I got a chance to talk to BR-184 FDU-Florham WR Malik Pressley, this week’s D3 Football Offensive HERO of the Week, and hear about his life as a Devil.
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HERO: Why did you pick FDU?
Pressley: The reason I chose FDU is because I enjoyed my first visit to the campus and I felt like I just clicked with the coaching staff. I had a great on the tour with them and enjoyed what they had to offer. Then after the visit, it basically came down to the financial part. The school helped me enormously to receive a reasonable tuition for me to attend the university.
How did you end up in the receiver position?
Growing up playing Pop-Warner football, I was always told that I would make a better wide receiver than my original position, which was running back. Truthfully, I felt like receiver was the better position for me, so my freshman year in high school came around and I finally decided to make the transition.
So you won the HERO of the Week. Tell me about last week’s game against TCNJ. What was going through your head?
Going in to the game, it was just like any other game. My team and I were confident throughout the entire game and showed what we were capable of. The coaching staff believed in me greatly so our game plan was to take advantage on the one-on-one matchups, which we did. Personally, I just did my job and let the game come to me. Our offense was clicking on all cylinders, especially me and the QB, Tyler Maurer. He and I have a lot of trust in each other, I trust him to make the throws and he trusts me to make the catches.
How as a team and player, do you bounce back from a dramatic overtime loss like last weeks against the Monarchs?
It was a tough loss, we lost to a good team, but our Head Coach, Coach Surace, has a 24 hour rule for the team to get beyond the loss. Once the 24 hours is over, it’s on to business for the next opponent. As a player, I have to keep my head high and keep everyone else positive about the upcoming game.
How has this season compared to last? How have you stepped up this year as a returner?
This year, I have some big shoes to fill. Last year, since I was only a freshman, I didn’t have as much pressure on me like I do this year. This year, everyone expects me to have a better year this year and take my game to the next level, which I believe I am able to do.
What is one part of your game you’ve been trying to work on in particular?
The biggest thing in my game that I have been trying to work on is my route running. I watch a lot of YouTube videos in my spare time on how the professionals and the big time collegiate athletes run their routes and how they train to perfect them. My favorite videos are “Only One” starring Tavon Austin and “The Uncoverable WR” starring Amari Cooper.
Guilty pleasure food?
Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers
Someone on the team you look up to?
I would have to say my football mentor, Geo Ocampo. Geo is a Junior Defensive Back that has torn his ACL twice in the past two years. Even though he is in such a difficult situation, he doesn’t hesitate to cheer someone up. He is always looking out for me and is always giving advice on how to improve my game.
What is one thing that the guys on the team would be surprised to know about you?
That I am always going to be an upfront person with you about any situation, including football and hopefully you are doing the same with me
What NFL WR do you enjoy watching the most or do you try to emulate your game after the most?
Odell Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper
What is your favorite FDU tradition and why?
Team Prayers before and after the games.
