The Falcons selected safety Dezmen Southward in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft out of Wisconsin. He played just one year of high school football, but developed into an NFL prospect because of his size and speed. Southward has played about 20 percent of the defensive snaps for the Falcons.
We talked to Southward about his hobbies and why media bios aren’t always so accurate (edited for clarity).
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: I like to play video games on the Xbox. I hang out with the guys: "Bobby Mac" (Robert McClain), Kemal Ishamel. But I'm a homebody. I don't like to do very much. I like to sleep. Not much is going on outside of football for me.
Q: You take a lot of naps?
A: Yeah, a lot. I'm probably in my bed 70 percent of the time. That's probably not good, but it's not terrible, either.
Q: You like to cook?
A: No. I don't do any cooking.
Q: No? It’s in your bio.
A: Whoever writes these bios are unbelievable. I don't like to cook. I like to order food.
Q: So you like to eat?
A: Yeah. I like it when the food is already made.
Q: What do you like to eat?
A: My favorite meal probably is chicken Alfredo with some nice garlic bread. It's not very healthy, but it doesn't get any better for me.
Q: Now I’m wondering about the bio. It says you also like to read. Is that true?
A: Who writes these things? I'm not saying I don't like to read, but I don't read very much. Whoever writes these bios, I don't get it. Was this a Falcons thing?
Q: Wisconsin.
A: Wisconsin is doing me like that? I don't know who writes them.
Q: It says you majored in agricultural business. Is that part right?
A: Yeah, that's right. I like the business part of a lot of things. But I don't know why they call it agri-business. It's more business communication. Explaining things. For example, a scientist they obviously understand everything, but they don't know how to relay it to the general population. Communicating, taking them from the experts to the general population.
Q: You ran track in college. What where your events?
A: I ran the 100 meters and the 4 x 100 meters.
Q: Were you fast? What were your times?
A: I ran 10.5 seconds, 10.6. In college, guys are running 10 flat. I was all right. I was just out there helping. It was fun, though.
Q: What are your aspirations after football?
A: I'm not sure at all. Maybe coaching. Maybe something in the business world. I think I'm going to take a little bit of time off in the offseason and take some internships and see what my true passion is outside of football.
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