In the months leading up to the NFL combine, several collegiate football players will spend time at the IMG Performance Institute preparing themselves for the rigors and pressure of the combine, which will help determine how high or low a player goes in the NFL Draft. Here’s one of the players:

Darian Stewart

Darian Stewart is one of the most versatile players at the IMG combine camp this year. In high school he played on both sides of the ball, then focused on his defensive skill set when he reached the college level. Entering the combine,  he’ll rely on that versatility to showcase his talents as a virtually all-purpose defender. We had a some time to talk with him about his football as well as some of his less-known interests.

Defensive hybrid…

“My versatility allows me to play either corner, safety, or linebacker. My sophomore year I started at free safety, then my junior year, our defense had so much depth, we went to a 4-2-5 scheme, which allowed me to play more of a nickelback and also in the box as a linebacker. I don’t prefer one or the other, I just love to play football so I’ll go wherever I’m needed.”

The style of  Stewart…

“My favorite stores are urban stores. Dillard’s is a good one because you can find a bunch of different stuff, anything that catches my eye. I’d compare my style to a cross between Young Dro and T.I., staying classy but still real stylish. I’m also a big time shoe fanatic, I like looking for new shoes. I’ve got about 30 different pairs and they all still look like they’re new. I don’t really have to scrub them or anything, they just go right back in the box after I wear them. My favorite styles are Jordan’s, Air Force One’s, and Air Max. Among those I have a bunch of different color combos.”

Chef Darian Stewart…

“I love to cook too, a little dinner every now and then. I can make some good soul food. Fried chicken, mac n’ cheese, green beans, corn bread, all the main southern dishes. The food here is pretty good, they make sure they feed you healthy. It’s a good thing, because that’s one thing as an athlete that you want to do to lower the body fat and all that.”