before I’m ready for that next endeavor. What’s the weirdest wackiest thing a scout or medium member has ever asked you when I was at the senior Bowl.

We met with all every team like most the teams a few teams were like who’s your agent and had no idea and but most the teams like very subtly like we’re just like is your dad like who’s your agent. Is it your dad and I was like, yeah. So I thought it was kind of funny how they just they kind of already knew without even asking, but they had to ask anyone you do a lot off the field, I would imagine you’re still doing a lot of charity work and possibly impacting your community. Is there anything you’d like us to know about on the charity front that you’re working on.

Maybe an organization you want us to check out? Yeah, I rate we raised me edgewater insurance through our podcast we raised like 21 000 over this past fall for 12 different charities throughout Nebraska. So, it’d be hard to just point out one. But yeah, man. I’m always looking to just use this platform where I used to look up to my dad’s guys and guys across the league and just look at them as a superhero. So, to just use that platform to really just spread light spread love and paying it forward to that next generation. And that’s what I aspire to do much respect to you, man.

And I always tell people when they ask me about interviewing football players like you always hear about the bad headlines, but there are so many guys in the college level in the pro level who have foundations for a reason. They’re always they’re doing something for the community, always, paying it forward. When did you decide to say, you know what I’m not just going to use this platform, you know, to make money to have success. But to give back to the community. Yeah, I don’t really know when it happened. I think I always knew that’s what I wanted to do. I mean with my parents. They had a non-profit pro football camp growing up.

It’s been going for 16 years now and we don’t make a dime. If we lose money on that. And then just prays with the pros where NFL guys come in and they give their their testament and their testimony on you know what how they got to where they’re at and their relationship with their creator and the ups and downs and just, you know, growing up around that hearing those different stories and perspectives and life lessons. It just always kind of fueled me to do the same now. I know you got a long way to go in your career. Knock on wood, but for any younger folks watching this, maybe they’re in middle school or high school have a dream of playing football or any other sports.

What’s the best piece of advice you give them for success? There’s so much there’s so much depth. Behind success. It’s hard to just point out one specific, you know, I’d say it’s like an embodiment of belief. Kind of like I’ve touched on this interview? Like I believed in my heart, but I didn’t always believe in my head. And if you can almost just you just always follow your heart stay in your heart. And just believe in yourself. And when you believe in yourself. Your actions will follow and that commitment that discipline that work ethic will all follow if you just believe in yourself. And sometimes you have to have blind faith.

In the unknown in regardless of your circumstances, if your external environment’s not reflecting your internal environment, then are you going to get down on it. Are you going to keep pushing. So I just, you know, encourage all young athletes to define what they want. And why they want it and then, you know, commit themselves to it fully. And if it’s all about yourself. It’s probably maybe not gonna be what you thought it was gonna be, but when you do it out of a giving heart that, you know, your parents your creator your life experiences have all led you to this point to even have this dream then it gives you the courage and the will power to pay it forward in a selfless way fantastic man.

Absolutely powerful stuff. Bonus question. Was there anything you wish I asked you no, man. I’m out on I’m out in Florida, fort myers Florida enjoying the weather enjoying the water. So, I appreciate you having me on and all the insightful questions. And I look to hopping on here soon again. Yeah, man. Can’t wait. Knock on wood next time you hop on here, you’ll be part of an NFL team. And we’ll be chopping it up about your brand new NFL experience jojo before we let you go. Absolute pleasure, where can we find you online find me on Instagram. Jojodoman and then Twitter at the dominator. Yeah, I got a fun little JoJo Domann draft journey coming out on YouTube and I’ll be you know, send it promo.

And that out on Twitter and Instagram. So, a lot of fun content coming up here for me in the near future. And if you guys want to follow along. You know, where to find me.